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Digital Combat Simulator
Freebies — what's in the box?
The free, base DCS World package comes with one full-sim aircraft module, the TF‑51D Mustang; one simplified-sim (“FC3-style”) aircraft, the Su‑25T “Frogfoot”; and one piece of terrain, the Caucasus region.
The modules
DCS content is divided into “modules.” There are generally four kinds: aircraft, terrain, add-ons, and campaigns. Aircraft modules are pretty much what it says on the tin: a single aircraft, occasionally with a few variants thrown in, and often accompanied by single campaign. Terrains are the world maps in which your mission take place. Add-ons are an odd mix of speciality content for specific purposes — there is no real coherent theme other than that they require some other module to really add anything useful. Campaigns, finally, are just that: a set of missions for a specific aircraft and terrain (having both as a prerequisite in order for the campaign to run).
Most aircraft modules also come with a built-in campaign as well as a collection of training and quick-action missions.
Currently available modules
- Aircraft: A‑10C Warthog · AJS‑37 Viggen · AV‑8B NA Harrier · C‑101EB and CC Aviojet, · F/A‑18C Hornet · F‑5E‑3 Tiger II · F‑86F Sabre · Hawk T.1A · L‑39C and ZA Albatross · MiG‑15bis · MiG‑21bis · Mirage M2000C.
- Helicopters: Ka‑50 Black Shark 2 · Mi‑8MTV2 Magnificent Eight · SA342L, M and Mistral Gazelle · UH‑1H Huey.
- WWII prop planes: Bf‑109 K‑4 Kurfürst · Fw‑190 D‑9 Dora · P‑51D Mustang · Spitfire L.F. Mk IX.
- The Flaming Cliffs 3 collection of aircraft: A‑10A Thunderbolt II · F‑15C Eagle · MiG‑29A “Fulcrum A” and S “Fulcrum C” · Su‑25 “Frogfoot” · Su‑27 “Flanker B” (including the J-11 licensed version) · Su‑33 “Flanker D” (each can be bought separately, but don't — get the full collection instead).
- Terrains: Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) · Normandy 1944 · Persian Gulf.
- Add-ons: Combined Arms · NS 430 Navigation system for Mi‑8MTV2 · WWII Assets Pack.
- Campaigns:
- For the A-10C: Basic Flight Training (BFT) · Advanced Aircraft Training Qualification (AATQ) · Tactical Training Qualification Campaign (TTQC) · 16‑2 Red Flag · The Enemy Within · Operation Piercing Fury · Stone Shield
- For the AJS-37: 16‑2 Red Flag
- For the F-5E-3: Aggressors Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM) · Aggressors Air Combat Maneuver (ACM)
- For the F-15C: Aggressors BFM · 16‑2 Red Flag · The Georgian War
- For the Ka-50: Republic
- For the L-39: Kursant
- For the Mi-8MTV2: The Border Campaign · Oilfield Campaign
- For the MiG-15bis and/or F-86F: The Museum Relic
- For the P-51D: Charnwood · High Stakes
- For the Spitfire LF Mk IX: Operation Epsom
- For the Su-27: The Ultimate Argument
- For the UH-1H: Argo