Orbx is pleased to announce that its DCS: Kola map is now available in early access. The map covers northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Russian Murmansk Oblast and parts of the Karelia region. It also includes large areas of the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea to the north and west, ideal for aircraft carrier operations.

The DCS: Kola early access release is offered with a special 20% discount ($55.99 USD), for a limited time whilst the Orbx team work to expand the content, detail, number of air bases, cities, towns, villages and infrastructure. The map price may also increase accordingly, so make sure you secure your discounted version now.

The early-access release of DCS: Kola focuses on a large area that spans the Finland/Russia border and encompasses, central Finland and the western parts of the Murmansk and Karelia regions of Russia (see map). Within that subregion are several higher detailed areas, centered on airports in Finland (Rovaniemi, Kemi Tornio plus two road airbases), and Russia (Olenegorsk, Severomorsk 1, Severomorsk 3, Monchegorsk, and Murmansk International), and their urban and rural surroundings and infrastructure. Outside of this focus area, two airports in Norway (Bodo and Laksekv) and three in Sweden (Kalixfors, Kiruna, and Jokkmokk) are functional but not fully detailed yet.

Key Features of the Early-Access Release

• Complete base terrain for the entire map area, with detailed topography, summer ground textures summer, shorelines, and lakes and rivers.
  
• An initial focus area spans the Finland/Russia border and encompasses central Finland and the western parts of the Murmansk and Karelia regions of Russia (see map).
  
• Four high-detail areas, focusing on two airports in Finland (EFRO, EFKE) and five in Russia (XLMV, ULAK, RU-1110, RU-4464, ULMM), and their urban and rural surroundings and infrastructure.
  
• Two road runways in Finland, near Rovaniemi and Sodankylä, respectively.
  
• Two additional airports in Norway (ENBO and ENNA) and two in Sweden (ESNQ, ESUK, and ESNG) are functional but not fully detailed at early-access release.
  
• Significant civilian POIs include bridges, vertical obstructions, monuments, hydro dams, power stations, port facilities, landmark buildings, open-pit mines, towns and small villages, and industrial sites.
  
• Improved night lighting for cities and towns.
  
• Main road and railroad network, with bridges and tunnels, which are connected across the map that allows long-distance AI routing.
  
• Natural landmarks and geographic features, such as Norwegian fjords, detailed coastlines, snowfields, forests and wetlands, tens of thousands of lakes, and large river systems.
  
• Map features represent the current era but includes allowances for the late-Cold War era – e.g., operational road runways and fully functioning Russian air bases – to enhance mission options.
  
• The Orbx team is collaborating with experienced DCS campaign creators Baltic Dragon and Reflected Simulations to create engaging campaigns.

Additional Features after Early-Access Release

• Complete set of winter textures that load dynamically based on mission date to accurately represent the cold and harsh climate of the Kola area.
  
• Additional detailed military airfields, including Andøya, Bardufoss, Kirkenes, Evenes, Vidsel, Kilpyavr, Alakkurti, and others.
  
• Additional military installations like naval and army bases, barracks, ports, storage areas, training areas/ranges, radar and communication sites, and air defense sites.
  
• Additional Cold War Era Swedish and Finnish road runways.
  
• Additional civilian airports, including Tromsø, Hammerfest, Ivalo, Luleå, and others.
  
• Additional detailed cities and towns, POIs, and industrial sites.
  
• Improvements to landscape features and detail, as well as additional areas with high-resolution aerial orthoimagery.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2778890/DCS_Kola_Map_by_Orbx/

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics

“The DCS: Kola map by Orbx will be released into early access on the 3rd of May 2024 bringing a new and engaging region to DCS. Based on the current day, with allowances for Cold War scenarios, the map covers more than 575,000 sq km of land and large areas of the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea. The early access release will feature summer textures with the highest detail area stretching along the Russian/Finnish border from the Murmansk region of the Kola peninsula in the north to the shores of the Baltic Sea in the south. This area is home to the Russian Northern Fleet, the submarine pens of Polyarny, strategic air bases such as Severomorsk and Olegnegorsk, and several Finnish, Swedish, and Norwegian air bases, and road runways!

We at Orbx are delighted to collaborate with experienced campaign creators including Baltic Dragon and Reflected Simulations to bring exciting campaigns to this map.

Following the early access release, we will deliver major updates starting in June 2024. This includes winter textures and additional airbases such as Andoya, Bardufoss, Evenes, Vidsel, Kilpyavr, Alakkurti, and others. Many military installations and training areas across the Kola map will be further developed with improvements added to terrain detail based on high-resolution aerial orthoimagery. New cities and towns, more custom POIs and vertical obstructions, and complex industrial sites will also be added.

We have recruited a large team of active DCS players to help with all aspects of testing, optimization, and prioritisation to help tune and improve the map.”

– Orbx

Please check out the Development Screenshots[www.digitalcombatsimulator.com]. Stay tuned for the early access launch of DCS: Kola.


Coming Soon! Flaming Cliffs (FC) 2024 is the next chapter of the popular Flaming Cliffs series that features an expanded list of aircraft: The FC: F-5E, FC: F-86F, and FC: MiG-15bis. As with all FC aircraft, these additions are easy-to-learn, with less complex controls, and includes their DCS Professional Flight Models. The more accessible FC-style concept allows new and existing players to quickly jump into the action and have fun at an exceptionally advantageous price point.

Flaming Cliffs 2024 provides an unrivalled sense of flight that only DCS can offer. With impressive and highly realistic 3D modelling, powerful authentic weapons and ease of use, Flaming Cliffs is specifically designed for those of you looking for an unbeatable combat experience, without having to learn all the systems and a very large number of cockpit inputs typical of the full fidelity aircraft in DCS.

Existing Flaming Cliffs Aircraft:

• F-15C
  
• A-10A
  
• Su-27
  
• J-11
  
• Su-33
  
• Su-25
  
• MiG-29
  
• MiG-29S

Three New Flaming Cliffs Aircraft:

• F-5E for Flaming Cliffs 2024
  
• F-86F for Flaming Cliffs 2024
  
• MiG-15bis for Flaming Cliffs 2024

All aircraft will be available both as part of the Flaming Cliffs 2024, as well as individual FC dedicated modules for those of you who wish to purchase a single fighter from the pack.


[discord.gg]The Virtual Carrier Wing 17 operates in the Central EU time zone. Throughout the year, vCVW-17 alternates between training and deployment periods. New student pilots and RIOs are trained by experienced air wing members and human LSOs / AICs are available during missions to add extra realism.

The vCVW-17 strives to mimic real CVW operations in the early 2000s, with every bit of the naval aviation experience imaginable. They take a realistic approach to their operations that covers Cyclic Ops, Close Air Support, Strike Packages, and more. Briefings and kneeboard pages are provided before each mission or training sortie and debriefings are used to provide post-mission evaluation that results in better virtual naval aviators. What are you waiting for? Join Virtual CVW-17 Discord[discord.gg].

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics