DCS Modules

“Modules” is the collective term for all manners of add-on content in DCS World. Be they the planes or terrains or general expansion gizmos, free or for pay, or even much of the community-made stuff, they all qualify as modules and will soon start piling up in the list at the lower edge of the DCS main screen. As a categorising factor, the main DCS install and the user's own DCS content library both contain “mods” directories, and anything that goes in there qualifies.

Indeed, it is almost easier to explain what does not count as modules: namely, individual missions, aircraft liveries (cockpit and aircraft skins), and some custom kneeboards. Everything else, and in particular the stuff you buy from the DCS shop, is a module, as are many of the more advanced tools and plugins that integrate with and add functionality to the game.

The freebies

These modules come included with the free DCS client

• Su-25T “Frogfoot” — an FC3-style simplified simulation of the modernised (and never deployed) Frogfoot.
• TF-51D Mustang — a full simulation of the of a two-seater training variant of the P-51 Mustang.
• Caucasus — the base terrain, setting of the 2008 Russio-Georgian war, covering Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, as well as the Russian Federation republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and Adygea, and the Krasnodar krai.
• Mariana Islands — a second planned free terrain acting as a playground for the upcoming Supercarrier module, covering Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Aircraft modules

The DCS aircraft modules can be separated into four main categories: full-sim jets, helicopters, and prop planes — all of which feature clicky cockpits and advanced systems simulation — and the Flaming Cliffs 3 aircraft, which are simplified, hotkey-driven sims that have been grandfathered in and inherited from Eagle Dynamics' older Lock-On: Modern Air Combat simulator.

The jets

• A-10C Warthog — the poster child DCS module, for all your BRRRRRT needs.
• A-10C II Tank Killer — a feature upgrade to the venerable A-10C module, offering more boom to complement the BRRRRRT.
• AJS-37 Viggen — a Swedish supersonic nap-of-the-earth anti-shipping jet? Gör't (men som early access)!
• AV-8B NA Harrier — can't decide whether you want a plane or a helicopter? Why choose when you can just go VTOL? (early late access)
• C-101EB and CC Aviojet — Spanish airforce jet trainers and aerobatics aircraft (slow-moving early access)
• F-5E-3 Tiger II — a simple and lightweight daytime jet fighter and trainer.
• F-14B Tomcat — an absolute volleyball classic, and the only aircraft with proper, working multicrew (early access).
• F-16C Viper — the quintessential multi-role fighter for those who do not dare dwell into BMS (early access).
• F/A-18C Hornet — for all your carrier-based multi-role needs (early access).
• F-86F Sabre — a venerable Korean-war era early jet fighter.
• Hawk T.1A — RAF jet trainer and aerobatics aircraft Defunct, abandoned in early access and incompatible with newer DCS versions.
• JF-17 Thunder — a joint Chinese-Pakistani multirole fighter intended to offer a platform comparable to the F-16 in terms of performance and capabilities (early access).
• L-39C and ZA Albatros — two-seater (and MP multicrew) Czech training aircraft.
• MiG-15bis — NATO designation “Fagot”, the main adversary of the F-86 Sabre.
• MiG-19P “Farmer B” — An evolution of the older MiG-17 airframe, finally pushing Soviet (and, more famously, North Vietnamese) air power into the supersonic era (early access).
• MiG-21bis — NATO designation “Fishbed”, the world's most common fighter jet, and after all, what's not to love about a supersonic maze of switches with nuclear capabilities?
• Mirage M-2000C — “La baguette”, a French supersonic lightweight multirole aircraft.

The sharks helos

• Ka-50 Black Shark 2 — the oldest and, alongside the A-10, the most iconic of DCS modules, and the similarities with the A-10 do not end there.
• Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight — one of the most common helicopters in the world, and the base chassis of the Mi-17 “Hip”.
• Mi-24P Hind — building on the already ubiquitous platform of the Mi-8, the Hind is one of the most iconic and commonly used attack helicopters of the last 50(!) years.
• SA342L, M, Mistral, and Minigun Gazelle — anti-infantry, anti-tank, anti-air, and fancy light show versions of the Blue Thunder stunt double.
• UH-1H Huey — get your Vietnam on, and then crash due to a burned-out engine.

The props

• Bf 109 K-4 Kurfürst — late-war version of the classic 109.
• Christen Eagle II — an aerobatic biplane to really make your co-op buddies nauseous.
• Fw 190 A-8 — not as iconic as the 109, but still a cornerstone of German air action.
• Fw 190 D-9 Dora — the “long nose Dora” variant was designed to house a bigger engine capable of operating at higher altitides.
• I-16 — colloquially called “Ишак” (the donkey), a stubby little Soviet inter-war plane that became one of the first to come up against the 109 during the Spanish civil war (early access).
• P-47D Thunderbolt — Before there was the A-10 Thunderbolt II, there was the “Jug” — the original Thunderbolt, getting shot up and not caring all that much since time immemorial
• P-51D Mustang — I guess the yanks need to feel like they contributed too…
• Spitfire L.F. Mk. IX — fly a legend. Then try to land it. Good luck.
• Yak-52 — when the L-39 is not trainer enough and WWII is too ancient, there is this late-'70s Soviet prop trainer (early access).

The Flaming Cliffs

Main article: Flaming Cliffs 3

These planes are essentially old LOMAC add-ons that have been reimplemented within DCS. They offer simplified flight modelling and very little in the way of systems modelling compared to the full sims, and also use hotkeys rather than clicky cockpits for controls. While they can be bought individually, one should never do so. Instead, the Flaming Cliffs 3 package contains them all for a much smaller sum.

Eagle Dynamics at one point announced that the The Flaming Cliffs 3 package would be deprecated and replaced by the “Modern Air Combat” module — an expandalone of sorts mainly aimed at attracting new players to the genre in general. However, MAC has since been spun off as its own separate product with no stated connection to DCS beyond vague suggestion that some assets and FC3 modules will be reused.

• A-10A Warthog — for all your simplified BRRRRRT needs.
• F-15C Eagle — everyone loves the SPAMRAAM and now you can too.
• MiG-29A “Fulcrum A” and S “Fulcrum C” — a Russian classic. Remember to check your fuel level. Includes BLUFOR German Luftwaffe variant.
• Shenyang J-11 “Flanker B+” — a Chinese licensed and version of the Su-27. Unlike Su-27, it is capable of using R77 “Adder” or “Amraamski” missiles.
• Su-25 “Frogfoot” — another classic, built on the principle of, why fire one rocket, when you can fire a bajillion rockets?
• Su-27 “Flanker B” — get back at the SPAMRAAMers by doing your own spamming, only without being detected.
• Su-33 “Flanker D” — dito, but now do it from a carrier.

Terrain modules

• The Channel — from Dieppe to Dunkirk, this map covers more of the French northern coast, as well as parts of Sussex and Kent, none of which saw any real action in the 1944 period that DCS WWII-era aircraft are intended to represent.
• Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) — lousy with tourists, nuclear pockmarks, and UFOs, this patch of mountainous desert around Las Vegas offers lots of room and different possibilities for all kinds of training scenarios.
• Normandy 1944 — from Cherbourgh to Le Havre, this map covers not just the French but also a sliver of the English side of the channel, and allows for many recreations of those early days in June.
• Persian Gulf — previously advertised as the “Strait of Hormuz,” this map covers the southern coast of Iran and the northern tips of UAE and Oman. Ghorbanifar-provided Hawk batteries not included.
• Syria — Dip your toes in several of the longest-lasting most politically sticky multi-party conflicts of the modern era. Perfect for when you want to just place a few planes in a mission editor and immediately be labelled a fanatical anti-whatever.

Add-on modules

• Combined Arms — take control over ground forces, either indirectly as a tactical commander or directly as a driver or gunner of most vehicles.
• NS 430 Navigation system — an onboard GPS (totally not the Garmin 430) that works in most aircraft without built-in advanced nav system, and that can be additionally expanded for the Mi-8MTV2 and the L-39 (very early access, possibly abandoned).
• Supercarrier — a closer simulation of carrier operations, most notably on a more detailed and animated version of the Nimitz-class of aircraft carriers (specifically CVN-71 through -75), but which also improves the Russian Kuznetsov carrier and also includes the Su-33.
• WWII Assets Pack — additional static and active units and decorations for mission- and campaigns set on the Normandy 1944 map.

Campaign modules

The paid campaigns for DCS can generally be divided into four different categories: training campaigns, exercises, conflicts, and peaceful tests of operational and systems skills. Aside from the specific aircraft being flown, some campaigns also require other terrain modules. Aside from these, most modules come with one or two built-in campaigns.

Training campaigns

• Basic Flight Training Qualification (BFTQ) for A-10C — a set of flight qualification and performance check rides, including emergency procedures.
• Advanced Aircraft Training Qualification (AATQ) for A-10C — continue form BFT with this set advanced flight task qualifications and performance check rides, including in-air refuelling, night operations, threat avoidance, and unguided weapon delivery.
• Tactical Training Qualification Campaign (TTQC) for A-10C — continue on from AATQ with this set of ground attack qualification and performance check rides, including CAS, SEAD, and interaction with ground forces.
• Aggressors Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM) for F-5E — learn the basics of dissimilar air combat as part of the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB (requires the NTTR terrain module).
• Aggressors Air Combat Maneuver (ACM) for F-5E — move on from BFM to hone your dissimilar air combat skills as part of the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB (requires the NTTR terrain module).
• Aggressors BFM for F-15C — relearn the basics, this time in a heavier, more powerful aircraft, once again joining the Nellis 65th Aggressor Squadron (requires the NTTR terrain module).
• Aggressors BFM for F/A-18C Hornet — be a part of the dissimilar air combat training (DACT) course and the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base (requires the NTTR terrain module).
• Kursant for L-39 — before you're allowed into the larger MiG and Sukhoi interceptors, you must prove your worth as a “kursant” — cadet — in the L-39 training aircraft.

Exercise campaigns

• 16-2 Red Flag for A-10C — join the Red Flag exercise held in Nevada and hone your skills in a complex combat arena (requires the NTTR terrain module).
• 16-2 Red Flag for F-15C — fly CAP and escort for other combat elements as another Red Flag exercise comes to Nevada (requires the NTTR terrain module).
• M-2000C Red Flag Campaign by Baltic Dragon for M-2000C — take on the responsibilities of a multirole aircraft in a Red Flag exercise held in Nevada (requires the NTTR terrain module).
• Red Flag 21-1 for F-16C — Take flight from Nellis AFB, Nevada in an F-16C Viper to test your mettle against modern Chinese hardware in a realistic combat training setting (requires the NTTR terrain module).
• Zone 5 for F-14A — Dave 'Bio' Baranek completed the legendary fighter tactics and weapons training program, and has teamed up with Reflected Simulations to give DCS players a taste of air combat maneuvering training in the 1980s. They created a digital syllabus that enables you to experience what it was like to be up there and train with the best (requires the NTTR terrain module).

Conflict campaigns

• Argo for UH-1H — join the Hellenic navy mission to the Black Sea region and operate your UH-1H off of the ‘Argo’ frigate in everything from cargo delivery to SAR to ASW.
• The Big Show for Spitfire L.F. Mk. IX — experience the massive air battles in the skies of Western Europe described in Pierre Clostermann’s similarly titled book (requires the Normandy 1944 terrain and WWII Assets pack modules).
• Black Sea Resolve ′79 for F-5E-3 — a fictional story-based campaign that will test your air-to-air and air-to-ground skills in a variety of missions while you confront the Soviet Union forces in the emerging conflict.
• The Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney for P-51D — take part in escorting large bomber formations, support the ground troops after D-day, or engage the Luftwaffe over the snowy hills of the Ardennes (requires the Normandy 1944 terrain and WWII Assets pack modules).
• The Border Campaign for Mi-8MTV2 — support the special forces in deliveries, night raid, and ground support along the Republic's border.
• Charnwood for P-51D — a reproduction of P-51D missions flown in support of the allied breakout of Normandy and the eventual capture of Caen (requires the Normandy 1944 terrain and WWII Assets pack modules).
• Crew Part 1 for Mi-8MTV2 — combining the technical challenges of the Oilfield Campaign with the combat support scenarios of Memory of a Hero, this further tests the pilot's knowledge of the Hip's systems and capabilities.
• The Enemy Within for A-10C — a campaign that puts you in cockpit of an A-10C Warthog, sent as a part of small US detachment to Georgia in order to help contain a growing threat from a terrorist organisation calling itself the "Caucasus Liberation Army" (CLA).
• Fear the Bones for F-14A — take part of the action as the “Jolly Rogers” squadron is tasked with defending a stricken cruiser in the Black Sea region, dangerously close to the Soviet border.
• Frontline Georgia for Combined Arms — experience many different aspects of Combined Arms combat in DCS World, from commanding a large number of units over a number of different objectives to sitting in a tank and commanding a platoon of tanks from the driver's seat.
• The Georgian War for F-15C — this campaign puts you in the role of a pilot who arrives in Tbilisi as part of a small detachment intended to present the capabilities of the F-15C to the Georgian government.
• High Stakes for P-51D — as pilot-for-hire Vasily Sinitsa you have been promised mountains of money. In return, you must fly and master the venerable Mustang over a string of 15 missions.
• Horrido! for Fw-190 A-8 — take over the leadership of 7./JG26 as they fight desperately day after day in the final months of the Third Reich (requires The Channel terrain and the WWII Assets pack module).
• Hunters over the Yalu for F-86F — a sequel to the Bastards of Bodney campaign puts you in the Sabre over a stand-in for North Korea's “Mig Alley” in 1953 (requires the WWII Assets pack module).
• Jagdflieger for Bf 109 K-4 — Jump into one of JG26's Messerschmitt Bf-109:s, and support the retreating Wehrmacht as the Allied forces land on the beaches of Normandy (requires the Normandy 1944 terrain and WWII Assets pack modules).
• Memory of a Hero for Mi-8MTV2 and Ka-50 — follow the continued story of helicopter pilot Sergey Pavlovich Borisov (both modules are required).
• The Museum Relic for MiG-15bis and/or F-86F — a story driven campaign that takes place between the two small fictional countries of Matova and Obristen. As their war stretches on into its fifth year, both nations are feeling the strain of not being able to replenish any of their lost vehicles (either module is required).
• Operation Epsom for Spitfire L.F. Mk. IX — battle German forces in the air and on the ground as the allies push south over 12 missions south of the Juno and Gold landing beaches (requires the Normandy 1944 terrain and WWII Assets pack modules).
• Operation Persian Freedom for A-10C and A-10C II — civil unrest during the Arab Spring in 2011 has resulted in violent opression of the citizens of Iran. Join in on the eve of the invasion to invade and remove the goverment from power to put a final end to these violations (requires the Persian Gulf terrain).
• Operation Piercing Fury for A-10C — a story driven campaign consisting of you leading a forwarded deployed A-10C Warthog "Hawg" Flight in the Georgian Area of Operations (AO).
• Operation Pontus for F/A-18C — a story driven dynamic DLC campaign that puts you in the seat of the legendary F/A-18C Hornet. As the Commanding Officer (CO) of the VFA-131 (aka "Wildcats”), you will have to plan, design and execute various demanding missions for your squadron (requires the Supercarrier module).
• Pandemic for Ka-50 — in the midst of a global pandemic, terrorists invade and occupy parts of the Republic of Iran. You are part of the expeditionary forces sent to help deal with this destabilising theat (requires the Persian Gulf terrain).
• Raven One for F/A-18C — not just based on a novel, but also based out of a supercarrier operating in the strait of Hormuz, making it one of the other-module-dependent campaigns to date (requires the Supercarrier module and Persian Gulf terrain).
• Republic for Ka-50 — a non-linear campaign with story arcs that branch based on your mission results.The campaign consists of 15 phases, which include 18 missions of various types.
• Rising Squall for F/A-18C — an attempt to put some Ace Combat into everyone's favourite DCS the campaign pays heavy attention to the gameplay atmosphere and experience, with professional voice-actors and background music respectively, complementing them (requires the Supercarrier module and Persian Gulf terrain).
• The Serpent's Head 2 for F/A-18C — a continuation of the fan-made Serpent's Head campaign, based on carrier operations in the Caucasus region.
• Sky Warrior for AV-8B NA — After receiving a request for help in restoring constitutional order in the country from the elected President of Georgia, the NATO alliance sent the us NAVY frigate “Oliver Perry” and the universal landing ship “Tarawa” to help.
• Stone Shield for A-10C — you are assigned to the 445th Air Expeditionary Wing in 2015, just as Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Russia have announced the start of the "Caucasus-2015" military exercise.
• UH-1H Worlds Apart - Spring 2025 for UH-1H — a series of combined missions with other air and ground forces, as well as naval units from different countries, from transport missions to armed patrols and day and night combat missions.
• The Ultimate Argument for Su-27 — a campaign based on a fictional Caucasus conflict scenario, into which border states of the region got involved.
• Wolfpack for P-47D — in the spring of 1944, the 56th Fighter Group — “Zemke's Wolfpack” — destroyed more enemy aircraft than any other fighter group in the theatre. This campaigns recreates some of those spectacular battles (requires The Channel terrain and the WWII Assets pack module).

Peaceful campaigns

• Oilfield Campaign for Mi-8MTV2 — you think ferrying special forces into combat is hard? Try hauling tonnes of drilling equipment to far-flung outposts with nothing to guide you but weak radio signals and your (hopefully) trusty doppler nav suite.