DCS Reference: Air Defenses

This resource is mainly for missions designers to set up fully-featured and functional SAM groups using the many various units available under the “Air defence” vehicle category in the DCS mission editor.

Each block describes the system as a whole, the ground units it consists of, the dependencies between these units, and some very rough performance figures (in-game and wiki-based). Note that maximum altitudes, in particular, can be a bit vague due to the interaction between maximum sensor elevation, sensor range, and missile flight capabilities. While the maximum altitude may seem sufficient on some systems, it is often a lot lower in practice because there is a rather narrow band between where the missile still has energy enough to climb, and where the (usually) radar is still able to track a target. For maximum skylord murderness, make sure the altitude capabilities are ridiculously above where the target is expected to fly.

Bluefor systems

Radar-guided

MIM-23 Hawk PIP Phase I

Units	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Hawk CWAR AN/MPQ-55	Continuous Wave Acquisition Radar (low-altitude search)	—	Detection: 37nm
SAM Hawk LN M192	Launcher	3× MIM-23B	Engagement: 24nm Altitude: 200–65,000'
SAM Hawk PCP	Platoon Command Post	—	—
SAM Hawk SR AN/MPQ-50	Pulse Acquisition Radar (high-altitude search)	—	Detection: 48nm
SAM Hawk TR AN/MPQ-46	High Power Illumination doppler Radar (tracking)	—	Detection: 48nm
(Optional: SAM Hawk PCP)	Assault Fire Command Console	—	—
N/A	Battery Control Central	—	—
N/A	Information Coordination Central	—	—
(Optional: SAM Hawk PCP)	Launcher Section Controls	—	—
N/A	M390 Missile Pallet	3× MIM-23B	—
(Unarmed) M818	M501 Loading Tractor	∞	—
N/A	Range-Only Radar	—	—
N/A	SEA 56kVA Generator	—	—
Reload / rearm	120s per launcher (3 missiles).
Acquisition time	12s
Notes
A basic Hawk battery consists of: 1× PCP 2× AN/MPQ-56 HPIR 1× AN/MPQ-50 PAR 1× AN/MPQ-55 CWAR 6× M192 Launchers 3× M501 Loading Tractors For endurance, it should be supplemented with static warehouses or M818 trucks to supply ammunition. Other components of the system can either be added as (non-functional) static objects, or excluded altogether. The system cannot be driven using Combined Arms. The ROR is a fall-back system to help with ranging in a high-ECM environment. It is not simulated or present in DCS. Similarly, the AFCC and LSC are distributed systems for redundancy should the command post be eliminated. The effect of these can be approximated by adding 3 additional PCP:s.
Available to

IR-guided

MIM-72G / M48 Chaparral

Units	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Chaparral M48	IR-guided, self-propelled SAM	4× MIM-72G + 4 reserve	Detection: 5.4nm Engagement: 0.2–4.5nm Altitude: 25-4,000m / 82–13,000'
Reload / rearm	41s per missile; 335s total rearm time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	2.5s
Notes
Originally based on the rear-aspect AIM-9D, the G model upgrade uses an all-aspect seeker from the FIM-92 Stinger. Intended to complement the M163 VADS as protection, primarily for light mechanised columns.
Available to

AN/TWQ-1 / M1097 Heavy HMMWV Avenger.

Units	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Avenger M1097	IR-guided, self-propelled SAM	8× FIM-92 + 8 reserve 200× 12.7mm	Detection: 2.75nm Engagement: 2.45nm Altitude: 3,000m / 10,000'
Reload / rearm	40s per missile; 640s total rearm time from depleted state.30s to rearm machine gun.
Acquisition time	2.5s
Notes
Optical acquisition all-aspect IR homing. Fits well within mobile infantry columns and other HMMWV / Stryker-based groups.
Available to

Optically guided

Bofors 40mm

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Bofors 40mm	Flak	620×	7,160m / 4nm
Notes
Requires WWII Assets Pack. Cannot be driven using Combined Arms.
Available to

M163 Vulcan Air Defence Systems (VADS)

Units	Function	Stores	Range
AAA Vulcan M163	Radar-guided, self-propelled AAA	1180× 20mm	Detection: 2.7nm Engagement: 1.4nm Altitude: 1,500m / 4,500'
Reload / rearm	1280s.
Acquisition time	6s
Notes
Optical sight with radar ranging; will not generate any RWR warning. Intended to complement the M48 Chaparral, primarily for infantry/light mechanised columns.
Available to