DCS: F/A-18C Hornet | New Radar Modes

In the next big update for the Hornet, we will add two, new radar modes: Wide Auto-Acquisition (WACQ) and SPOT.
The WACQ mode has both a fixed 6-bar, 30-degrees (60-degrees total) of azimuth at 10 nm range and an uncaged mode that allows the TDC to slew the space-stabilized scan center. SPOT mode enables you to designate a location within the tactical area of the air-to-air radar display and depress and hold the TDC to initiate a 22-degree search centered on the TDC location.
Key Commands from Controls / F/A-18C Sim / HOTAS:
Sensor Control Switch - Fwd: Right Alt + ;
Sensor Control Switch - Left: Right Alt + ,
Throttle Designator Control (TDC)) - Depress: Enter
Undesignate/Nose Wheel Steer Switch: Right Alt + Space

[@notproplayer3649]

The hornet systems keep getting deeper and deeper, I simply love it !

[@CommandT]

Marianas map is looking good in between those clouds :)

[@MattWagner]

:)

[@lilvinegar5526]

Is that what the map is?!

[@JG10rBull]

Hard to tell with all them clouds.. and that new Tpod on the left

[@miluss102]

@@MattWagner Hi, I have a question: What is the "+" symbol on the radar contact in RWS mode?

[@redlinelegend1641]

If my system can’t handle these beautiful clouds, I’m going to cry

[@ItsJustin177]

@@utley facts not about to spend a grand to get these clouds if my system can’t handle it

[@Uollie]

Leading cause of my stress and anxiety this month

[@hg2560]

It won’t have a performance impact supposedly

[@Sabre1ewan]

@@hg2560 they did say the same about supercarrier though...

[@hg2560]

@@Sabre1ewan we got to stay positive!

[@JasonSuminski]

"Hey guys, Wags here and today I am still enjoying these great clouds while you play in those dust balls from 1994. Here's a radar update!"

[@getsideways7257]

Some people love whining even over the pettiest of reasons...

[@JasonSuminski]

@@getsideways7257 reeeeeee

[@TrickerDCS]

I came 🐳, I saw 👀, I learned 📚.

[@schweizerluchs7146]

HAhaha

[@SimbaScreams]

Good

[@schmidtchen3660]

I only saw the clouds

[@schweizerluchs7146]

69 babee

[@schweizerluchs7146]

@@CakePrincessCelestia Lol i didn't even see your comment

[@ernestwinslow7316]

The home run to out-of-early-access line for the hornet is looking really good. This next big update is going to be great fun with all these features coming to the hornet and of course, those clouds. Nice work ED. Kudos for the push to get the hornet out of early access and deploy resources to other projects like the viper, AH-64D etc

[@thewargamer2039]

Sorry Wags, couldn't hear you over the sound of dem clouds

[@Mako-sz4qr]

Oh its definitely handy now after this spectacular 2.7 update and the wonderful clouds, you guy that a fantastic, superb job !

[@Helixophilia]

Is it me or quality of clouds is getting better and better in every video? :X

[@MattWagner]

Internally, we have included several quality levels for the clouds. This video has a higher setting than previous videos. Thanks.

[@codecodderson3607]

The cockpit lighting looks better as well !

[@Helixophilia]

@@MattWagner i haven't played DCS since the first i saw the introduction of clouds for DCS! been waiting for them all long! the beauty of the virtual world is gonna be more astonishing with their presence :-) thanks for it

[@TLTeo]

@@MattWagner Holy crap, you mean it gets *prettier* than in the trailers you released so far? Damn!

[@L3v3LLIP]

He only said this one is higher, not max. So there might still be improvements. Maybe the res can be higher. They are amazing already, but still a little bit blurry.

[@DarkFire515]

Came for the clouds, stayed and learned about great new radar modes!

[@Dabdi5848]

I just bought the f16 ( I already have the f18 ) you did an incredible job guys thank you for everything hoping to get my hands soon on 2.7

[@DollyRanch]

In a couple of years the viper will see updates like this most likely!

[@rodbiffi]

Wags had a joyful tone in his voice this time. Loved the features. Extra radar modes come handy with all those clouds.

[@D31TCJG]

Thanks for another great video Wags! When can we expect a new Viper Video ? :)

[@andrewchr]

"Hey everyone! Wags here from Eagle Dynamics" I'm going to add this as my alarm sound to start my day :)

[@ManiDProductions]

I'm just here for the clouds

[@L3v3LLIP]

7.5 days until clouds!

[@michaelkphoto8344]

@@L3v3LLIP Why 7.5 days?

[@L3v3LLIP]

@@michaelkphoto8344 it was almost wednesday when I wrote it and it is supposed to be released next wednesday, so thats 7.5 days ;D

[@michaelkphoto8344]

@@L3v3LLIP 🤓👍

[@michaelkphoto8344]

@@L3v3LLIP BTW, where did they announce it? I searched the ED forums, but couldn’t find it.

[@earthexplorer579]

Thanks Watt Magner!

[@FD1CE]

Great and clear tutorial as always. I just wanted to ask for subtitles for our friends who might not be good enough in English listening comprehension. Best,

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

Oh, that's neat. I keep hearing "Wags mode", must have been my phone.

[@terrysharpe23]

Those clouds look amazing. So glad I upgraded my system and got a G2 for VR

[@TheMeanOldMan]

I admit it - everytime a new video gets published on this channel, it puts a smile on my face.

[@Amvienttz]

Clouds aside, these are super useful modes which I can't wait for!

[@jaynuck]

Awesome Wags. Thanks.

[@lenn55]

looking forward to the new ATFLIR stuff.

[@55snakebite]

great info

[@flighttherapybullisticfpv133]

This is going to be SO useful for medium and close range engagements in these BEAUTIFUL NEW CLOUDS BABY WHOOOOO .... lol

[@DJHazzard]

All I ever hear is next big update. When is it coming damn hell..you make it so exciting 😆✌️

[@joshuagarcia874]

The 14th

[@carmo55511]

It was before the end of March, then 7 th April, then 14th April, so who knows......

[@romagnolo]

THEM CLOUDS!

[@dmitriyw.germann2118]

Awesome. Will we get respective SPOT mode for the F-16? Idk how exactly it is named, but it's activated by depressing tms up at any empty place and then radar switches to the 1A width area which follows the cursor. Thank you Wags and the whole team :)

[@tiizy3605]

thank you, will there be a fix of the TWS for the hornet?

[@lukem.34]

Lot's of interesting modes here I didn't even know existed, very cool! Are we getting VACQ on the DCS Hornet? How much of a priority is it if we are getting it?

[@MattWagner]

VACQ has been included for ages. Thanks.

[@cuttheloop]

I see NEW CLOUDS!!

[@flyingcyking]

I only had eyes for the clouds ;)

[@riddlex]

Please bring Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon on DCS too. It would be really interesting to see them go one on one.

[@goreoproductions6955]

C L O U D S oh and uh yeah new radar modes

[@TheeShaggySniper]

Wags is chipper today!

[@propilots3398]

Che figata

[@mscir]

Is this the same sim the military uses? It's really impressive. I'd like to see it allow voice shortcuts to menu choices so the pilot could just say what screen he wants to see and the s/w would display it immediately.

[@Benom8]

I'm looking forward to the new 'on' mode. Lucky if you can track your buddy for a rejoin with current implementation. ;-)

[@JoeSuli]

Be sure you up your target aging setting from the default 4 to at least 16. This setting is being applied incorrectly right now and if set low, will cause targets to drop. No kidding, it’s a completely different radar at 16 or higher ;).

[@Benom8]

@@JoeSuli Thanks, I don't always remember to do that. Even when I do though, it still sometimes struggles to pick up contacts in the first place :( (BTW, I know about hi/mid/intl and getting the elevation right etc.)

[@Benom8]

One day I can intercept friendly Harpoons, the next I can't pick up my buddies for a rejoin from a mile away :shrug:

[@ascherlafayette8572]

I see Wags vid I click

[@Templar7832]

Hands up who can just listen to Wags all day. :-)

[@christopherwood5789]

How does Spot differ from manual mode in TWS in which the scan centers around your TDC?

[@Fred160008]

Hey Wags, thanks a lot for your video! I've notived now in the hornet in TWS manual mode that the radar is no longer following my TDC cursor. It only moves when I press the TDC in a new location, kind of like the SPOT mode, but in TWS. Was the behavior changed for TWS as well, or is it a bug?

[@webweaver3015]

How is wacq going to work with the hmd? Will it scan 60 and 15 from where you're looking or based off the nose of the plane?

[@archi1757]

Hello Matt! What is the range for acquisition in WACQ mode? I know that HACQ is

[@Racer0ne0ne]

Awesome work! I've been noticing this for a while, and not sure if its just the way the jet is with the HMD active but at 1:13 in the video two target designator boxes appear in the HUD, one a mirror of the other but offset and flashing. Why is this?

[@Tholozor]

Because the center of the camera's FOV isnt going straight through the HUD (reference the center cross), the position of the TD box in the HMD is outside its field of view.

[@Ereshkigal616]

@Matt Wagner, any chance of an Mi-24p Hind Cockpit Fan configuration and utility vid before early access launch? :)

[@therealsilens]

"Hey everyone, Wags here from Eagle Dynamics, and in this DCS: Mi-24P Hind video we're going to take a look at 2 new modes for the fan in the cockpit of the Hind. Let's get started."

[@Ereshkigal616]

@@therealsilens for helicopters, it's kind of an "expected launch feature" to be honest. :D

[@KER0TIN]

Finally the hornet module is finished

[@ysiadpir1423]

Wow!

[@GianlucaTorre]

To get a lock in the spot mode do we need to be in the correct radar antenna elevation?

[@OddElephantLTU]

Yeah babyyyyyyyyy

[@GhostyVTOL]

Considering the new update is right around the corner, Does anyone know if there will be a late Easter sale now?

[@dcstutorial]

Hi Wags. Will 2.7 have any fps optimization for Syria?

[@matk4731]

G’day Waggs 👍🏻👍🏻🙃🙃

[@Lb8068]

What is the cross that appears over the left-most bug on the right MFD?

[@Mako-sz4qr]

Sawwweeet!

[@Mak10z]

looks good. we still on for next week then? I cant wait to get lost in them clouds and then lawndart :)

[@TOMCATnbr]

I don't even own the Hornet. I'm here for the clouds 😍

[@XerxesPlayZ]

How heavy are the clouds going to be? I’m going to take a guess that some people aren’t going to be able to run them maxed?

[@daniellebduska9972]

clouds, clouds, clouds, what was the video about? :-)

[@miluss102]

What is the "+" symbol on the radar contact in RWS mode?

[@gmangnall]

Love your videos...love the game.....but please please please put all updates on hold until you fix the track files.

[@aaroniter8163]

Any updates on the SLAM-ER (H/K version of SLAM) ?

[@user-pn6ig7hn7q]

damn, i'll buy those clouds even if ED decide to roll it as a separate module.

[@Jockesse]

no. just. no.

[@CBilir]

Hi Wags, what is the difference between Spot and Bias? Looks like it works similar. Is spot doing a very very narrow search compared to Bias mode to scan more altitude? If so, it sounds like it is usefull if someone gives a contact report based on the bullseye

[@omercemcicekli6878]

As far as I understand that spot lock the contact but bias doesnt. And bias works in TWS but spot works in RWS.

[@smokincrater]

Is there a terrain following/avoidance mode with the f/a-18c?

[@MattWagner]

No, the Hornet never included TFR. Thanks.

[@gunslingersvfa-105.]

@waggs. HOOCH here from Gunslingers VFA-105, my question is on the left ddi you have the screen am I correct in thinking that's the targeting pod producing that image.

[@collinpankratz8735]

i liiked it and now it's at 9.11. that makes me happy

[@Sinni64]

Is the SLAM-ER still planned for the next update?

[@Inous]

When does this update go live?

[@rampy4963]

Hey Wags, can they fix the engine model/ thrust response?

[@Borbaaa]

Great video Wags! But something make me think if it's a bug: when you unlock the targets, the ATFLIR should reset or not? Because in the video it hold locked somewhere and in your second lock it didn't track the target.

[@MattWagner]

No, it is correct. L&S was never selected. Thanks.

[@b0bl00i]

@@MattWagner What's L&S? Is it a sub mode for the TGP A/A mode? How to slew the TGP to the radar lock? Can it be done automatically when locking up an air target?

[@ABC-lh4vp]

so, when is the next biiig update? i can't wait

[@TLTeo]

I must have missed an update, but what's the cross that sometimes shows up on a radar contact in the FCR page?

[@Tholozor]

That's the Automatic Acquisition cue, it highlights the highest ranked track file for AACQ.

[@TLTeo]

@@Tholozor Thanks!

[@janpistelak1352]

I have noticed the added Radar/Jammer priority function. Is there a Velocity Search mode to be added as well?

[@frankrebind4483]

Hey what do you mean by this, is it an option on the RDR ATTK page?

[@janpistelak1352]

@@frankrebind4483 Yes, check the options on the left side of the display.

[@frankrebind4483]

@@janpistelak1352 will do mate. 👍

[@agostonbazmajer1100]

Velocity search is not planned currently, I haven't managed to get an answer about the minor missing radar features. (Speed gate, LDF, priority switch, ECCM, channels)

[@janpistelak1352]

@@agostonbazmajer1100 Thanks for the answer. Hopefully, someday.

[@flesz0540]

Hi Matt! do you know when the update will come out? If it comes out tomorrow I'll send you a video of how I make a pogchamp propeller ;)

[@muzi.muzi.3342]

PogU

[@lilvinegar5526]

14th

[@Peashant2142]

What button is used to break the lock at 1:16?

[@joneill63]

Anyone else notice some weird "warping/waviness" in the clouds to the left and right of the HUD after he starts turns and straightens out turns? Like at @ 0:46, 1:30 and 2:11 in?

[@TacticalError]

Fastest click in the west

[@Nanuknikisuittuk]

They should include an opinion to disable the clouds if it is too much for your pc to handle.

[@masterman3178]

Can you do a tutorial on how to run the radar silent. I can’t find anything anywhere

[@stavrosanastasiadis2449]

The Hornet is getting better and better. The only thing that is missing now is the speed. It's still draggi..

[@bazej1080]

Don't take any weapon under the wing pylons - they are for A/G missions. In RL A/A configuration 2xAIM-9 + 2xAIM-120 Hornet is quite fast.

[@MrGs500f]

Now I forget, how do you set the seeker of the missile to the hmcs? The system is making more sense now tho with modes and TDC.

[@Tholozor]

IIRC, without a radar lock the seeker will slave to the HMD automatically. With a radar lock, the Cage/Uncage button will toggle radar slave vs. HMD slave. Can't check it at work, take that with a grain of salt.

[@b0bl00i]

Why doesn't the TGP automatically lock on the radar target once you lock it up? Seems counterintuitive to have to do that manually.

[@Mako-sz4qr]

How are you getting the left ddi to show up like a TPOD?

[@Mako-sz4qr]

Disregard I think I missed the last video checking it out now

[@tracer822]

I guess viper pilots can't do ag missions when the cloud update comes. There is no way to find or see target with the tgp while these clouds blocking. I presume we will have to turn that visual option off :/

[@Tonkotsu2k10]

That's WACQ Yo

[@NorthernerInSpace]

Seems a bit CLOUDY up there.

[@TriadAgone]

2 more weeks!

[@flymax4066]

When will 2.7 be released? Im so hyped for this!

[@jdantispam338]

Today

[@antonioparisi6315]

@@jdantispam338 I am not so sure since if you go to the EDforum there is a post by BigNewy called PatchStatus. The release date is set for OB the 14th of April

[@jdantispam338]

@@antonioparisi6315 oh, bad news, I was pretty sure it will be released today. But anyway, thanks for the information, Antonio

[@shomz]

Do we know the release date?

[@saarsaban4290]

we want jdam for the f16c viper matt

[@lukeboth8311]

I just hope the radar can maintain a lock again

[@DRAGONFANG18]

Ah I thought it was only me. hahaha

[@gerlofrispens968]

2:37 If you look closely you see the clouds getting warped when wags rolls the jet, Is that going to be fixed??

[@dirter38]

I saw that in previous videos and it reminds me of arma 3 clouds... They do the same thing.

[@Phvpark]

looks like a KZbin compression problem, very common when the background looks the same

[@thecircusfreak5364]

I saw the same thing, glad someone pointed that out. We’ll see if it’s present when it runs in person.

[@nator1654]

why all this depth of field? what are you trying to hide something? when the 2.7 will come out?

[@therealsilens]

Something something radar. . . something mode. . . scan. . . azimuth. . . WOW those clouds!

[@dmac1589]

How does he get DCS to run without stuttering?

[@leesp2]

Cue the bloody cloud comments

[@berserker6341]

Now the real threat are that clouds for our cpu's

[@Mark-fo7tu]

Older machines might struggle a little, but like everything with DCS the more they do the harder it will push your rigs. Use to fly this on a Athlon II 645 with 8 gig of ram and a old GPU got around 15-20 fps when 2.0 dropped (could never do any combat use to just fly around on a empty map for hours, flying high to help the frames), have a much better system now and can play the sim. But the next thing i will need is more RAM, 16 gig is the bare minimum these days for pretty much anything, unless i turn down all the eye candy....but what's the point of that.

[@berserker6341]

@@Mark-fo7tu I agree with you, the comments around the clouds is more like a meme or an internal joke (because its amazing how it looks) but with my fx8350 and 1060 6gb and 32gb of ram i play in vr with no problem (obviously, vr or not, always there's some stuttering, but FAR i am to run it on 4k). For that reason, i think there's no PC on Earth that can run DCS like for example, War Thunder. It's very complex. Thats why we love it. Cheers!

[@MrSpinkser]

What is this Video about? Beautiful Clouds!....and something about radar... (:

[@cuttheloop]

The real question is... Are there any threats?

[@theonefrancis696]

Everyone asking "where are threats" but no one asking "How are threats?"