DCS World roadmap

Content is always in development from DCS World developers Eagle Dynamics and from ever growing collection of third party developers. There are plenty of long standing projects by established developers and new upstarts working on their first module for the sim all under development. Here’s a snapshot of what we know.

This roadmap was last updated on April 22, 2024.

Upcoming modules

Core updates

  • In-flight save games – The ability to save a flight halfway through and then come back to it later is being added.
  • New replay system – A more robust replay recording system has been announced.
  • Improved radar – Phase three of an improvement process for more realistic radar is underway.
  • Improved electronic warfare – A more detailed simulation of electronic warfare is planned.
  • DTC (data transfer card) – A unified data transfer capability that can help enable pre-configured aircraft settings, waypoints, etc.
  • Dynamic campaign – This project is still underway and has no suggested ETA at this time. Four developers are dedicated to the project.
  • Vulkan API – Vulkan API will eventually be used by DCS World as a way to boost performance. Its currently in development and may release into open beta in 2024.
  • Air Traffic Control and Radio – New technology updates for ATC (based on Supercarrier) including new radio calls for a wide variety of functions.
  • Spherical Earth Map – Eventually DCS World looks set to bring in a spherical earth map. The map will operate separately from regional maps. This is likely to be a long term project.
  • Weather improvements – Eagle Dynamics have provided dramatic improvements to the weather and are planning more. New fog system, more sophisticated cloud types, and a true dynamic weather system with evolving cloud types and high/low pressure.

Announced aircraft modules

Upcoming aircraft releases

Where possible, this list will now be ordered by release date or expected release date. The closer to the bottom of the list you get, the less accurate the guesses are going to be.

  • DCS: CH-47F (Eagle Dynamics) – The twin rotor Chinook heavy transport helicopter is currently in development. Exterior and interior model work was mostly completed in 2023 and systems and flight model are currently under development. Eagle Dynamics has confirmed a release in June of 2024.
  • DCS: F-4 Phantom (Heatblur) – Work on the Phantom is nearly complete, however, several days have caused the team to push the release towards April or May of 2024.
  • DCS: F6F Hellcat (Eagle Dynamics) – A full fidelity Hellcat simulation is currently in the works from Eagle Dynamics. It, alongside a USS Enterprise (CV-6), will be released as part of a drive towards WWII Pacific content. Early access in 2024 is possible.
  • DCS: MiG-29 Fulcrum-A (Eagle Dynamics) – Ending years of speculation and confirmed as part of the 2024 and Beyond trailer, Eagle Dynamics have confirmed that a full fidelity MiG-29 Fulcrum-A model is on the way. This will be an early 1980s variant and will be available with a helmet sight and R-73 missiles. It might be up for a 2024 release.
  • DCS: Mirage F1 (Aerges) – Initial release happened on July 21, 2022 with the basic Mirage F1CE version. The more capable F1EE was released in early 2023 and the two seat F1BE was released in the autumn. The modernized F1M together with RWR and texture updates are due sometime in 2024.
  • DCS: La-7 (OctopusG) – After a successful launch of DCS: I-16, OctopusG is back with the La-7 focused on the highly successful Lavochkin late war fighter. This module is closing in on completion and may release in 2024.
  • DCS: OH-58 (Polychop) – After a lengthy development period marked by periods of communication and quiet, Polychop have recently begun showing off the module with a series of promotional videos. That may indicate a release sometime in 2024.
  • DCS: MiG-17 (Red Star Simulations) – Steady progress reported on this project. No release date is available but it may be a contender for 2024.
  • DCS: G.91 (IndiaFoxtEcho) – Developer IndiaFoxtEcho is working on three versions of the G.91. An Italian R1B, the German R3, and the PAN aerobatic version. There is no release date.
  • DCS: F4U-1D Corsair (Leatherneck/Magnitude 3) – Shown off from time to time and n development for a long time alongside a companion USS Essex class carrier, there is no expected release date.
  • DCS: MiG-23MLA (RAZBAM) – Under development for several years, recent releases had begun showing off avionics work on the module. Recent disputes between RAZBAM and Eagle Dynamics have likely delayed this project. Further information is unknown.
  • DCS: F8J Crusader (Leatherneck/Magnitude 3) – Announced in 2021. The project has no expected release date and is likely several years away.
  • DCS: MiG-21bis 2.0 (Leatherneck/Magnitude 3) – The classic MiG-21 is being redeveloped with a variety of upgrades across the module including enhanced art and systems modeling. No release date.
  • DCS: Typhoon (TrueGrit and Heatblur) – This project got a big boost from a partnership with Heatblur. Release date is unknown but not expected in 2024.
  • DCS: A-6 Intruder (Heatblur) – Legendary developers Heatblur have announced that they are building an AI and then flyable A-6 Intruder for DCS World. It is expected to take a couple of years to develop and is not expected in 2024.
  • DCS: A-7 Corsair II (Flying Iron Simulations) – The developers have reported that they have completed 3 out of 4 phases of development on the Corsair II. No release date has been given and substantial work does appear to still be ahead of them.
  • DCS: F-100D Super Sabre (Grinnelli Designs) – Being developed by Grinnelli Designs, this Vietnam era fighter-bomber looks to be in the early stages of development. Release date unknown.
  • DCS: Kfir (AVIRON) – Moving into official third party status during the summer of 2022, DCS: Kfir seeks to recreate an Israeli Mirage variant.
  • DCS: C-130 (Airplane Simulation Company) – Officially announced by Eagle Dynamics, this new developer has a complex C-130J simulation underway. Other variants such as a KC-130J and HC-130J are possible. No release date.
  • DCS: Tornado GR1 (AviaStorm) – Officially announced by Eagle Dynamics, this project seeks to simulate a 1989 German Tornado G1 standard aircraft. It has no known release date.
  • DCS: A-1H Skyraider (Crosstail Studios) – Officially announced by Eagle Dynamics and partnered with Echo One Niner Audio Production for audio work. This simulation of the A-1H Skyraider has no release date but has been shown flying in the sim.
  • DCS: F-104 (Aerges) – Following their successful Mirage F1 product, Aerges intend to develop an F-104 Starfighter.
  • PC-9/A (Check Six Simulations) – A simulation of the PC-9/A trainer is under development. No release date has been given at this time and development was still early when it was last shown.

Announced map/scenery modules

  • DCS: Kola (Orbx) – In development with famous scenery creator Orbx, this map will provide a modern rendition of the Kola region. Two campaigns by Reflected and Baltic Dragon have already been announced taking advantage of the new scenery. Coming soon messages suggest a 2024 release.
  • DCS: Top End of Australia (Check Six Simulations) – Check Six Simulations is creating a new map for DCS World featuring Australia’s Western and Northern Territories. The map is home to notable RAAF airbases at Darwin and Tindal. No release date has been provided.
  • DCS: Afghanistan (Eagle Dynamics) – A large scale map featuring 2008-12 era Afghanistan will be released later in 2024. The map will be sold either in a complete format bundle pack or in three separate sectors with low detail areas for unpurchased sections. This map is expected to release sometime in 2024.
  • DCS: Iraq (Eagle Dynamics) – Confirmed in the 2024 and Beyond trailer, DCS: Iraq may be released in 2024. The first phase is expected to cover the Baghdad area and the second phase is expected to fill out parts of the map in the southern regions enabling Desert Storm scenarios.
  • DCS: Marianas WWII (Eagle Dynamics) – A follow-up to the freely available Marianas map by Eagle Dynamics, this map will also be free and provide a WWII era version of the map for era appropriate operations.

Rumoured/unconfirmed modules

  • BO-105 (Miltech-5) – The actual status of this project is a bit murky at the moment, however, the developer continues to show off visual work and updates to the project. Some programming support from RAZBAM was provided at one point during its development.
  • DCS: Su-17/22 “Fitter” (Leatherneck/Magnitude 3) – This Cold War era strike jet has been teased a few times now by the development team. It is not formally announced and has no roadmap or release date.
  • DCS: Su-17/22 (OctopusG) – The modeler behind the DCS: I-16 project has teased an unconfirmed DCS module with cockpit images of the Su-17/22 fighter-bomber. It’s possible that this is a team-up with Leatherneck/Magnitude 3 but its unknown.
  • DCS: IA-58 Pucara (RAZBAM) – RAZBAM have stated a goal of releasing the twin turboprop powered IA-58 Puacara as a DCS module at a later date. Multiple updates showing the project’s work in progress appearance have been displayed so far.
  • DCS: Super Tucano (RAZBAM) – Long on the development list, RAZBAM have been slowly working on the Super Tucano for DCS World. The project has not yet been listed as an official project by Eagle Dynamics and a recent dispute between the two companies may have delayed the project further.
  • DCS: Mirage III (RAZBAM) – Mentioned occasionally over the years by RAZBAM, recent comments and a billboard on the South Atlantic map suggest that the module is moving forward again. Recent disputes may have delayed this module as well if it is indeed in development at all.