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Since more and more of us are getting the mighty Viper, this post is going to go through the steps you need to do to get the full functionality of datalink, rather than just the basic functions that you get with a dynamic spawn. Full functionality gives you the ability to not only share targets with the push of a button, but you can see what targets your team members are targeting, both air to air and air to ground on the HSD, you can hook team members via the HSD and have visual cues as to where they are in the helmet, In general its a real situational awareness huge plus especially in air to air. On top of that it allows for the full power of the HTS pod to be utilised, and quickly get PGML 1 locks on enemy SAM's which are accurate enough to use JDAM's on, negated the enemies ability to turn of its search radar when HARM's are employed. Once you have done it a few times, it is very easy, and takes a minute, and can be done at the airfield before moving. It is however critical it is done perfectly, otherwise it will not work. First up, press the LIST button, then hit the ENTER button, then use the DOBBER switch and go right twice, this will show the STN page on the DED, see below, Next we have to populate the STN numbers. These are 5 digit octal numbers, and there are 8 available slots, for a total of 8 team members. The critical thing here is, that everyone populates this list with the same numbers. I suggest we use the same numbers as a Dogz standard and just use, 00200 00201 00202 00203 etc up to 00207. We only need to populate with enough numbers as vipers flying. To enter these numbers you need to Dobber up and down until the Asterix's are bracketing the slot you want to enter, In this screenshot number 2 slot is ready to be set, as shown by the Asterix's bracketing it. once the number is typed in via the ICP, press enter on the ICP. Lastly everyone needs to pick a unique own ship number between 1 and 8, which we will have to allocate there and then on comms, to get to that, dobber down until the own ship number is bracketed, as shown below, Enter your number and press Enter. That is the Datalink set up. To get the full HTS pod functionality, one extra step has to be taken to add to the TDOA network, and that is to add the T in front of the STN number. this is quick and easy, just dobber down in front of each STN number to get the Asterix's either side of that position as shown by there position in the first screenshot, and type any number on the ICP and the T will appear, that' all that need to be done. Happy flying!

A bit of advice to those new to Beyond Visual Range weapons employment; the Crank is the most fundamental tactic to be employed and if you don't know it or how to use it you are putting yourself at a significant disadvantage when engaging other BVR capable enemies in DCS. The purpose of the Crank is as follows: To limit your downrange travel by reducing your relative velocity towards the enemy thus keeping you further from the enemy (and potentially out of his weapons employment envelope) till the time your missile impacts than if you had kept driving toward the bandit To reduce the weapons employment envelope of the bandit by significantly offsetting the intercept point, causing (i) any missile he employs to pull a significant amount of lead and thus expend energy, and (ii) extending the flight time of that missile and thus depleting it of further energy and reducing it's terminal phase manoeuvrability and therefore lethality.

Fake news 🤔

UPDATE 3rd June A difficult night with the enemy putting up strong resistance via multiple air threats and long range SAM defences. After valid efforts from myself, @fruitbat, @BluBear, @delta7, @wingflyr and @DD_Fenrir (well a bit at the end, but still appreciated) we managed to capture Anapa. We have now reached the end of the move up the coast toward the west and will now be starting our fight moving more inland and eastwards. Well done chaps. NOTE: High Command would like to see @delta7 at HQ first thing Monday morning to discuss how he managed to take out our AWACS plane, causing us to have problems locating targets for the rest of the mission. Luckily HQ have been able to call up on the reserves and another unit is on station providing the data-link information.

Viper Squad: GO!

Good man! Want any help or have any questions, feel free to ask

I know another person who bought the F-16 after he had enough of getting shot down in the sluggish Su 25T when doing SEAD missions over and over again 😉 I've heard he will join you once he finds time to fly again and has prepared the basic controls

Surely "he won't regret it BB? Ok, I think this "joke" has gone on long enough. The F16 Delta will give you so many many more options in the DCS missions we fly, even I am aware of that. Some say you are managing weapons systems as well as flying but the satisfaction of being able to take out a target from 20,000 feet IS very satisfying when you have done the work to make it happen.

Welcome to the Viper club Dave('s friend), you won't regret it!

My friend had to break open the piggy bank and dust off his finest Scottish pound notes to purchase this

Did "your friend" buy it or does he have it on trial?

Yes it's good learning basics and how to do air to air

Does your friend like it?

Sure, no problem.

Thanks I have found some, @fruitbatdon't think I will make tonight but might pick your brains later if that's ok

@delta7 If you want to save yourself a lot of time, I can go through with you what are particular things you really need to have mapped to your hotas, and what isn't as important, plus cockpit setup. Plus anything else really. But if you don't want to go down that route, grim reapers vids will be ok. I am actually around this evening, and was going to ask colin if he wanted to fly anyways, if you happen to be free.

Grim Reapers and Chucks Guide will help

Any good advice/ tutorials for F16 - asking for a friend 😚

Only for offline missions I guess, not when using Multiplayer and connecting to a server.

UPDATE 26th June 2025 We will be running the latest version this evening. Please see below the changes since our last version 1.4.9 Added NoSA10AndSA11. Now include SA-15 that will be downgraded to SA-8. This can be toggled in the editor. Added to the Escort A10, F15E and Herc. "Flight sweep" and "Engage if engaged" Tweaks to the Dynamic shop items across all. Changed Jtac is now immortal. they get killed by blue players. Also, forced EPLRS ON (Datalink) Changed The shop Select Target menu Now include waypoint number and will be sorted by the numbers, from lowest to highest. Changed Blue side when era is cold war to suit that time period. Fixed issue with Hercules and CTLD they could not be dropped on the ground from the air. Fixed CTLD Capture troops. In some instances they would only capture ( first group) second would not upgrade Performance tweaks to AIEN, zone patrolling. Before, when the ground was about to move, it checked the distance on the road vs offroad, which cost a lot using findPathOnRoads. Now that result of the first check if it decide to use On Road, it will use that path by storing it. Also, zone patrol will not move if AIEN have marked them as UnderAttack since they might move due to reaction. I also store each subzone, if they are near the road and there are many of them. At least 10-15 per zone. This happens at mission start hence the load time might be longer. I even store the distance between each zone and which zone are closest to player zone and much more. All this happens at mission start to keep the flow under the mission. Fixed a bug that could kill the server when bought twice DYNAMIC CAP, Dynamic bomber and Dynamic SEAD. only those 3. Added Dynamic spawn on the CTLD FARP. ( Those don't have any template ) Added CTLD farp zons to be a valid supply zone. Added the possibility to drop off CSAR pilots inside of CTLD zones. Increased CSAR credit payout from 100 to 300 Fixed a bug in CSAR when AI or player without credits ejected, the message of pilot in need of rescue would not come even when asked manually from the CSAR menu. Removed Trace from the script that was i forgot to disable Fixed bugs bugs across the board.

Salute, I don't know if this has always been a thing and it has been hiding from me in plain sight or if it is new but it appears, as mission designer, what ever settings I choose to build into the mission can be over-ridden to suit your own personal choice. See below the two screen shots

Looks like I have bought it. Just need to calibrate pointCTRL and go through the video settings. Should be done this week (I get quite busy sometimes)