DCS Reference: Air Defences, Western

Italicised units — ones with their number in parenthesis — are optional and not necessary for the functioning of the system. Beyond that, the numbers listed only indicate the doctrinal setups and all systems only require one of each mandatory unit to work if the mission designer wants to reduce the overall unit count. Units (mainly decorative) that can be found outside the Air Defence category have their category indicated in parentheses, as do decorations that only exist as static objects. For some of the more advanced systems, it is good practice to make the command post unit the first unit in the group, but some scripting setups such as Skynet-IADS will require specific units to be the the first one in the group in order for the scripting to work.

Radar-guided

Flakpanzer Gepard

From the 1970's until 2010, this unit was the cornerstone of the air defence of the German Army.

Flakpanzer Gepard

Units	Qty	Function	Stores	Range / Symbol
SPAAA Gepard	?	Self-propelled AAA	2×330× 35mm HE	Detection: 0–8.1nm / 0–15km Detection alt.: 0–9,800ft / 0–3000m Engagement: 0–2.2nm / 0–4km Engagement alt.: 0–9,800ft / 0–3000m
Reload / rearm	RoF: 1,100 rpm; 1800s total rearm time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	1s scan + 3s acquisition.
Acquisition limits	Radar lock-on: 6.9nm / 12.8km. Notch: <10m/s (19kts, 36km/h) vrad.
Sensor scan coverage	Radar: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical. Visual: 360° horizontal × -3°–+27° vertical.
Aiming limits	Visual: 360° vertical × -4.5°–+85° vertical.
Time to ready	5s
Kill radius	N/A
Notes
Has a radar for searching, ranging, and tracking targets. Note that most eastern RWRs do not display this threat. Has no special setup and is instead integrated into armoured or mechanised columns.
Available to
Tactics
Not particularly threatening unless you are flying low. Since the 1980's, it is standard procedure to accompany these with Stinger MANPADs, who would take advantage of the Flakpanzer's radar as an early warning system. Note that it still is largely optically guided — do not be fooled by the notch window and think that you can just hover in a helo nearby and plink away without it firing back.

M163 Vulcan Air Defence Systems (VADS)

In service from 1969 to 1993, this AAA gun is comparable to the Shilka. Despite its designation as a AAA gun, in practice it tended to be used more as a ground support weapon, as its range was simply insufficient against air threats.

M163 Vulcan Air Defence Systems (VADS)

Units	Qty	Function	Stores	Range
AAA Vulcan M163	1	Radar-ranging, self-propelled AAA	1180× 20mm	Detection: 0–4nm / 0–7.5km Detection alt.: 0–16,400ft / 0–5,000m Engagement: 0–1.1nm / 0–2km Engagement alt.: 0–4,900ft / 0–1,500m
Reload / rearm	RoF: 3,000 rpm; 1200s total rearm time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	4s acquisition.
Acquisition limits	Radar lock-on: 6.9nm / 12.8km. Notch: <10m/s (19kts, 36km/h) vrad.
Sensor scan coverage	Visual: 360° horizontal × -15°–+70° vertical.
Aiming limits	Visual: 360° horizontal × -5°–+70° vertical.
Time to ready	2s
Kill radius	N/A
Notes
Optical sight with radar ranging. Note that most eastern RWRs do not display this threat. Has no special setup and is instead intended to complement the M48 Chaparral, and be integrated into infantry/light mechanised columns.
Available to
Tactics
Designed as a complement to, and should be deployed alongside the M48 Chaparral. By itself, it is basically helpless to a competent bombing run. Like with the Gepard, note that it still is largely optically guided. Just because it has a notch window does not mean you can sit in a 0m/s hover nearby and expect it not to shoot you.

MIM-23 Hawk PIP Phase I

First seen in the 1960's, this medium range SARH SAM system was designed to be a more mobile replacement of the MIM-14 Nike Hercules. It was superseded by the Patriot system in the 90's.

The Phase I hawk, as seen in game, is primarily deployed in the hands of both Saudi Arabia and Iran, the latter thanks to US policy misadventures in the 80's.

MIM-23 Hawk PIP Phase I

Units	Qty	Function	Stores	Range / Symbol
SAM Hawk PCP	1	Platoon Command Post	—	Detection 0.8–86nm / 1.5–160km Detection alt.: 49–82,000ft / 15–25,000m
SAM Hawk CWAR AN/MPQ-55	1	Continuous Wave Acquisition Radar (low-altitude search)	—	Detection: 0.8–37.8nm / 1.5–70km Detection alt.: 49–9,800ft / 15–3,000m
SAM Hawk SR AN/MPQ-50	1	Pulse Acquisition Radar (high-altitude search)	—	Detection: 0.8–48.6nm / 1.5–90km Detection alt.: 427–65,600ft / 150–20,000m
SAM Hawk TR AN/MPQ-46	2	High Power Illumination doppler Radar (tracking)	—	Detection: 0.8–48.5nm / 1.5–90km Detection alt.: 82–65,600ft / 25–20,000m
SAM Hawk LN M192	6	Launcher	3× MIM-23B	Low alt. engagement: 0.8–11.9nm / 1.5–22km High alt. engagement: 0.8–24.3nm / 1.5–45km Engagement alt.: 82–59,000ft / 25–18,000m Max speed: Mach 2.3
(Approximation: SAM Hawk PCP)	(1)	Assault Fire Command Console	—	—
(Approximation: SAM Hawk PCP)	(1)	Launcher Section Controls	—	—
(Unarmed) Transport M818	(3)	M501 Loading Tractor	∞	—
(Static Cargos) Container	(12)	M390 Missile Pallet	3× MIM-23B	—
(Static Structures) GeneratorF	(4)	Battery Control Central	—	—
(Static Structures) GeneratorF	(2)	Information Coordination Central	—	—
(Static Structures) GeneratorF	(2)	SEA 56kVA Generator	—	—
Reload / rearm	5s to ready new missile; 420s reload per missile; 420s total rearm time from a depleted state (loads in parallel).
Acquisition time	PCP: 0.1s. CWAR: 1s scan + 11s acquisition. SR: 1s scan + 11s acquisition. TR: 1s scan + 10s acquisition.
Acquisition limits	CWAR lock-on: 32.1nm / 59.5km. Notch: <15m/s (29kts, 54km/h) vrad. SR lock-on: 41.3nm / 76.5km. Notch: < 15m/s (29kts, 54km/h) vrad. TR lock-on: 41.3nm / 76.5km. Notch: < 10m/s (19kts, 36km/h) vrad.
Target tracking	PCP can track 1 target at a time, fed by CWAR/SR. CWAR can track 10 targets at a time. SR can track 10 targets at a time. TR can guide 2 missiles at a time at a single target, designated by PCP. Target size limit: 0.22m².
Sensor scan coverage	CWAR: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical. SR: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical. TR: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical.
Time to ready	2s
Kill radius	12m
Notes
The optional components are mostly for decoration (especially the static cargo containers and generators), although the many transport units will provide rearming functionality for the launchers. There exists a Range Only Radar component that 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 additional PCPs. The system is static cannot be driven using Combined Arms.
Available to
Tactics
The typical setup has redundant radars, requiring a few ARMs to take down. Being a SARH, defeating the tracking radar is enough to defeat the missile.

MIM-104 Patriot PAC-2

The PATRIOT, or, Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target, for those keeping track of the DoDs contributions to the field of tortured acronyms, is the premiere American long range SAM system. Initially conceived as an anti-aircraft system, the PAC-2 variant depicted in DCS features optimizations which make it efficient at engaging cruise missiles.

MIM-104 Patriot PAC-2

Units	Qty	Function	Stores	Range / Symbol
SAM Patriot ECS AN/MSQ-104	4-6	Engagement Control Station	—	Detection: 1.6–86nm / 3–160km Detection alt.: 82–98,400ft / 25–30,000m
SAM Patriot STR AN/MPQ-53	4-6	PESA Radar (search and track)	—	Detection 1.6–86nm / 3–160km Detection alt.: 197–98,400ft / 60–30,000m
SAM Patriot LN M901	24-36	Launcher	4× MIM-104C	Low alt. engagement: 1.6–16.2nm / 3–30km High alt. engagement: 1.6–64.8nm / 3–120km Engagement alt.: 82–79,500ft / 25–24,240m Max speed: Mach 5.0
SAM Patriot AMG AN/MRC-137	(4-6 )	Antenna Mast Group	—	—
SAM Patriot ICC	(1)	Information Coordination Central	—	—
SAM Patriot EPP-III	(4-6)	Diesel-Electric Power Plant	—	—
(Unarmed) HEMTT TFFT	(4-6)	Guided Missile Transporter	—	—
(Unarmed) HEMTT TFFT	(4-6)	Large Repair Parts Transporter HEMTT	—	—
(Unarmed) Transport M818	(1)	Maintenance Center	∞	—
(Unarmed) Transport M818	(8-12)	Small Repair Parts Transporter	∞	—
(Static Cargos) Container	(8-12)	Parts containers	—	—
Reload / rearm	3s to ready new missile; 900s reload per missile; 3600s total rearm time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	ECS: 0.1s. STR: 1s scan + 15s acquisition.
Acquisition limits	STR lock-on: 119.3nm / 221km. Notch: <15m/s (29kts, 54km/h) vrad.
Target tracking	ECS can track 8 targets at a time, fed by the STR. STR can guide 2 missiles per target at a time; can track 8 targets, designated by the ECS. Target size limit: 0.049m².
Sensor scan coverage	STR: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical.
Time to ready	2s
Kill radius	13m
Notes
Has self-defence anti-missile capability. The system is static and cannot be driven using Combined Arms.
Available to
Tactics
The Patriot system is designed around a battalion echelon, made of up 4-6 platoons. The ICC and the Maintenance Centre are part of the command platoon, which oversees 4-6 "line battery" platoons, each containing one of each radar type, six launchers, and other support units distributed among them. It is a strategically important and expensive system, and as such typically supported by MANPADs. The system is capable of shooting down missiles and aircraft alike with its fully active radar missiles. Considering the number of redundant sensors used within a properly configured battalion, this system would require a sustained barrage of ordinance to bring down. At the same time, note that these larger numbers are quite necessary since each individual component is actually a fair bit less capable than their SA-10 counterparts.

Rapier

Entering service in the British Army in 1971 as a replacement for its dated AAA guns, this system would replace most of its other air defence options by 1977. This unique system uses manually guided camera equipped missiles to guide to target.

Rapier

Units	Qty	Function	Stores	Range / Symbol
Rapier FSA Launcher	1	Launcher, Surveillance Radar, IFF, and generator.	4× Rapier Mk1	Detection 0.3–16.2nm / 0.5–30km Detection alt.: 164–13,100ft / 50–4,000m Engagement: 0.2–3.7nm / 0.4–6.8km Engagement alt.: 164–9,800ft / 50–3,000m Max speed: Mach 2.5
Rapier FSA Blindfire Tracker	1	Blindfire “Field Standard A” Tracking Radar	—	Detection 0.3–16.2nm / 0.5–30km Altitude: 164–13,100ft / 50–4,000m Engagement: 0.2–16.2nm / 0.4–30km Engagement alt.: 65–26,200ft / 20–8,000m
Rapier FSA Optical Tracker	(1)	SACLOS Optical Tracking unit	—	Detection: 0.2–10.8nm / 0.4–20km Altitude: 65–26,200ft / 20–8,000m
(Unarmed) Land Rover 101 FC	(1)	Forward Controller	—	—
(Unarmed) Transport M818	(1)	Missile Supply Trailer	—	—
Reload / rearm	3s to ready new missile; 37.5s reload per missiles; 180s total ream time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	SR: 1s scan + 2s acquisition TR: 1s scan + 0.1s acquisition. OT: 6s acquisition.
Acquisition limits	SR lock-on: 11.5nm / 21.3km. Notch: <10m/s (19kts, 36km/h) vrad. TR lock-on: 5.5nm / 10.2km. Notch: <10m/s (19kts, 36km/h) vrad.
Target tracking	SR can track a single target. TR can guide a single missile at a single target, fed by the SR. OT can track a single target, but plays no role in engaging targets. Target size limit: 0.1m².
Scan zone	SR: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical. TR: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical. OT: 360° horizontal × -3°–+70° vertical.
Time to ready	2s
Kill radius	0m (only direct hits)
Notes
The FC and the regular land-rover are country-appropriate decorations but provie no functionality, not even ammunition loading. The system should be capable of running pure SACLOS without the Blindfire radar, but instead the opposite is true: the system requires the Blindfire radar and has absolutely no need for the optical tracker. With only the OT present, the launcher will follow detected targets, but lacks the tracking information needed to launch. The missile guidance essentially uses Vikhr logic, which causes it to oscillate up and down on launch before it finds a stable flight path. Without good elevation and/or ground clearance, the downward oscillation can easily make the missile hit the ground. The system is static and cannot be driven using Combined Arms.
Available to
Tactics
The system is capable of firing without the radar in real life, but this capability is not reflected in DCS at this time. This is a running theme with the system as the DCS implementation does not reflect many of its supposed qualities. Being optically guided, low flyers should need to be wary that RWRs will not alert them to fired missiles, and that neither flares nor chaff would do much to help you evade. The only indication being the tracking radar, especially at night. However, since it is wholly reliant on that tracking radar in DCS, and since it has a very unstable high-low-yoyo launch profile, you get ample warning of the system long before it can fire, and it cannot launch against low-flying enemies without the missile striking the ground before it achieves stable flight. Mission-makers wanting to make use of this system need to take care to either place the launchers in downward slopes, or somehow ensure that approaching targets stay some 1000ft / 300m above the ground in order for any appreciable threat to exist.

Roland 2

Developed jointly by the French and Germans in the 70's, this short range SAM was designed to protect mobile field formations and fixed, high-value targets such as airfields.

Roland 2

Units	Qty	Function	Stores	Range / Symbol
SAM Roland ADS	?	Marder-mounted Air Defence System	5× 2× Roland	Detection: 0.81–6.5nm / 1.5–12km Detection alt.: 65–19,600ft / 20–6,000m Engagement: 0.3–4.3nm / 0.5–8km Engagement alt.: 32–19,600ft / 10–6,000m Max speed: Mach 2.0
SAM Roland EWR	(1)	TÜR Early-Warning Radar	—	Detection: 0.81–18.9nm / 1.5–35km Altitude: 49–19,600ft / 15–6,000m
Reload / rearm	3s to ready new missile; 6s reload per missile; 300s total ream time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	ADS: 1s scan + 8s acquisition EWR: 1s scan + 12s acquisition.
Acquisition limits	ADS lock-on: 5.5nm / 10.2km. Notch: <10m/s (19kts, 36km/h) vrad. EWR lock-on: 16.1nm / 29.8km. Notch: <15m/s (29kts, 54km/h) vrad.
Target tracking	ADS can track and guide a single missile to a single target. EWR can track 10 targets. EWR target size limit: 0.18m² (no limit stated for ADS).
Scan zone	ADS: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical. EWR: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical.
Aiming limits	ADS: 360° horizontal × 0–60° vertical.
Time to ready	ADS: 2s EWR: 5s
Kill radius	5m
Notes
Has a radar for searching, ranging, and tracking targets as well as for missile guidance. No information exists whether the EWR actually helps the ADS with target detection and selection. In Combined Arms, reloading and rearming the ADS can be prone to breakdowns unless babied through the process, and missiles can have a hard time tracking at lower altitudes. The EWR cannot be driven.
Available to
Tactics
While nominally capable of optical target acquisition and tracking, it is in all practical terms a radar guided missile in DCS. This mobile system is typically integrated into armoured or mechanised columns.

IR-guided

Infrared missiles do not alert pilots on the RWR (though Missile Approach Warning System aircraft like the A-10 and JF-17 may still be warned of an inbound missile). While modern militaries are more than happy to proliferate and sling cheap shots with these, it is recognized that they are a big "Fuck You" to inattentive pilots, and can render a mission unfun if not used judiciously. Many goon missions limit the use IR missiles to catch out pilots who strayed from the briefed course, or as an occasional threat to catch unaware pilots.

Note that IR lock-on distances can wildly exceed or fail to meet the nominal detection ranges of their respective systems since they operate on the basis of an IR signature size that may shrink or bloom depending on aspect, throttle position, and similar factors. For AI units, this rarely makes any difference since they are bound by the sensor detection mechanics, but a player-controlled unit can conceivably be very lucky and lock up a target much sooner than expected (but it is unlikely that the missile itself will actually fly that far).

AN/TWQ-1 / M1097 Heavy HMMWV Avenger

Essentially a Humvee mounted platform to launch Stinger missiles from, this unit started replacing the M163 and M167 VADS in the '90:s.

AN/TWQ-1 / M1097 Heavy HMMWV Avenger

Units	Qty	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Avenger M1097	?	IR-guided, self-propelled SAM	2× 8× FIM-92 200× 12.7mm	Detection: 0–2.8nm / 0–5.2km Detection alt.: 0–16,400ft / 0–5,000m Low alt. engagement: 0.1–2.7nm / 0.2–5km High alt. engagement: 0.1–3.2nm / 0.2–6km Engagement alt.: 32–11,500ft / 10–3,500m Max speed: Mach 2.2
Reload / rearm	2s to ready new missile; 40s reload per missile; 400s total missile ream time from a depleted state. RoF: 1100 rpm; 25s gun rearm time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	2s acquisition.
Acquisition limits	IR lock-on: 5.4nm / 10km for a normalised heat source.
Sensor scan coverage	IR: 360° horizontal × -3°–+70° vertical.
Aiming limits	Visual: 360° horizontal × -10°–+70° vertical.
Time to ready	2s
Kill radius	0m	Countermeasure resistance factor		×2
Notes
Optical acquisition all-aspect IR homing.
Available to
Tactics
Typically embedded among mobile infantry or HMMWV / Stryker-based columns, this system and its all-aspect IR missiles are extremely mobile and dangerous threat to low-flying air targets.

FIM-92 Stinger

Replacing the Redeye MANPAD in 1982, the stinger missile is a cheap and easy point defence option for a variety of situations.

FIM-92 Stinger

Units	Qty	Function	Stores	Range
Stinger MANPADS	1	IR-guided Man-Portable Air Defense System	3× FIM-92	Detection: 0–2.8nm / 0–5.2km Detection alt.: 0–16,400ft / 0–5,000m Engagement: 0.1–2.4nm / 0.2–4.5km Engagement alt.: 32–11,500ft / 10–3,500m Max speed: Mach 2.2
SAM Stinger comm	(1)	Command unit	—	Detecton: 0–2.4nm / 0–4.5km Detection alt.: 32–11,500ft / 10–3,500m
Reload / rearm	1s to ready new missile; 40s reload per missile; 120s total ream time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	Stinger: 2s acquisition. Commander: 5s acquisition.
Acquisition limits	IR lock-on: 5.4nm / 10km for a normalised heat source.
Sensor scan coverage	IR: 360° horizontal × -3°–+70° vertical.
Aiming limits	Visual: 360° horizontal × -45°–+80° vertical.
Time to ready	2s
Kill radius	0m	Countermeasure resistance factor		×2
Notes
Optical acquisition all-aspect IR homing. The commander is a static unit and cannot be driven using Combined Arms. The commander offers no clear numbers or mechanical advantage except maybe offering a second sensor scan coverage that can detect enemies in a direction the launcher unit is not currently looking.
Available to
Tactics
Able to be hidden anywhere one can reasonably find two guys and a tube, this can deliver an all-aspect infrared homing package of "Fuck You" to flow flying aircraft. Stinger teams can be found in almost any detachment, including infantry columns, supplementing point defence on fixed installations, even on the decks of warships. This is a very difficult target to spot, but its threat can be circumvented by generally flying high. Safety flares and speed during low attack runs can help mitigate the threat from this, but it's no guarantee.

M6 Linebacker

A version of everybody's troop transport that can't carry troops, reconnaissance vehicle that's too conspicuous to do reconnaissance, quasi-tank that has less armour than a snowblower but has enough ammo to take out half of DC: the Bradley. This version was built… with Stingers!

M6 Linebacker

Units	1	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Linebacker M6	1	IR-guided, self-propelled SAM and IFV	3× 4× FIM-92 230× 25mm HE 70× 25mm AP 800× 7.62mm	Detection: 0–4.3nm / 0–8km Detection alt.: 0–16,400ft / 0–5,000m Engagement: 0.1–2.4nm / 0.2–4.5km Engagement alt.: 32–11,500ft / 10–3,500m Max speed: Mach 2.2
Reload / rearm	1s to ready new missile; 20s reload per missile; 240s total missile ream time from a depleted state. 7.25mm RoF: 850 rpm; 480s gun rearm time from a depleted state. 25mm RoF: 100/200 rpm; 800s (HE) + 400s (AP) cannon rearm time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	2s acquisition.
Acquisition limits	IR lock-on: 5.4nm / 10km for a normalised heat source.
Sensor scan coverage	IR: 360° horizontal × -3°–+70° vertical.
Aiming limits	Visual: 360° horizontal × -5°–+59° vertical.
Time to ready	5s
Kill radius	0m	Countermeasure resistance factor		×2
Notes
Optical acquisition all-aspect IR homing. When driven in Combined Arms, the guns can be locked onto targets, but the lock/loss logic is still tied to the limits of the Stingers, which means that moving the gun reticle off the target to aim at the calculated intercept point breaks the lock and makes the lead indicator go away.
Available to
Tactics
Being yet another vehicle with Stingers strapped to it, one can expect the exact threat profile of a stinger missile, other than a slightly longer detection range, which mainly means it has more time to ready its position and aim as the target enters the engagement range. Opposition should continue assuming that every infantry column has a stinger in some manner in it somehow, and fly high.

MIM-72G / M48 Chaparral

In service from 1969-1998, this vehicle was designed as a ground launch platform for modified AIM-9Ds. It was designed as a complement to the M163 VADS.

MIM-72G / M48 Chaparral

Units	Qty	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Chaparral M48	1	IR-guided, self-propelled SAM	2× 4× MIM-72G	Detection: 0.3–5.4nm / 0.5–10km Detection alt.: 0–16,400ft / 0–5,000m Engagement: 0.2–4.6nmm / 0.3–8.5km Engagement alt.: 16–9,800ft / 5–3,000m Max speed: Mach 2.5
Reload / rearm	1s to ready new missile; 40s reload per missile; 320s total ream time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	2s acquisition.
Acquisition limits	IR lock-on: 8.1nm / 15km for a normalised heat source.
Sensor scan coverage	IR: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical.
Aiming limits	Visual: 360° horizontal × -9°–+89° vertical (24°–89° over the cabin).
Time to ready	5s
Kill radius	5m
Notes
Optical acquisition all-aspect IR homing.
Available to
Tactics
While the original Chaparral was rear-aspect, the version depicted in DCS represents a later version that uses FIM-92 Stinger all-aspect seekers. This was designed to operate with, and should be paired with, an M163 VADS in a mechanized infantry column. Being a very similar platform to the stinger, similar tactics apply.