The MiG-21bis is a delta wing, supersonic, fighter-interceptor jet aircraft. Much like the AK-47 became the everyman's rifle, the MiG-21 has been operated by more than 40 countries worldwide, and has enjoyed the longest production run of any modern jet fighter to date. The MiG-21, in all of its variants, has fought in wars stretching all the way from the Vietnam War in the 1960's to the modern day Syrian Civil War. Owing to its unique blend of versatility, ruggedness and maintainability, the MiG-21 remains in active service to this very day.
Leatherneck Simulations' recreation of the MiG-21 is, by far, the most accurate and comprehensive simulation of this supersonic jet fighter to date. The fully simulated systems, interactive cockpit, advanced flight modeling and incredible graphical fidelity come together to create a package that will provide you with the most authentic simulation possible. So strap in, and get ready to experience the rebirth of a legend.
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190D ‘Dora’ was a fast, versatile and powerful World War II fighter and ground attack aircraft. Twin 20mm Mauser MG-151/20 cannon in the wing roots with 250 rounds per gun and twin 13mm MG-131 cannon with 475 rounds per gun in the nose cowling give the Dora a fearsome punch. It is also able to carry one 500 kg (1,020 lb) SC 500 bomb in the ground attack role.
A development of the successful Fw 190 A, the D-9 entered Luftwaffe service late in 1944. The supercharged Junkers Jumo 213 V-12 engine with MW-50 injection system boosted the Dora’s emergency power from 1,750 hp (1,287 Kw) to 2,100 hp (1,508 Kw), making it a match for the P-51D Mustang fighters escorting Allied bombers in raids over Germany. Even so, operational necessity meant that the D-9 was often used in the ground attack and close air support (CAS) roles.The stretched nose fairing needed to accommodate the in-line Jumo 213 earned the D-9 its other nickname: ‘Langenase’ or ‘long nose.’
The North American F-86F Sabre is a day, clear weather, transonic fighter-interceptor with a secondary ground attack capability. The foremost US fighter of the Korean War (1950-53), the F-86 was the only Allied jet that could hold its own – and in the right hands, outmatch - the Russian-made MiG-15s over the bitterly-contested North Korean airspace known as ‘MiG Alley’.
The F-86F is armed with six .50 in/12.7 mm Colt-Browning М3 machine guns, with a rate of fire of 1100 rounds per minute and 300 rounds per gun. A game-changer at the time, the Sabre’s excellent APG-30 gunsight helped give it the edge in dogfights, enabling accurate fire at longer ranges. It can also carry two AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles. For air-to-ground strikes the F-86 can deliver up to sixteen HVAR unguided rockets or pairs of AN-M64 500lb or M117 750lb General Purpose bombs.
Powered by a single General Electric J47-GE-27 turbojet providing 5,910 lbs of thrust, the F-86F has a maximum speed of 595 knots at sea level, a rate of climb of 9,000 fpm to 49,600 feet and a combat radius of about 600 nautical miles.
Almost 10,000 were built, making the F-86 the most-produced Western jet-fighter of all time. Exported to many countries, it saw service with almost 30 air forces. It last saw action flying in Pakistani Air Force colors during the 1971 war with India.
Experience the strengths and challenges of the Sabre in combat and find out why seasoned fighter pilots often look back on it as the most enjoyable aircraft they ever flew.
The Su-33 is an all-weather air superiority and maritime strike fighter with a primary role of Fleet Air Defence. A carrier-based version of the superb Su-27, the Su-33 (NATO designation Flanker D) has been the backbone of Russian aircraft carrier aviation since entering service in 1995. Able to carry a wide range of powerful air-to-surface weapons and anti-ship missiles, the Flanker D has true multirole capability.
The Su-33 is equipped with an advanced pulse doppler radar (Slot Back) and an Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system that can automatically detect, identify, track and engage up to ten aerial and ground-based targets. The Flanker D can carry a wide range of semi-active and active-radar guided as well as IR and extended range (ER) missiles such as the R-73 (AA-11 Archer) and R-27E (AA-10 Alamo) on twelve hardpoints. An internal 150-round 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon provides close range punch. For air-to-surface attack, the Su-33 can be armed with many types of unguided bombs, rockets, and cluster munitions.
Twin AL-31F afterburning turbofan engines each produce 15,500 kilogram-force (kgf) of thrust, powering the aircraft to a maximum speed of 2,300km/h and a climb rate of 325m/s. The Su-33’s integral helmet-mounted sight, off-boresight missile capability and maneuverability-enhancing canard wings make it a dangerous opponent in a dogfight.
The Su-27 (NATO codename Flanker B) is a highly-agile, supersonic, twin-engine air-superiority fighter. A mainstay of modern Russian combat aviation, the Su-27’s primary role is as a long-range interceptor, but it is also a superb dogfighter. The Flanker B can carry up to twelve air-to-air missiles - usually a mix of short range R-73s (AA-11 Archer) all-aspect IR and medium-to-long range R-27s (AA-10 Alamo). It also has a fearsome 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon and can deliver unguided bombs, CBUs and rockets in the ground attack role.
Equipped with a powerful (‘Slot Back’, Russian ‘Mech’ or ‘Sword’) pulse doppler radar for optimum lookdown-shootdown capability, the Su-27 also has cutting-edge Infrared Search and Track (IRST) for the passive detection and engagement of aerial targets.
Powered by 2 × Saturn AL-31F turbofans each producing 16,910 lbf of dry thrust and 27,560 lbf with afterburner, the Flanker B has a maximum speed of 2,500 km/h (1,550 mph or Mach 2.35) at altitude and 1,400 km/h (870 mph or Mach 1.13) at sea level and a searing 59,000 ft/min rate of climb. The aircraft has a service ceiling of 62,500 ft and an exceptional range of 3,530 km (2,193 mi; 1,906 nmi) at altitude and 1,340 km (800 mi; 720 nmi) at sea level.
Fast, agile and superbly equipped, the Su-27's ability to maneuver at very slow speed and with a high angle-of-attack make it a dangerous opponent in air combat. Take on the DCS: F-15C Eagle - and see who comes out on top. The J-11A aircraft featured in the game is a Chinese variant of the Russian Su-27 with minor radar modifications and the ability to use R-77 active air-to-air missiles.
The McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather air superiority jet fighter that ranks as one of the best combat aircraft of the modern era. The versatile Eagle has been the mainstay of U.S. air defenses for more than three decades.
The aircraft's AN/APG-63(V) pulse-Doppler radar enables it to detect, identify and engage enemy aircraft at long range with AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-7 Sparrow missiles. For close range dogfights, the Eagle carries AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs and an internal 20 mm M61 Vulcan Gatling gun housed in the starboard wing root.
The F-15C has scored more than 100 air-to-air victories in the service of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. without suffering any confirmed losses – a combat record that speaks for itself
Low wing loading, high thrust-to-weight ratio and large rudders enable the aircraft to turn tightly without losing too much energy, making it a powerful adversary in the hands of a skilled pilot. Twin Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 engines enable the F-15C to climb vertically to 40,000 feet (9,100 m) in less than a minute.
The F-15C first entered service in 1976 and has been widely exported, with 483 built between 1979–1985. King of skies for almost forty years, the DCS F-15C Eagle is one of the most exciting and rewarding DCS aircraft to fly.
The Sukhoi Su-25T 'Grach' (Rook), NATO codename 'Frogfoot', is a Russian-built, single-seat twin-engined aircraft that excels in the close air support, anti-armor and battlefield interdiction roles. A flying tank, the Su-25T can deliver a fearsome array of air-to-ground weaponry from its ten hardpoints. This includes S-25L 340 mm laser-guided rockets; S-8 KOM and S-13 unguided rockets; Kh-25Ml ‘Karen’ ASMs; guided and unguided bombs and a variety of cluster bomb units. For air-to-air combat, the Su-25T carries the R-60 Molniya (AA-8 Aphid) IR homing missile.
Armed with 250 rounds, the Frogfoot’s internal, twin-barrel GSh-2-30 mm autocannon can deliver devastating bursts of 3,000 HEAP/depleted uranium rounds per minute. Additional GSh-23 23 mm gun pods can be fitted. A nose-mounted Kylon PS laser target designator and rangefinder helps ensure accurate fire. Survivability is enhanced by welded-titanium cockpit armor; a rugged avionics system; and a range of countermeasures.
Powered by 2 × Soyuz/Tumansky R-195 turbojets each producing 9,921 lbf of dry thrust, the Frogfoot has a maximum speed of 970 km/h/525 kts at sea level and a combat radius of 1250 km. More than 1,000 Su-25 variants have been built since it entered service in 1978.
The Soviet Air Force flew some 60,000 Su-25 missions during the Soviet-Afghan War for the loss of no more than 24 aircraft. In September 2015, Russia deployed a squadron of Su-25s to Syria to support the offensive against ISIS. The devastation the Frogfoot can wreak on ground targets has to be seen to be believed. Strap in and feel the power.
The A-10A Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog, is a 'flying gun'. The aircraft was used extensively during Operation Desert Storm, in support of NATO operations in response to the Kosovo crisis, in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The A-10A is a high-survivability and versatile aircraft, popular with pilots for the 'get home' effectiveness. The mission of the aircraft is ground attack against tanks, armored vehicles and installations, and close air support of ground forces. The Warthog is famous for its massive 30mm cannon, but it can also be armed with Maverick guided missiles and several types of bombs and rockets.
DCS: Flaming Cliffs 3 (FC3) is the next evolution of the Flaming Cliffs series. FC3 features the F-15C, A-10A, Su-27, Su-33, MiG-29A, MiG-29S, Su-25T, and Su-25. The J-11A aircraft featured in the game is a Chinese variant of the Russian Su-27 with minor radar modifications and the ability to use R-77 active air-to-air missiles. FC3 aircraft provide an easy learning curve for new players and focuses on a broad range of aircraft rather than a detailed single aircraft. FC3 adds a number of new features and improvements to previous versions of the Flaming Cliffs series. FC3 is a module of DCS: World, which makes it compatible with all other DCS: World titles like A-10C, Black Shark 2, P-51D, and Combined Arms.
The P-51D Mustang is not only one of the most iconic aircraft ever built, it is also arguably the most effective all-round fighter-bomber of WW2. Armed with six .50 caliber Browning machine guns, the Mustang was also able to carry either two bombs or up to ten unguided rockets.
The Mustang began combat operations with the RAF in April 1942, immediately proving its effectiveness both as a fighter and in ‘Rhubarb’ low-level fighter-bomber attacks against enemy airfields, supply trains and in the close air support role. It was especially dominant in dogfights above 20,000. With its graceful lines, distinctive bubble canopy and clipped wings, the ‘D’ variant rapidly became the mainstay of the United States 8th Air Force in Europe.
Powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the two-speed, two-stage supercharged Rolls-Royce Merlin 66, the Mustang had a maximum speed of 390 miles per hour and a combat range of roughly 750 miles (1,200 km). The use of external drop tanks increased the P-51D’s operational range to 1,375 miles (2,200 km), enabling it to escort Allied bombers on long-range missions to the heart of Germany. The P-51D played a major role in establishing Allied air superiority during the June, 1944 D-Day invasion of Normandy, and in maintaining air supremacy as Allied forces fought their way towards Berlin.
Mustang pilots chalked up almost 5,000 victories over enemy aircraft in WW2. The DCS: P-51D is a superb module. Fly it and see for yourself.
