Hello everybody,
I thought it would be a good idea to launch a FAQ thread on the VEAO Typhoon module that is currently WIP. The purpose of this FAQ is to answer the most basic and interesting questions that newcomers will likely have about this project.
I want to stress that I’m not a member of the VEAO team, but I have consulted the team to obtain their support/approval for this FAQ thread and to proof read it advance.
The questions represent a collection of those repeatedly raised in the threads of this forum channel. I have derived some additional questions from them. The responses are based on statements made by the VEAO team, with myself providing some complementary comments and information where appropriate and feasible.
This FAQ might be updated over time as new questions emerge.
My thanks goes to Pman for the kind support and approval of this FAQ
Kind regards
Spectre
Q: When is the VEAO Typhoon module going to be released?
A: There is no fix release date set. The VEAO team aims at completing the Typhoon module until the end of 2015. This date is a team internal target based on current estimates. It is not a promise and potentially subject to change. A more accurate and reliable forecast can only be made once the project has passed a certain maturity gate. Stay tuned for further updates in the future.
Q: To what quality standards will the VEAO Typhoon adhere to in terms of flight and systems modeling?
A: The VEAO Typhoon will feature an External Flight Model (EFM), which is comparable to ED’s Professional Flight Model (PFM), as well as Advanced Systems Modeling (ASM).
Q: How realistic will the VEAO Typhoon be in comparison to the real aircraft?
A: The VEAO team intends to create an authentic representation of the real aircraft within the given constraints.
Q: The Eurofighter Typhoon is a relative recent, advanced combat aircraft, aren’t most of its features/capabilities classified?
A: Not everything about this aircraft is classified, but of course there are several classified aspects. That’s actually true for all military aircraft in active service and even for many former types that aren’t operational anymore.
Q: Given the above, how is VEAO going to create an authentic replication of the real aircraft?
A: VEAO has contacts within the UK military and is in the process of developing a military version of the Typhoon module. The team subsequently has the access to the information and data needed to create an authentic model of the aircraft. The public version that will be released as a certified 3rd party add-on module for DCS World will be based on this military version. However, it will be a deducted/-de-classified version of it.
Q: What does deducted/de-classified mean and what implications does it have on the public version of the Typhoon module for DCS World?
A: Deduction means that certain classified features won’t be implemented on the public version. It also means that some features might be simulated in a simplified fashion or that they are approximated. Certain data might be tweaked.
Q: What does the above mean to the end user?
A: It will probably mean nothing to the end user. Unless you are a professional involved with the real Eurofighter program from the military or industry side you won’t notice what is missing or not 1:1 implemented in comparison to the real aircraft.
Q: Can VEAO confirm which features will be missing and which are authentic, simplified or approximated?
A: No, VEAO can’t confirm any of the above as it has a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) in place.
Q: What does NDA mean, why is it necessary and what advantages/disadvantages are entailed to it?
A: The NDA enables VEAO to develop both, the military and public versions of the Typhoon. It is as such a pre-condition and without the NDA it wouldn’t be possible.
In addition to the above the advantage is that a more realistic replication of the real aircraft is possible, even if you don’t know what is authentic and what might not be authentic.
Q: Based on what is said above, how can we be sure we aren’t fooled with a fantasy version of the aircraft?
A: You can’t, but you can judge the module on its merits, match it against what’s publicly known and maybe someone with actual insight may leave a hint about how authentic it is or not. The same can be said for any military aircraft that is being modeled for a public flight simulator like DCS World, that’s the compromise all sides have to respect.
Q: What version of the aircraft will be simulated by the VEAO Typhoon module?
A: At release the VEAO Typhoon module will simulate the single seat variant of the aircraft at a standard equivalent to Block 5 as is in service with the British Royal Air Force.
Q: What is a Block 5 Typhoon?
A: As with many other military aircraft production of the Typhoon is split into multiple tranches, batches and blocks. Blocks herein represent the smallest production breakdown and can be described as capability baselines. Block 5 represents the last block of the Tranche 1 order. Block 5 is the final operating capability (FOC) standard. That means Block 5 Typhoons provide the level of capability and functionality laid out in the weapon system performance specification of this aircraft as stipulated in the development contract.
Q: What systems and capabilities does a Block 5 have?
A: Block 5 Typhoons are mainly optimized for air-to-air missions, with some basic air-to-ground capabilities. These aircraft feature the Captor-C radar utilizing a mechanically scanned planar array, the PIRATE infrared sensor, the Defensive Aids Sub-System, the HEA helmet mounted symbology system, the Multifunction Information Distribution System, Direct Voice Input etc.
Q: Will the VEAO Typhoon simulate all of the above systems?
A: The VEAO Typhoon will simulate most of these systems to varying degrees dependent the level of classification and limitations imposed by the DCS World engine. Some like DVI cannot be guaranteed at this point, but the VEAO team is looking at this. Some features might be subject to future updates of this module.
Q: What about weapons, which weapons will be available for the VEAO Typhoon?
A: The exact weapons fit has not been set in stone, but bear in mind that VEAO will only simulate weapons that are integrated on real Typhoon Block 5 aircraft in service with the RAF.
From public sources you can gather that weapons cleared for real Block 5 aircraft comprise the AIM-9L Sidewinder, ASRAAM and IRIS-T infrared guided short range air-to-air missiles (SRAAM), the A, B & C5 variants of the AIM-120 AMRAAM active radar guided medium range air-to-air missile (MRAAM), the internally housed Mauser Bk27 gun, 1000 lb class free fall bombs, UK Paveway II and GBU-16 1000 lb class laser guided bombs (LGBs), GBU-10 2000 lb class LGBs and Enhanced Paveway II dual-mode bombs with laser/GPS-guidance. In addition the aircraft is cleared for carriage of up to three 1000 l supersonic fuel tanks and the Rafael Litening 3 laser designator pod (LDP).
As mentioned before the VEAO Typhoon will simulate the aircraft as is in service with the RAF. That means weapons like the IRIS-T, GBU-10 or GBU-16 won’t be integrated. It can be confirmed that the EPW II won’t be integrated at this point either, but the team is looking at the possibility to implement the Paveway II and LDP. As development of air-to-ground capabilities hasn’t begun on behalf of the VEAO team time will show whether its implementation can be harmonized with the time scales envisaged. If not you’ll have to cope with an air-to-air only capable version of this aircraft. However, that doesn’t rule out the possibility of future additions.
Q: What about other weapons and system capabilities such as Meteor, Storm Shadow, the Captor-E AESA radar, thrust vectoring controls or conformal fuel tanks?
A: All of the above and others are capabilities not available on Block 5 Typhoons, most of them are not even integrated yet and subject to future upgrades, mainly for Tranche 2 & 3 aircraft, whereas Block 5 is Tranche 1.
Q: Will we see more advanced versions of the Typhoon from VEAO in the future?
A: The VEAO team keeps its options open, but there is no firm commitment to develop more advanced versions. The development of such versions would be dependent on a number of factors that cannot be entirely predicted at this point in time.
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