Some big news today as DCS World’s oldest collection of aircraft get a facelift with a Flaming Cliffs 3 update package. There’s also some big updates for the DCS: SA342 Gazelle, the DCS: AJS-37 Viggen and we’ve got our first unified patch update that brings together the open beta and release builds of the game into a single update series. Let’s have a look at the key pieces to this latest update!
Flaming Cliffs 3 receives significant update
Flaming Cliffs 3 aircraft have seen a significant update with several of the aircraft in the pack receiving a visual overhaul. The J-11A, Su-27, Su-33, F-15C and A-10A have received improved cockpit and exterior visuals with PBR texturing techniques applied. It brings these venerable aircraft more fully in line with the latest DCS World visual technology.
The Su-25 does not appear to have received the full update treatment but has seen cockpit colour updates and roughmet materials applied. A step forward there too!
Gazelle updated
The folks at Polychop have been busy getting their DCS: OH-58D Kiowa Warrior ready for release but in the meantime they haven’t neglected the DCS: SA342 Gazelle either.
Yesterday they released a video showcasing some of the visual updates to the helicopter, The key changes include a visual overhaul of the exterior model that includes new and replaced liveries featuring PBR texturing. The exterior model was also altered too.
The update also marks the initial offering of an AI gunner system for the mini-gun variant. The AI can now target and fire with the M134 minigun – a feature that hadn’t been available until now.
Their input system has also seen an overhaul with inputs split into separate categories – pilot, co-pilot and gunner (on the minigun variant). The aircraft will now function as it has if a single player is in the helicopter, however, controls are separated when multiple people occupy the same helicopter.
Future update plans include an English variant cockpit (with Imperial units), an AI pilot/gunner, and new rotor blur system seen on other recent rotary wing modules. Polychop do point out, however, that all hands are now on deck for the release of the OH-58D so further updates will come sometime after that launch.
Big updates for the Viggen
Another big news item was for DCS: AJS-37 Viggen fans with Heatblur announcing that the latest update would bring in a substantial number of updates for the module. The updates include an art revision that includes fixing and revising lighting, adjusting model details, clearer and more accurate warning panels, and updated textures.
The update brings in 100 overall changes which you can read through right here.
Unified patch and key update items
DCS 2.9.3.51704 is also now the first release of the unified update system with the old open beta and release cycle system now ending with everyone now following a slightly slower update cycle. More approachable for newer players and hopefully keeping the community more or less together on major updates and content releases.
Some other highlights I haven’t yet touched on include flight model updates for the F/A-18C Hornet, a fix for a significant datalink bug on the DCS: F-16C, as well as a lengthy list of fixes to both of those modules. RAZBAM’s F-15E saw its own long list of fixes plus new RWR audio warnings, auto release consent for LGB and an updated aircraft model. Aerges Mirage F1 has a new full IFF transponder simulation that is compatible with the M-2000C and F-15E. The update also includes optional Mode 4 IFF for the BE, CE and EE models while the Mirage F1M will have it enabled by default.
The list goes on with new and updated content across a huge list of models. Read the full change log here.
Stormbirds 
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