Eagle Dynamics clarifies MiG-29 plans

2–3 minutes

This Friday’s DCS World Weekend News update gave us our best picture yet of what Eagle Dynamics is planning for their previously teased and then revealed DCS: MiG-29 plans. The full fidelity Fulcrum’s early access and full release plans were mostly clear except for one or two items that the community wanted to know more about. Fortunately, we have answers to those questions now in hand.

Of IFF and PFM

Shared by Eagle Dynamics Community Manager NineLine, we have answers to two questions that have come up surrounding the DCS: MiG-29.

Many were wondering what kind of flight model we’d see with the aircraft. While the 3D model is visually likely to see some additional work, the Flaming Cliffs 3 MiG-29 already features a PFM (professional flight model) implementation which is the highest level of fidelity on offer. NineLine clarifies what changes they plan to make:

Full-fidelity MiG-29 will use the same flight model. Actually, that’s not 100% accurate. The autopilot will receive new functionality and modes, and certain issues with closed-loop system stability will be corrected, along with new undercarriage characteristics. But the core FM is probably one of the most accurate we have.

NineLine on r/Hoggit

That seems reasonable as the MiG-29 in Flaming Cliffs already has incredible fidelity. The benefits of the DCS World MiG-29 release will be more to do with systems being simulated in-depth. A few tweaks such as the autopilot system, and “undercarriage characteristics” which I assume to mean the new technology that Eagle Dynamics is currently working on starting with the DCS: Mosquito also make sense as a natural progression of their development.

The second one is about IFF which, if you’ll recall the post on Friday, said that IFF implementation would be a part of the full release. Now we know that there’s more of a two step process:

On release of the MiG-29A, it will include a basic IFF system, later on after some RnD we will create a more advanced IFF system. This was the plan from the start, it was just lost in drawing up the newsletter, we apologize for any concerns it might have caused. Thanks!

NineLine on r/Hoggit

This one was the read headscratcher for me but now makes much more sense. A basic IFF system is all that many even DCS World level modules have and so a more sophisticated implementation coming later on is reasonable.

14 responses to “Eagle Dynamics clarifies MiG-29 plans”

  1. beggyg Avatar
    beggyg

    I wonder what will be the closest bluefor aircraft in time to the Mig-29A? In terms of the version release date and weapons. I assume the F-1 is a little old and the F-16 or M-2000 a little new. The Tomcat, perhaps? I hope we can fly with the same weapons as on the Flaming Cliffs version. As the Mig-29 and F-16 are, to my eyes, possibly the best looking jet fighters ever made I am particularly happy that we are getting this. I say possibly because I change my mind on this quite a bit 😀

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Mirage 2000 is closest to the MiG-29 for first flight dates (less than a year apart) but if memory serves the M2000C we have is a 90s era version while our MiG-29 will be configured as it was in the 90s but not nearly as upgraded as the 2000. Still, close enough to offer up some good fights I suspect.

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    2. kosmos224 Avatar
      kosmos224

      The MiG-29 was designed to counter the F-16 and F-18. But since the full fidelity version that we will have is the export version, I think that we will not have all the potential of the 29 to use against its Western counterparts.

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    3. Urgent Siesta Avatar
      Urgent Siesta

      In terms of technology, Tomcat, Harrier, and Viggen for sure (all just a couple years older).

      The thing to really keep in mind is that BluFor jets have been vastly ahead of RedFor in terms of tech, weps and systems for a very long time now.

      And with the fall of the USSR in the 90s, that gap became a chasm.

      so it may come as a surprise that Hornet Lot 20 and Viper Block 50 as they are in the game are VERY much contemporaries of Mig-29A. With very few exceptions, they would’ve faced each other if the balloon had gone up.

      IIRC, the only things that are “too new” are things like JHCMS, aim9x, some minor avionics, and some of the precision air to ground weapons like JDAM and such.

      Even the AMRAAM is in scope as it entered service in 1991!

      So, it will be easy to come up with scenarios that simply exclude the minor and mostly irrelevant weps/Sys to make realistic time period combat.

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      1. ehunt19 Avatar
        ehunt19

        No. Bl. 50 / 52 is a far later aircraft as the airframe started to be built from the 1990s (while the -29A started to be built in the late ’80s) but the former’s capability is mid-90s even at the outset. The base model Bl. 50 has systems far more advanced than the Mig-29 (arguably even than the MiG models today) let alone the high-end major elements and weapons.

        A Bl. 50 will kick a -29A up and down the park.

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  2. Canada One Avatar
    Canada One

    Still not sure about this one. I’m not an A2A guy and I already have the FC3 version, which is nice, but I don’t fly it often.

    If this was the SU-33 or the SU-25A, I’d grab it right away. Still might get the Mig-29, but maybe later on.

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      I’m still hoping for a Su-25A perhaps after the MiG-29 is done. I think its possible!

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    2. Urgent Siesta Avatar
      Urgent Siesta

      Yeah, if you’re mostly a ground pounder this one may not make much sense. Though it does have decent “Iron Bomber” capabilities (at least in FC3!).

      The thing I’m mostly interested in is the contrast to Western jets and the cockpit interactions with accurate switchology & systems.

      Western exchange fighter pilots who cross trained on the Mig-29 said it’s a formidable dog fighter (especially with the helmet mounted sight that Western jets didn’t have until JHCMS came out many years later).

      But interestingly, the Human Factors / UX design of the -29 cockpit was so INefficient that it was much harder to fight effectively with it than its Western counterparts.

      Probably the modern -29/-35’s and Su-30s are much improved in this regard.

      All in all, it’s a jet that I cannot resist (even tho I’m at best an average A2A guy) – and I suspect it will be a very popular module. 🙂

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    3. bfr Avatar
      bfr

      What price they set for it is going to be interesting too.

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      1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        I would assume it will be priced similar or the same as other high fidelity projects. Though the PFM is the same, it’s mostly a complete overhaul of the model and the systems work is all new.

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      2. bfr Avatar
        bfr

        Maybe. Although I wonder if because there is at least some work saved in terms of what they can carry forward from the FC3 version, plus it not sounding like the post-launch ‘to do’ list will be quite as long as the likes of the Hornet/Viper, that it might come in at a slightly lower point (say around the $50 mark rather than $60/$70+)

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      3. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        I don’t think there’s as much that will be carried forward as some people think.

        We’ve heard it’s a new 3D model in and out, the systems programming which always takes the longest is of course the biggest piece here and so only the flight model, which is not insubstantial of course, is really carried forward. They’d be justified in this being offered in that more premium pricing range.

        I’ve seen people asking about a discount from the FC3 version but I don’t think that’s likely.

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  3. Dimitri Avatar
    Dimitri

    I totally see modders using this to make the S variant as well, as the cockpits are nearly identical. Low hanging fruit for having more up-to-date Fulcrum variants with Fox3s.

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  4. Urgent Siesta Avatar
    Urgent Siesta

    my understanding is that we’re getting an export model Mig-29.

    those didn’t deploy, at the very earliest, until 1988-1989.

    Falcon C block 50 delivered in 1991.

    Hornet C started delivery in the very late 1980s, and got uprated engines & amraams around 1991. I.e., most of the “important” stuff.

    If you examine the equipment updates of Viper & Hornet, it’s easy to see that it’s mainly advanced weapons and sensors that differentiate from the earlier blocks/lots (like JHCMS, AIM9X, and advanced PGMs).

    Given all these details and the service life spans of modern combat jests, it’s extremely plausible that these birds wouldve faced off in an ETO conflict save for some relatively minor differences that are easily disabled in DCS.

    In other words, DCS scenarios featuring these aircraft are more than reasonably realistic.

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