The AH-64 Apache helicopter gunship is a now legendary aircraft featured in many documentaries, movies, video games, and it has entered into the public consciousness like few other military helicopters except maybe the Russian Mi-24 Hind. Now it’s coming to DCS World as Eagle Dynamics next big feature aircraft. As of today, you can pre-order it!
Ultimate weapon
Released earlier this morning, “THE ULTIMATE WEAPON” trailer released which acts as a pre-order trailer for the soon to be released DCS: AH-64D. With all of the care and attention to detail that you’d expect, the latest trailer features impressive visuals of the helicopter with plenty of shots of it in action engaging various vehicle and infantry targets. The IR display is a prominent feature and likely means that Eagle Dynamics is going to be putting a lot of time and effort to finally improve the visuals of the IR system (something we’ve already seen happening behind the scenes with recent releases).
Check out the trailer here!
Pre-order now, early access coming soon
Eagle Dynamics has just updated their store with a new pre-order for the DCS: AH-64D. This helicopter is carrying a premium price of $79.99 USD similar to other types like the DCS: F-16C and DCS: F/A-18C Hornet. Given the sophistication of its avionics, it’s perhaps not too surprising that this helicopter has reached up to the same level.
Pre-order discount, much like with the Hind, will knock some of that price off putting it at $55.99 USD from now until sometime around the time of early access release.
Speaking of early access, Eagle Dynamics has posted a full list of features they intend to include in the early access initial offering and a second list showcasing what they intend to add between initial release and full and final release. Here is that list:
At Early Access release:
- Professional flight dynamics and engine modelling with high precision characteristics of the real aircraft in all ranges of altitude, temperature and speeds for different weights and flight configurations
- Two 6DOF highly detailed cockpits and external model
- Fully clickable cockpits with mouse interactive control
- Multi-crew. A second crew member can be another player or the “George” AI
- Detailed modeling of the entire electrical, fuel, hydraulic, pneumatic, fire protection, SCAS, hold modes, and radio systems
- Full modeling of armament and weapons systems with ability to use 30mm chain gun, 2.75” rockets, and AGM-114K Hellfire anti tank guided missiles in Direct, Low, and High modes
- External fuel tanks
- IHADSS, MPNVS, and MTADS/TEDAC systems and sensors
- Linear Motion Compensator (LMC)
- Tactical Situation Display (TSD) with moving map
- Defensive systems that include the Common Missile Warning System, chaff and flare dispensers, and radar warning receiver
- U.S. Army and Other Paint Schemes
- Night Vision Goggles
- Search Light
- Early Access Manual
- Training Missions
At final release:
- Fire Control Radar (FCR) and Radio Interferometer (RFI)
- Addition of the AGM-114L Radar-Guided Hellfire
- Data Link System to share and assign targets between flight members
- TADS Multi-Target Tracker (MTT)
- Laser Warning System
- Radar Jammer
- Anti-Ice System
- Advanced Damage Modeling
- Additional liveries and livery template
- Full English (full list of languages is TBD)
- Campaign by Eagle Dynamics
If you’re interested, head over to the DCS World Store here for the pre-order.
Stormbirds 
it’s also on the available on Steam Store, with a release date of 01 December 2021, probably a place older date but still. This is gonna be a fun one!
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Not surprised at the price at all. It’s more complex & more sophisticated than the A-10C by far!
Looking around at the Features/Cost of addons in other sims, DCS World remains an incredibly good value considering the simulation quality and game-play features it offers.
I’m a little surprised Data Link isn’t included in EA, as that’s a pretty standard DCS feature by now. I guess developmentally it’s linked to the LongBow radar, but still…
I’ve been transitioning from Black Shark to ramping up time in Hind (it’s such a genuine challenging pleasure to fly & operate!), but – of course -Apache will instantly become The New Shiny!
In reality, I’ll continue to give time to Black Shark and Hind just for the unique experience each offers 🙂
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Just ordered! 😎
I somehow got a hunch that my year’s end holiday is going to be a pretty busy one.
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Got it. I want that ultimate FLIR goodness.
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Ordered. I can’t help but think this is gonna be a blast to fly and operate.
How long is it usually from PreOrder to EA?
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Typically around 6-8 weeks. Sounds long but it’ll go past quickly with the training videos coming out every so often.
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Not pre-ordening would be foolish. I would have to wait for years to get that 30 percent discount again. I have been flying the Apache on PC for 20-some years (as some other people here I’m sure) … Jane’s Longbow, EEAH, Apache : Air Assault, even the Apache Mod in ARMA 3 !
This is going to be such a challenge to even get the DCS version … in the air !? 🙂
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If you can fly the Hind, Hip or Huey this should be fairly straightforward to manage. I’ve read that the Apache is relatively easy to fly as helicopters go.
I’m sure the systems will take some getting used to, however.
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You are probably right Shamrockonfive, and I am familiar with (some/many of) of the instruments as well because of past (longbow game-) experiences, but doing this all together with the so many keybinds I expect to be necessary for the study-sim DCS AH-64D … well this will most probably still be one helluva learning curve for me.
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It’s going to be very interesting to try out. I don’t have that background so I’ll be learning from the ground up.
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SHAMROCKONFIVE I don’t think I will need less learning than you do ! The Apache Longbow I flew in all those previous GAMES were not at all at a study level. In a few mouse clicks my apache was ready for take-off and in some of the games it was *far to easy*. Apache : Air Assault did give me a bit of the ‘helo’ feeling/knowledge one desperately needs to master for other helicopters in DCS, but still … am curious, and I will have to give the DCS version my best shot.
OTOH there will be lots of YouTube vids made by (DCS heli-) experts … I’ll need to watch those for sure !
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Did preorder. Any news on the Black Shark 3 Update?
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Not for a little while. I’m hopeful we’ll see it before the end of the year!
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In the pre-order do they allow you do access training/missions before December 1st?
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Hi Colton. Training videos will very likely be publicly available as they have for previous releases. Several will probably come before release. Others after.
December 1st is also an ETA given to Steam Store but doesn’t guarantee release by that date so don’t count on it as a hard date.
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