This is a big update for the default branch of the game and adds all the improvements and additions from the DetectionBeta branch.
Quick Rundown of Improvements & Additions
1. New 9K330 Tor unit for REDFOR. This is a long range (12km) SACLOS Radar guided SAM missile.
2. New "HERO" external model for the Kiowa Warrior.
3. New Visual, Thermal, Radar (VTR) detection system where every unit in the game now has a unique 360 degree profile which determines its detectability via Visual, Thermal or Radar sources.
4. New AGM-144 Sidearm anti-radiation missile
5. Pulse and Doppler radar modelling which determines how well these Radar sources can detect you depending on your relative motion.
6. New flyable Harrier GR.9. This is essentially a test of the VTOL transition system which will be used on helicopters such as the Osprey. However, the Harrier also showcases how flyable fixed wing aircraft can be integrated into the game.
7. New Threat Display which now shows incoming and outgoing missiles as well as where Radar threats are originating from, their type and whether they have locked on to you.
8. New countermeasure system included working Chaff!
9. Various new options in the settings menu to tweak not only graphical settings but also how effective countermeasures are allowing you to tweak the gameplay to your preference.
10. Various optimisations to improve RAM/VRAM usage and improve frame rates overall.
9K330 Tor
The 9K330 Tor is a long range (12km) SACLOS Radar guided missile which will definitely changes the way you approach missions. Flying high is now a risky manoeuvre when these SAM launchers are present in the mission area.
While they are long ranged and carry a big warhead you can employ lots of different tactics to defeat them.
- Stay low - Hiding behind terrain so that they never see you will always be the best option.
- Use SACLOS against them - When the missile is launched the launching vehicle must maintain a constant lock on you to guide the missile in. Break that lock and the missile will not track you and you can do this by breaking line of sight (LOS), using Chaff or destroying the launching vehicle.
- Use the new AGM-144 Sidearm. It can strike Radar emissions up to 15km away!
Visual, Thermal, Radar (VTR) Detection System/u]
All units now have a unique 360 degree VTR profile. These profiles take into account physical sizes of the vehicle, how much heat they output and where this heat is visible from and also the Radar cross-section of the unit.
For example - the AH-1Z helicopter has a much lower Visual detection value when viewed from the front or rear due to its narrow airframe. It also has a much lower Thermal profile when viewed from the front aspect than when viewed from the rear due to engine exhausts. Its Radar profile is, like most helicopters, pretty big from any angle due to the main rotor blades being a giant Radar reflector!
These systems make fairly minor differences between helicopters at the moment. However, when the Comanche makes and appearance then you will instantly see how much better its Thermal and Radar profile is.
Pulse and Doppler Radar Simulation
Pulse and Doppler Radar systems are now simulated so that their ability to detect moving objects is now dependant on your relative movement direction.
Pulse Radar systems generate very weak returns when you are moving directly towards or away from them. However, they receive a very strong return if you are flying parallel to them.
Doppler Radars work the other way around easily detecting you when you move towards them but having more difficulty if you maintain a steady distance from them.
While this sounds great in theory, helicopters, in practice, have a major flaw in that the rotating blades of both the main rotor and tail rotor will ALWAYS be moving in the correct direction to send a strong return no matter the Radar type and, as such, you cannot "notch" a Radar in the same way that a fixed wing aircraft can.
The Harrier though can "notch" a Tor quite effectively.
For reference...
The 9K330 Tor uses a Doppler Radar.
The Shilka uses a Pulse Radar.
New Threat Display
The new Threat Display works in tandem with the new Radar types. Pulse Radars are identified with a double white circle pulse together with the standard yellow line whenever they are detected. Doppler Radars only have the yellow line.
The Threat Display is now also smart enough to mark detected Radar sources permanently allowing it to build up a picture of where most anti air defences are automatically.
AGM-144 Sidearm
This new missile is designed to counter the Tor but it is also effective against the Shilka. It is a fire and forget weapon that will home in on the 1st Radar source that it detects. You simply fire the missile in the general direction and it will do the rest.
The Sidearm is capable of hitting the Tor up to 15km away depending on altitude and launch speed.
The Sidearm can be carried by all helicopters either on a single missile or dual missile rack. The Sidearm now replaces the Apache's and Viper's ability to mount Hellfires/TOW/APKWS on the wing tips which was never really realistic!
Flyable Harrier GR.9
While this started out as a test of the VTOL transition system that will be required on other helicopters, it proved too much fun not to include in the game.
To take off you will need to climb to around 150m vertically in the same way as you would with a helicopter. Once at this altitude retract the landing gear and then point the nose down in a similar way to a helicopter to gain forward speed.
As you gain speed the VTOL system will automatically vector the thrust to the rear. At about 90kts you should be able to pull the nose up and start to gain altitude and speed.
At around 150kts you will be in full aircraft mode and the Harrier can be flown like any other fixed wing aircraft.
Next Beta
The next Beta will be focusing on the Wingman A.I. This A.I. will also power enemy helicopters so expect the mission areas to be come a lot more dynamic in the near future!