4 ms·

I'm surprise the article didn't mention the US military history. The US Army has not had a evolution of its attack helicopter since the 1970s. I remember beca

I'm surprise the article didn't mention the US military history. The US Army has not had a evolution of its attack helicopter since the 1970s. I remember because one of my favorite childhood games was Comanche 3. [1] Control a helicopter, not crash, not get shot down, neutralize enemies, and achieve mission objectives -- it was cutting-edge for 1997. The Comanche program was scrapped after more than a decade of development. And the Defiant program was just cancelled last year as well. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comanche_3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comanche_3

stonethrowaway 2y ago
Between that, F-22, JSF, Hind and A10, we had some great great games that decade. Still miss Fighter Ace on MSN Gaming Zone.
- verdverm 2y ago
  VTOL VR is a pretty great VR first mil flight sim. It has f-18, f-35, and apache like vehicles. They recently introduced wind effects and EW. Allegedly the radar cross-sectioning is better than DCIS (actually accounts for orientation towards the radar)
- the_af 2y ago
  If you haven't already, be sure to checkout MicroProse's [1] "modern" retro flightsim, Tiny Combat Arena. Sure, it's beta and continuously in development (and likely won't be finished, ever), but still, you can take off in a Harrier and blow up stuff. The graphics are charmingly retro. -- [1] published by MicroProse, but actually a one-man effort.
- howard941 2y ago
  Tornado was another terrific sim. It had the best mission planner and immersion even though its simulation of the ALARM was busted. Digital Integrations? Don't remember if that was the publisher.
russdill 2y ago
I remember quite clearly when it was scrapped, because suddenly it was much easier to find a parking spot.
wiseowise 2y ago
What about this classic? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Strike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Strike
decafninja 2y ago
My understanding is that the latest versions of the Apache and Cobra are very different from their original incarnations, despite looking similar, no?
- _3u10 2y ago
  Avionics for sure, but there's not really anything like a "5th gen" helicopter. Helicopters are mostly close air support. No one is going to send fleets of helicopters to engage in air to air combat with other fleets of helicopters.
  - decafninja 2y ago
    Have we gotten to a point where the CAS role can be fully handled by drones of various types? I know we have Hellfire toting drones, but their payload seems very limited versus existing attack helicopter platforms or the A-10. I’m actually surprised we don’t have a drone attack helicopter - basically an unmanned Apache. Or has that entire concept basically become obsolete in favor of just sending over swarms of loitering suicide drones?
    - _3u10 2y ago
      I suspect that the US likely has effective means of jamming drone communications. If you have a seeker that doesn't need human intervention, why use electric motors when you can use rocket motors for your drone, aka "missile". The drones I would see as maybe being effective is some kind of anti radar drone that can loiter in an area without comms and strike when the radar lights up. That said the CAS role requires radio comms to the helicopter / airplane, so I mean maybe a drone with an LLM that can use human comms to figure out friend from foe. Obviously the drone has to send back a TV signal to the controller, I think the US would figure out some kind of HARM missile that would just lock onto the drone transmitter. Or a CIWS system with a radar that locks on to the transmitter. I think solid fuel rocket motors are cheaper than electric motors and batteries. Maybe drones are the future, but I sort of see it as 2 broke countries duking it out. There's probably a reason why Ukraine wants US weapons like ATACMS and not a container ship full of drones. If you look at the $120 billion in aid to ukraine, that would buy you 100 million drones at $1200 per drone. Or 10 million at $12,000 per. I guess what I'm saying is if NATO fought Russia it would be over in a few weeks and no one would care about drones. I think drones, except for Ukraine's sea drones, are highly useful in this conflict but probably not many others. Sea drones could be a game changer, its a super long range torpedo and for anyone fighting the US, its probably safe to assume vessels beyond the vessel that launches them, are those of the US military / the enemy.
mh- 2y ago
Wow, that stirred up some nostalgia. I loved this game. All the Jane's ones too.
taneq 2y ago
That voxel heightfield engine was amazing for its time.

stonethrowaway 2y ago

Between that, F-22, JSF, Hind and A10, we had some great great games that decade. Still miss Fighter Ace on MSN Gaming Zone.

verdverm 2y ago
VTOL VR is a pretty great VR first mil flight sim. It has f-18, f-35, and apache like vehicles. They recently introduced wind effects and EW. Allegedly the radar cross-sectioning is better than DCIS (actually accounts for orientation towards the radar)
the_af 2y ago
If you haven't already, be sure to checkout MicroProse's [1] "modern" retro flightsim, Tiny Combat Arena. Sure, it's beta and continuously in development (and likely won't be finished, ever), but still, you can take off in a Harrier and blow up stuff. The graphics are charmingly retro. -- [1] published by MicroProse, but actually a one-man effort.
howard941 2y ago
Tornado was another terrific sim. It had the best mission planner and immersion even though its simulation of the ALARM was busted. Digital Integrations? Don't remember if that was the publisher.

russdill 2y ago

I remember quite clearly when it was scrapped, because suddenly it was much easier to find a parking spot.

wiseowise 2y ago

What about this classic? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Strike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Strike

decafninja 2y ago

My understanding is that the latest versions of the Apache and Cobra are very different from their original incarnations, despite looking similar, no?

_3u10 2y ago
Avionics for sure, but there's not really anything like a "5th gen" helicopter. Helicopters are mostly close air support. No one is going to send fleets of helicopters to engage in air to air combat with other fleets of helicopters.
- decafninja 2y ago
  Have we gotten to a point where the CAS role can be fully handled by drones of various types? I know we have Hellfire toting drones, but their payload seems very limited versus existing attack helicopter platforms or the A-10. I’m actually surprised we don’t have a drone attack helicopter - basically an unmanned Apache. Or has that entire concept basically become obsolete in favor of just sending over swarms of loitering suicide drones?
  - _3u10 2y ago
    I suspect that the US likely has effective means of jamming drone communications. If you have a seeker that doesn't need human intervention, why use electric motors when you can use rocket motors for your drone, aka "missile". The drones I would see as maybe being effective is some kind of anti radar drone that can loiter in an area without comms and strike when the radar lights up. That said the CAS role requires radio comms to the helicopter / airplane, so I mean maybe a drone with an LLM that can use human comms to figure out friend from foe. Obviously the drone has to send back a TV signal to the controller, I think the US would figure out some kind of HARM missile that would just lock onto the drone transmitter. Or a CIWS system with a radar that locks on to the transmitter. I think solid fuel rocket motors are cheaper than electric motors and batteries. Maybe drones are the future, but I sort of see it as 2 broke countries duking it out. There's probably a reason why Ukraine wants US weapons like ATACMS and not a container ship full of drones. If you look at the $120 billion in aid to ukraine, that would buy you 100 million drones at $1200 per drone. Or 10 million at $12,000 per. I guess what I'm saying is if NATO fought Russia it would be over in a few weeks and no one would care about drones. I think drones, except for Ukraine's sea drones, are highly useful in this conflict but probably not many others. Sea drones could be a game changer, its a super long range torpedo and for anyone fighting the US, its probably safe to assume vessels beyond the vessel that launches them, are those of the US military / the enemy.

mh- 2y ago

Wow, that stirred up some nostalgia. I loved this game. All the Jane's ones too.

taneq 2y ago

That voxel heightfield engine was amazing for its time.