For the second Friday in a row, we’ve had a major DCS World third party announcement featuring a derivative of Mikoyan’s MiG-23 line-up. Last week, it was Octopus G and the DCS: MiG-27K (a MiG-23 derivative) which is more of a ground attack optimized version of the aircraft. That in itself was a surprise and then along comes word that the MiG-23 is also coming to DCS World. Let’s have a look at the details!
MiG-23M for DCS World
Ugra Media are throwing their hat into the ring of DCS World module development with the announcement that they are now developing a DCS: MiG-23M Flogger. The developer has been known for exclusively map and scenery work for DCS World. They have been previously responsible, in part, for the U-2VS and C-47, and Li-2 in the IL-2 series so this is not technically their first airplane though a full module is something much bigger.
Ugra Media’s goal is to recreate not just how the MiG-23M looks and flies, but how every system on board works, including its real-world limitations, operating modes, and failures. To get there, the team is working from original technical documentation, pilots’ manuals, electrical and hydraulic schematics, factory drawings, and archival photographs and video.
Though this is their first module, the developer obviously has prior DCS World experience and it sounds like they have ambitions to match other developers in the space with quite a high fidelity simulation of this well known Cold War-era fighter and interceptor.
The MiG-23M is an earlier iteration than the one previously under development (and then later stopped) with RAZBAM. This model is slightly slower, though its R-29-300 still gives it one of the fastest acceleration rates of fighters in its generation combined with a high climb rate. Two R-23 missiles (semi-active or IR) along with two or four R-60 IR missiles and a GSh-23L (more “reasonable” than the GSh-6-30A on the MiG-27K) round out its armament. A look-down, shoot-down Sapfir-23D radar and TP-23 IRST round out its sensor suite. The aircraft should find itself right at home in the middle of the Cold War era of jet aircraft providing an interesting adversary for types like the F-4E, F-14A, Mirage F1, and so forth.
As with the Octopus G effort, this appears to be advancing visually but is likely years away from the kind of systems and feature-set that would be required for release. So, excitement is palpable but also tempered as the wait will likely feel long. Still, for fans of Soviet fighters from this era, its reassuring that we’ve finally got a large gap in the aircraft set being eventually plugged by these two swing-wing fighters.
L-39 sale and community video, news
I’ve referenced YouTuber (and 737 pilot) Command T on the blog here before. His comparisons of flight models for Korea IL-2 Series and DCS World reassured me on the overall efficacy of the new sim’s flight model and on its challenges and differences versus DCS World. He’s just released a video (above) that details his experience training to fly an L-39.
Smartly, Eagle Dynamics are offering a flash 40% off sale on the DCS: L-39 for those inspired to go fly it after seeing the video.
This week’s community news continues with a farewell message from the folks at the [4YA] servers. Something I reported on previously.
Leave a Reply