DCS: A-10C Warthog is a PC simulation of the U.S. premier Close Air Support attack aircraft. This is the second aircraft in the DCS series, following DCS: Black Shark, and raises the bar even higher in the DCS series. Warthog brings the most realistic PC simulation of a modern fixed wing combat aircraft in regards to flight dynamics, avionics, sensors, and weapon systems. You also have the option to play Warthog in "Game" mode for a casual game experience. Fly missions in the Caucasus region of the Black Sea against and with a wide array of air, land and sea forces with new and improved intelligence. Create your own missions and campaigns with the included Mission and Campaign Editors, and fly with and against friends online using the included online game browser.
The Litening II AT targeting pod allows the pilot to detect, identify, track, and engage targets day or night. The TGP has two camera modes: optical (from CCD) and infrared (FLIR) in white-hot and black-hot modes.
The main modes of TGP include "Air-Ground" (AG), "Air-Air" (AA) and "Standby" (STBY). Each of these modes has a corresponding Control (CNTL) page, making it possible to adjust functional parameters of the TGP. Thus, the TGP has 6 different MFCD pages.
The TGP has both Wide and Narrow field of views in addition to digital zoom. The tracking modes include INR (inertial), AREA, and POINT.
In addition to the camera functions, the TGP can also laser designate and detect and track a laser designation in Laser Spot Search (LSS) and Laser Spot Track (LST) modes.
When in Air-Air mode, the TGP can be used to lock onto another aircraft and automatically track it. You can also lock a target and skew the AIM-9 to the target.
The TGP can also have its line of sight slaved to the SPI. Conversely, you can use the TGP to create the SPI and slave other weapons and sensors to it.
Using the SADL system, players can send and receive text messages between flight members.
The Message system is also used to received digital 9-line briefings from Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC).
When a Maverick is loaded and selected for display on one of the MFCD, video from the seeker can be displayed either in SENSOR or WEAPON modes. Accurate Maverick functions for the A-10C are included: centroid track mode, force correlate track mode, break lock mode, boresight setting mode, slew rate adjustment, and tracking procedures.
The STAT MFCD page allows the pilot to view the status of all stations and Line Replaceable Units (LRU). The STAT page is a useful page for diagnosing system problems. This page can also be used to adjust slew rates for the TDC/TAD/TGP cursor.
When a mission is created/edited in the Mission Editor/Mission Planner, the navigation and weapons data needs to be "virtually" loaded into the jet from a Data Transfer Cartridge when performing a ramp start. This MFCD page allows the pilot to select what data to load/re-load.
The EGI is the main navigation system of A-10C and it provides the ability to accurately determine coordinates (including altitude and spatial orientation) anywhere in the world. There are two main panels that are used to interface with the EGI: The Control Display Unit (CDU) and the Auxiliary Avionics Panel (AAP). Many of these panel functions can also be duplicated on the Up Front Controller (UFC) and MFCDs.
As a backup to the EGI, the HARS navigation system is also modeled.
The CDU is located on the right console above the AAP and consists of a display widow, six Function Select Keys (FSK), Line Select Keys (LSK) on either side of the display, an alphanumeric keyboard, and several other switches and buttons.
APP is also located below the CDU and is used to control power to the CDU and EGI. It also consists of a switch and two rotaries.
Working with EGI is based on a set of 2,077 waypoints loaded into the CDU. This database is usually created in advance in the Mission Editor, but can be edited while in-flight. Using the EGI CDU the pilot can create and edit flight plans, create new waypoints, set up navigation parameters, set divert airfields, create mark points, etc.
Other A-10C navigation systems included are TACAN and ILS.
