11 February 2022

Dear Fighter Pilots, Partners and Friends,

VKB is preparing their new WWII lineup of controllers, which look very promising for DCS. It includes a radically revised KG12 grip and a brand new throttle lever head. The new version of the legendary KG12 grip is not a mere facelift of the grip that brought VKB's Gladiator joysticks to fame, but is a deeply re-imagined model that looks and feels richer with a more versatile set of functions for DCS warbirds.

The new implementation of infrared (IR) thermal imaging in DCS is progressing well. The technology is based on a number of physical principles within the nature of thermal radiation and absorption. Please read the details below.

As we continue to improve DCS core and update existing 3D models; we are keen to share the progress being made on the S-3B Viking. Please see our Development Screenshots.

Thank you for your passion and support.

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics Team

VKB Sim

WWII Hardware

A matching throttle lever and grip based on authentic designs of certain WWII German aircraft. It complements the KG12 and offers an unprecedented immersive experience when flying piston warbirds with the tactile ergonomics of that era. The new throttle lever and grip will be mounted on VKB's highly popular THQ throttle quadrants, part of the Gladiator NXT modular flight control system. Available soon.

FLIR

Development Progress

Our new FLIR technology is progressing well. It takes into account how various terrain elements are rendered in the IR spectrum. This includes large masses of water, vegetation, asphalt and concrete that have high thermal retention capacities. These gradually heat up and cool down at different rates depending on the color and material. This leads to bodies of water and forests looking cooler during the day and at night time seeming warmer.

Houses, buildings, runways and many other man-made structures often look warmer at night as they have absorbed heat during the day and are clearly visible in the IR spectrum. In addition to the dynamic nature of all vehicles and changing heat signatures, which are dependent on their movement, we will continue to tune the terrains, associated map objects and vehicles to bring you these enhancements in time for the DCS: AH-64D Early Access launch. We are confident that the new FLIR technology will be available across all compatible sensors deployed in DCS.

S-3B Viking

Development Progress

The S-3B Viking is a carrier-based, subsonic, all-weather, long-range, multi-mission aircraft that carries automated weapon systems. It is also capable of extended missions with aerial refueling. The Viking was originally used by the U.S Navy for anti-submarine warfare, but it has also provided electronic warfare and surface surveillance for large battle groups.

The S-3B variant features upgraded avionics: the AN/APS-137 inverse synthetic aperture radar, Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, and AGM-84 Harpoon launch capabilities. The aircraft has two underwing hardpoints for fuel tanks, cluster bombs, missiles, rockets, and storage pods. It also has four internal bomb bay stations that can be used to carry general-purpose bombs and special stores.

We hope that this progress report was to your satisfaction and we patiently await your feedback.

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics Team