About the A-4E-C Project

The A-4 was a cold war workhorse which proved to be a capable, reliable light attack aircraft to dozens of nations around the world. From the jungles of southeast Asia, to the desert of Sinai, to the coasts of South America, the scooter was a common sight above battlefields around the world for decades.

A-4E-C Version 2.1.2 Community Update

Hello, A-4E-C pilots! We hope you are well. This update fixes some bugs and brings the module into compliance with DCS 2.9, currently in OpenBeta. If you play on the main branch, wait to update your A-4E-C installation: this version of the A-4E-C 2.1.2 requires a minimum version of DCS 2.9.0.46801, and older versions of the A-4E-C are incompaible with this version or later. Always ensure servers, clients, and DCS versions are aligned and compatible! Additional information about what's new this update is available in the changelog below. If you are interested in learning more about the module, please reach out on Discord! https://discord.gg/tQZbkTQ Thank you for flying the A-4E-C! DO NOT redistribute this mod without permission!

Contributing Developers

Gospadin, Heclak, Joshua Nelson, plusnine, Farlander, gyrovague, kryb/Archimaede, Merker, Jones, Nero

Community Contributors

SkateZilla, uboats, Dr. Manius, LevelPulse, Cubeboy, Talo, GVad, OpticFlow, pohlinkzei, Coragem, nima3333, Sidekick65, SPINEG, Shadowfrost, Sport, Historiker, rudel-chw, Luciano, Malamem, HellesBelles, Bungo, Corsair016, FlyingHueman, JacobBadShot, JP Gabobo, Drofseh, Rob, ataribaby, Tanuki44, gcask, The Original HoggitDev Team, Eric Haugen

Features

• Realistic external flight model and engine simulation
• Clickable cockpit
• Carrier landing and takeoff
• Air refueling
• AN/APN-153 Doppler Navigation Radar
• AN/ASN-41 Navigation Computer
• AN/ARC-51 UHF Radio
• AN/ARN-25 ADF Automated Direction Finder
• AN/ARN-52 TACAN
• AN/ARA-63 MCL (ICLS)
• AN/APN-141 Radar Altimeter
• AN/APG-53A Radar
• AN/APR-25 Radar Homing and Warning System (ECM)
• AN/ALE-29A Chaff Dispensing System
• Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS)
• Approach Power Compensator (APC)
• AWE-1 Aircraft Weapons Release System (AWRS)
• CP-741/A Bombing Computer (CCRP)
• AGM-45A Shrike anti-radiation missile (SEAD)
• New weapons:
  • AN- series WWII munitions: M81, M88
  • MK4 HIPEG 20mm gunpod
  • Mk-77 napalm canister
  • SUU-7 bomblet dispenser
• Unique sounds inside and outside the aircraft
• User manual (PDF and Kneeboard)

Version 2.1.2 Changelog: Featured Items

Added

• A new NWS (that's Nosewheel Simulation, mind you) makes correcting turns on the ground much easier, and eliminating the "stuck wheel" feeling due to over-braking in taxi. Amaze your friends with your drifting skill!
• AN/ARC-51 UHF Radio supports DCS VOIP radios. In addition to Radio Microphone Push-to-Talk (PTT) Transmit binding for sending to VOIP radio, a second Radio Microphone Push-to-Talk (PTT) Guard bindings allows the pilot to transmit to the guard frequency when the radio is in TR+G mode. These two bindings function identically to the DCS default "cockpit r.1 VoIP PTT" and "cockpit r.2 VoIP PTT" bindings, respectively, and you can use them instead if you wish. See the Updated AN/ARC-51 UHF Radio guidance on page 1-2 in the Kneeboard Manual for additional details.
• AN/ARN-25 Automated Direction Finder (ADF) system is now modeled for use with the AN/ARC-51 UHF Radio. Information on using the equipment is detailed in the Kneeboard Manual on page 1-3.
• Weapons:
  • AIM-9J and AIM-9P3 are available on inboard and outboard stations.
  • AGM-45B Shrike is available loadout options on inboard and outboard stations.
  • 2.75" Hydra rockets are available loadout options with LAU-3 (19 rocket) and LAU-68 (7 rocket) launchers, including white phosphorous, HE, HEAT, as well as Mk1, Mk61, and WRU-1/B practice munitions to the loadout options. LAU-68 launchers also allow loadouts with Para Illum and Practice Smoke Hydra rockets. Outboard stations support 1 launcher, inboard stations up to 2, and up to 3 can be added on the centerline station.
  • AN/ASQ-T50 TCTS ACMI pod is available on inboard and outboard stations.
• Enhanced damage modeling: In addition to Reduced effect of transient forces to prevent wake breaking wings, and improved engine damage. The following system failures can be triggered by damage, or selected as a failure in mission editor:
  • Radar Receiver
  • Gear Jamming
  • Gear Actuator
  • Pitot Tube
  • Static Port
  • Boost Pump
  • Wing Pump
  • Aileron Actuators
  • Elevator Actuator
  • Rudder Actuator
  • Wing Tank Leak
  • Fuselage Tank Leak
  • Engine and Inlet
• Cold Start, Taxi, Takeoff, and Free Flight missions for the Sinai map are available in the Instant Action.
• Input bindings:
  • Else option for the Chaff Dispenser Select added (for a 3-position switch).
  • Radar Altitude Warning - Slew axis.

Changed

• Standardized naming conventions for loadouts with multiple ejector racks, and provided additional detail for weapon payloads original to the A-4E-C.
• Recalculated the weight of rocket launcher pod payloads.
• Kneeboard Manual:
  • Updated AN/ARN-52 TACAN guidance on page 1-3.
  • Updated Airfield Radio and ILS data on page 1-4, which can now accomodate up to 30 entries, making it compatible with the contents of the Sinai map.
  • Updated Shrike and Sidewinder delivery guidance on page 3-5.
  • Updated AN/APR-25 Radar Homing and Warning System guidance on page 3-6.
  • Compressed images for smaller file size and faster loading.

Fixed

• TACAN and MCL system crashes.
• The AN/ARC-51 UHF Radio volume knob now adjusts radio and VOIP radio volume.
• The AN/APG-53A Radar OBST tone and AN/APR-25 RHWR audio properly route to the Helmet sound channel.
• Black lines along center and around the nose cones of fuel tanks have been removed.
• Malaysia TUDM livery uses the provided custom fuel tanks.
• Station arming switches no longer produce a debug printout with the weapon selector in the BOMBS & GM ARM position.
• Loadout option inaccuracies in the Kneeboard Manual on page 1-6 are corrected.
• Eliminated Kneeboard Manual typos in page reference annotations.

See full changelog

Known Bugs and Incompatibilities

• Incompatible with AH-6J Little Bird, CH-47 Chinook, and CH-53E Super Stallion mods (DCS bug).
• Pilot occasionally blacks out when throttling up to hook up to catapult on SuperCarrier.
• Dispensing high volumes of bomblets (40+) from SUU-7/CBU-1/CBU-2 can cause performance dips or crashes to desktop.
• Mouse cursor capture using the UI override inputs occasionally fails to initialize. Reloading or restarting the mission usually fixes this.

See full issue list

Installation

Failure to perform these steps will result in DCS World not recognizing the module, inability to use the module, input errors when using the module, or client integrity check failures on multiplayer servers that require them. Never install the A-4E-C files directly into your DCS World installation files! Installation size is around 1 GB.

STEP 1: Upgrading from an older release

• If you are upgrading from an older version of the A-4E-C, completely uninstall your old version. If this is a brand new installation, skip this and move on to Step 2.

• First, uninstall the module's files from %HOMEPATH%\Saved Games\DCS\Mods\aircraft\A-4E-C

• Depending on how old a release you are upgrading from, you may need to reset your A-4E-C input bindings by deleting the contents of %HOMEPATH%\\Saved Games\DCS\Config\Input\A-4E-C

STEP 2: Installing the module files

• Installation instructions are identical for Standalone and Steam users alike.

• Download the latest official A-4E-C release package. Do not download directly from the Github repository.

• Place the Mods\aircraft\A-4E-C folder in into your Windows user folder's Saved Games folder for DCS. For most users, this can be accessed by pasting %HOMEPATH%\Saved Games\Saved Games\DCS into a windows explorer address bar.

• If you have installed other DCS World mods, you might already have the Mods and aircraft folders indicated in the file path. If so, merge the new A-4E-C folder into the existing folders.

• Never install the A-4E-C files directly into your DCS World installation files!

STEP 3: Verify installation

Launch DCS World. If your installation was successful, the A-4E-C theme icon appears as a option in the main menu:

Installation Troubleshooting

Your correctly installed files should look something like the following image, substituting your Windows account name where the image displays Partario. If you're using the openbeta branch of DCS World, the folder might be DCS.openbeta instead of DCS:

• If you have multiple DCS-related folders in your %HOMEPATH%\\Saved Games, for example, DCS, or DCS.openbeta, and are unsure which folder your DCS World installation is using, locate the dcs_variant.txt file in the game files. If this file is present, its contents determines the folder structure your DCS World installation is using. Alternately, load DCS world and use the mission editor to create and save a mission. Search this mission file using Windows explorer to locate the proper folder structure.

• If you have installed the module correctly but it still isn't showing up, ensure it's enabled in the DCS Module Manager. Note that the A-4E-C is not alphabetically arranged along with the official modules in this list, and will be enumerated near the end of the list.

• If you are receiving an authorization error at launch, you have incorrectly installed the module to your game files. Remove any and all improperly installed files, then revisit the installation instructions above to correctly installing the module.

• If the A-4E-C icon in the DCS main menu shows a default DCS logo, is missing the theme background and music (or you experience crashes when loading a mission), you have incorrectly downloaded the module. Download the latest official A-4E-C release package.

• If you can load a mission, but can't take control of the A-4E-C, ensure you have installed Microsoft's Visual Studio 2015, 2017 and 2019 Redistributable libraries. Restart your computer after installation of the appropriate libraries. For most users, this is vc_redist.x64.exe. Alternately, ensure your DCS version is at least 2.7.9.1080.

• If you can't find the A-4E-C in the Mission Editor, ensure the historical mode filter is disabled by toggling the clock icon at the bottom of the screen, as shown in the following screenshot:

In-Cockpit Troubleshooting

• When setting up your controls, press LCTRL+Enter to enable the controls indicator. Control binding information and tips for setting up your devices are provided in the kneeboard manual (RSHIFT+K).

• Always keep the canopy open when communicating with the ground crew.

• If you find can't move the throttle, must first adjust the throttle step position. In order to do this, the throttle axis input must be at ZERO. Even if you are a keyboard user, the keyboard controls are adjusting a virtual throttle axis that must be returned to zero before the throttle step position can be adjusted. Use the controls indicator to move the red "ghost" throttle to zero before adjusting the throttle step position.

• Ground steering is accomplished by differential braking. There is no nosewheel steering. The nosewheel caster position is visible on the controls indicator. If you don't have rudder pedals, or are struggling with your keybinds, try the Simple Braking (Rudder Assisted) option in the DCS Special Menu for the A-4E-C, or try assigning a modifier to your rudder axis to utilize the Wheelbrake Differential (Single-Axis) input.

Multiplayer Troubleshooting

• A DCS standalone server hosting missions with the A-4E-C must have the A-4E-C module installed.

• A server can host players who do not have the A-4E-C module installed on missions that feature it, you will need to be ready to get a little hands-on with your mission files. The Mission Editor dictates that any mission with an A4-E-C in it requires the module (just as it would any other aircraft), and it's .miz mission files are, in fact, .zip files.

• Make a copy of your .miz file, and rename it with a .zip file extension, and unzip it.

• Inside, you will find a mission file (no extension). Open this file in your text editor of choice (Notepad works just fine), and search for requiredModules. Remove the A-4E-C's entry, as shown in this example:

["requiredModules"] =
{
     ["A-4E-C"] = "A-4E-C",
}

Once you have completed the edit, save the mission file, and re-create a new .zip (carefully maintaining proper folder structure, of course). Rename your modified mission .zip back to a DCS .miz file extension instead.

• Finally, test your altered mission by yourself or with a friend to ensure it loads properly, and that clients are able to load into the mission or server without the A4-E-C installed. In this instance, DCS will display any A4-E-C units as an untextured Su-27. Players without the module cannot take control of unit, just as if they did not own any other DCS module in a multiplayer mission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it really free?

Yes! The A-4E-C will remain forever free!

Q: Are there any plans to obtain the Eagle Dynamics SDK, make the module official, or make the module a part of the default DCS install package?

No, the A-4E-C will continue on as a free and open-source resource anyone can download and install to enjoy.

Q: Can I donate to the A-4E-C project?

No, we cannot accept donations, but we appreciate your words of support! There are so many good causes out there. Consider donating to one of those instead!

Q: Can I get involved with the A-4E-C project?

Yes! First, join the Community A-4E-C Discord server and introduce yourself! We can always use a hand from game artists, programmers or reliable testers as we continue to move the project forward. If you think you have something to contribute, don't hesitate to reach out in the chat.

Q: Are there manuals or tutorials?

Yes! Locating the NATOPS manual for an A-4E/F is the gold standard for understanding this aircraft, but there is a lot of helpful guidance in the included kneeboard manual. To access the manual:

• Once inside the cockpit, open the kneeboard by pressing RSHIFT+K
• Read the PDF manual in %HOMEPATH%\\Saved Games\DCS\Mods\aircraft\A-4E-C\Docs or read the kneeboard manual online

The Community A-4E-C Discord server contains a video "hall of fame" featuring high-quality, up-to-date tutorials for all major systems by some of the Community's finest members. Users have also provided manuals in French and Spanish on the discord.

Q: Is there a paint kit I can use to create my own A-4E-C liveries?

Yes! This A-4E-C Paintkit includes the aircraft's top, bottom and fuel tanks. See the included liveries for helpful examples setting up your description.lua files.

• Liveries created for versions of the A-4E-C prior to 2.0 must update the material names in their description.lua. You can use the included description.lua files to update

• Install original or downloaded liveries just as you would for any other module, in %HOMEPATH%\\Saved Games\DCS\Liveries\A-4E-C

• Never put your hard work at risk by installing liveries to the module's files!

Q: Can I fly the A-4E-C as a tanker?

No, not at this time.

Q: Will guided weapons like AGM-12 Bullpup or AGM-62 Walleye be added?

Probably not, no.

Q: Why doesn't the A-4E-C have a nosewheel steering button?

There is insufficient evidence to suggest that the A-4E had NWS. According to our research, the revisions and reworks relating to the NWS were applied only to -F models. Leaning to use differential braking takes a little time and effort, but it's a worthwhile skill to develop!

Q: Are there any plans to simulate other variants or later models of the A-4?

No, there are no plans nor keen interest to pursue this, especially since there is a lot left to add and improve one with our beloved A-4E-C. Additionally, the advanced avionics in later models would not be able to be completed in a satisfying manner.

Q: Why doesn't the A-4E-C work with my favorite mission or multiplayer scripting system?

Some scripts or other utilities need to be informed of the A-4E-C's existence or other specificities in order to accommodate it. If you know of a mod or script that should accommodate it, be sure to let the author know!

Q: What's the theme song in the DCS main menu?

Crow, by Eric Haugen