13 October 2023

Dear Fighter Pilots, Partners and Friends,

An interesting aspect of the DCS 2.9 update coming soon is a substantial improvement to Voice Chat, and we think you will enjoy it. We would like to extend a special thanks to our Closed Beta testers who have provided valuable feedback to help tune this great feature. 

DCS 2.9 will also see a dramatic improvement in the realism and detail of datalinks in the DCS: F/A-18C, DCS: F-16C Viper, DCS: A-10C II Tank Killer and DCS: AH-64D. Currently, player aircraft are limited to exchanging data within a Mission Editor aircraft group. With 2.9, each aircraft type is assigned a unique identification that is used to create a network. This allows the creation and editing of datalink networks whilst on a mission. 

Get ready for DCS: MAD Black Shark Campaign by Stone Sky. This upcoming campaign will include 12 narrative missions for DCS: Black Shark 3, custom liveries, and missions from Special Operations Forces close air support and combat search and rescue. Stay tuned for the release!

Thank you for your passion and support.

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics

Voice Chat

Improvement

To ensure improved immersion, our new Voice Chat system now uses real-world audio physics to modulate the sound of your voice in order to replicate radio effects. To create more life-like communications, distortions, signal loss, and interference are simulated. These effects will vary based on the era of the radio, meaning, voices in modern aircraft will be clearer than in warbirds. 

We are also making improvements to the radio and Voice Chat Room interfaces, allowing you to find your friends in multiplayer more easily. 

Soon, Voice Chat will be rolled out to all other DCS modules, starting with the ‘Airboss’ for DCS: Supercarrier. We are also working on a separate voice chat program, which will allow you to communicate with units in multiplayer servers without having to actually run the simulator. Please subscribe to the newsletter in the Personal section on our website for more details coming soon!

Datalink

Development Report

Both the F-16C and F/A-18C include the Tactical Network Datalink, or TNDL. This allows the creation and in-mission editing of datalink members. Members can exchange air-to-air and air-to-surface targeting information. Both aircraft types can exchange data with each other.

Please enjoy these videos by Matt Wagner on the DCS: F-16C Viper | Datalink Update and the DCS: F-16C Viper | HARM Targeting Update with TDOA. To get familiar with datalink in the Hornet, make sure to check out the DCS: F/A-18C | Datalink Update video.

DCS 2.9 will also include datalink for the AH-64D. This datalink can currently only exchange data between other AH-64Ds. It features the ability to send and receive participant locations, targets and threats, waypoints and hazards, routes, and more. It also allows the sharing of fuel, ammunition, rockets, missiles, FARM and reports between members. Watch the DCS: AH-64D | Datalink Setup and DCS: AH-64D | Datalink Messaging.

The DCS: A-10C II Tank Killer datalink will also benefit from an update in DCS 2.9, allowing you to configure Track Numbers for A-10C II aircraft as members and donors across groups.

MAD Black Shark

Campaign by Stone Sky

In the upcoming DCS: MAD Black Shark Campaign by Stone Sky, you will take part in a civil war in the Persian Gulf region. Get ready to operate the Ka-50 Black Shark 3 from an aircraft carrier and travel across the entire DCS: Persian Gulf map. This campaign includes both single-player and multiplayer gameplay.

Key Features:

• Missions from Special Operations Forces CAS and CSAR missions
• Assault operations in large cities
• 12 narrative missions with English and Russian localization
• Over 1400 triggers and story radio dialogues
• Custom liveries for KA-50-3, UH-H1, UH-60, JF-17, Su-27, and Su-33
• Detailed documentation and kneeboard
• Multiplayer available for two players

We hope you enjoyed the update on the new Voice Chat features and improvements to the datalinks. Please note that these features are planned for the DCS 2.9 Open Beta update. We look forward to your feedback!

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics