The DCS: AV-8B is getting some updates in the next open beta (scheduled for today) that include a few standout features. The complete changelog has been published by RAZBAM on their Discord and on Twitter so let’s have a look!
Laser guided rockets
The APKWS laser guided rockets are a recent feature in DCS World having been added to DCS: A-10C II back in the fall. Now, it’s the AV-8B’s turn to get the feature and these weapons along with a series of other systems updates should add more polish to the third party jet.
Changelog DCS AV-8B N/A by RAZBAM Simulations:
- Added: Missing keybinding for seat height adjustment
- Added: JDAM Terminal Parameters are enabled.
- Added: AGR20 – APKWS II guided rockets.
- Updated: USS Tarawa: Changed the missiles from Sea Sparrows to RIM-116 RAMs
- Updated: Changed Course Knob to Course Switch functionality.
- Updated: Rocket options: FFAR rockets (Mighty Mouse) have been deleted.
- Updated: JDAM LAR representation on the EHSD.
- Updated: Added 1.5 sec delay for JDAM release. This is the time the AC computer takes to send the bomb the target coordinates and terminal parameters.
- Updated: High quantity bomb loadouts for consistency in weight and drag.
- Improvement: Engine sounds with the assistance of 112th_Rossi
- Improvement: MPCD converted to Stroke (SVG) symbology.
- Improvement: JDAM Data Block enabled in the EHSD.
- Fixed: Course line not appearing for targetpoints.
- Fixed: WYPT and WO/S position when map is North-UP and Magnetic Heading selected.
- Fixed: Map rotation when it is North-Up and Magnetic Heading selected.
- Fixed: TCN and TO/S position when map is North-Up and Magnetic Heading selected.
The source is Ron Zambrano, CEO of RAZBAM on his Twitter account. The same post was made to their Discord.
Seeing additional updates to the Harrier goes a ways towards assuaging fears provoked by the news last year that the AV-8B was coming out of early access and was going to be considered feature complete. More features like APKWS and updates coming to it seem like a good way to smooth that over. I’m looking forward to making use of them.
Stormbirds 
Hold on….
Harrier was years without fixing serious bugs, even today the TDC movement, system designation warping, and many other critical bugs are unfixed for 2-3 years.
And then everything should be forgotten after one patch at end of last year, and now second that is first in this year?
How about doing 10-20 such patches in next 6-9 months and we can talk about changed attitude toward harrier paid customers?
Really, let’s not turn this to politics where a average voter memory is 1 week, max 2 weeks as then you can lie to them again and they don’t remember what did you say previously.
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Respectfully, I’m not saying any of that.
Fears of the Harrier not receiving further updates is running contrary to updates over the last few months – more updates would of course be appreciated.
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Laser rockets? Hot damn! Love me some laser rockets.
I know the Harrier isn’t perfect, but I still love it.
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Same! I really struggle with the Mavericks on this aircraft as well but some laser guided rockets, if relatively easy to employ, would be very helpful indeed! Once I’m finished with another couple of DCS modules I’ll be jumping back to the Harrier.
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APKWS is bad-ass. Shame about the acronym.
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In the steam newsletter the hornet is carrying slam-er’s
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Excellent! I’m assuming we’ll hear more about them tomorrow.
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ironically, they’ve seemingly put MORE work into the Harrier since it’s been declared Feature Complete than in many times the same period prior 😉
Glad to see they’re standing behind the product and that it’s (finally) being substantively improved. Too bad these birds are mostly gone and fading fast, be nice if the USMC or ES Armada paired up with them as the ADA did with M2K…
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