Digital Combat Simulator

The freebies

These modules come included with the free DCS World client

• Su-25T “Frogfoot” — an FC3-style simplified simulation of the modernised (and never deployed) Frogfoot.
• P-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 federal republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Adygea and the Krasnodar krai.

The for-pay modules

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.
• AJS-37 Viggen — a Swedish supersonic nap-of-the-earth anti-shipping jet? Gör't (men som beta)!
• AV-8B NA Harrier — can't decide whether you want a plane or a helicopter? Why choose when you can just go VTOL? (beta)
• C-101EB and CC Aviojet — Spanish airforce jet trainers and aerobatics aircraft (largely defunct early access)
• F/A-18C Hornet — for all your carrier-based multi-role needs (very early access).
• F-5E-3 Tiger II — a simple and lightweight daytime jet fighter and trainer.
• F-86F Sabre — a venerable Korean-war era early jet fighter.
• Hawk T.1A — RAF jet trainer and aerobatics aircraft (largely defunct early access)
• L-39C and ZA Albatross — two-seater (and MP multicrew) Czech training aircraft.
• Mirage M-2000C — “La baguette”, a French supersonic lightweight multirole aircraft (beta).
• MiG-15bis — NATO designation “Fagot”, the main adversary of the F-86 Sabre.
• 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?

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”.
• SA342L, M and Mistral Gazelle — anti-infantry, anti-tank, and anti-air versions of one of the fastest helicopters ever.
• 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.
• Fw-190 D-9 Dora — not as iconic as the 109, but still a cornerstone of the
• 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.

The Flaming Cliffs

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.

• 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.
• 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 the same, only without being detected.
• Su-33 “Flanker D” — dito, but now do it from a carrier.

Terrain modules

• 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.

=== 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 for Mi-8MTV2 — a dashboard-mounted GPS (totally not the Garmin 430) for the MI-8. That's it.
• 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

Training campaigns

• Basic Flight Training (BFT) for A-10C
• Tactical Training Qualification Campaign (TTQC) for A-10C
• Advanced Aircraft Training Qualification (AATQ) for A-10C
• Aggressors Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM) for F-5E
• Aggressors Air Combat Maneuver (ACM) for F-5E
• Aggressors BFM for F-15C
• Kursant for L-39 Albatros

Exercise campaigns

• 16-2 Red Flag for A-10C
• 16-2 Red Flag for AJS-37
• 16-2 Red Flag for F-15C

Conflict campaigns

• Argo for UH-1H
• The Border Campaign for Mi-8MTV2
• Charnwood for P-51D
• The Enemy Within for A-10C
• The Georgian War for F-15C
• High Stakes for P-51D
• The Museum Relic for MiG-15bis and/or F-86F
• Operation Epsom for Spitfire LF Mk. IX
• Operation Piercing Fury for A-10C
• Republic for Ka-50
• Stone Shield for A-10C
• The Ultimate Argument for Su-27

Peaceful campaigns

• Oilfield Campaign for Mi-8MTV2