Aircraft Additional Properties
There are a variety of options available in the DCS Mission Editor that allow a degree of customization of the DCS OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. Many of these options reflect real world changes to the airframe over its 33-year service history, allowing mission creators to modify the helicopter to represent a specific time period or mission capability. These options can be found by placing an OH-58D(R) and selecting the ‘Aircraft Additional Properties’ tab.
Aircraft Control Priority
Determines which player has priority control of the aircraft in multicrew.
Remove Doors
Enable to remove doors from the aircraft. Doors can also be removed or added via the Ground Crew radio menu.
Install Pilot Display Unit
The Pilot Display Unit (PDU) is a roof mounted Heads Up Display system that was largely removed from aircraft due to safety issues with the night vision goggles used by pilots.
For more information on the PDU, see Pilot Display Unit.
Equip Personal Weapons
Crew deployed in combat would often be equipped with personal weapons, primarily used for defense in case the aircraft needs to be evacuated in hostile territory. In the case of the Kiowa Warrior, these weapons were sometimes used offensively. In the DCS OH-58D Kiowa Warrior module we have included these weapons by default, and the Copilot may employ their weapon offensively.
More information on how to employ this weapon can be found in Copilot’s Personal Weapon (M4).
Remove Mast Mounted Sight
The Mast Mounted Sight (MMS) is the large optical sensor mounted on top of the rotor mast. While the Kiowa Warrior almost always flew with the MMS attached, it could be removed for transportation and there are cases of the aircraft flying without the sensor attached both in deployment and in training.
Rapid Deployment Gear (MPLH)
Multi-Purpose Light Helicopter Rapid Deployment Gear was fitted to aircraft being transported as it allowed the aircraft to be lowered when stowed.
Install AN/ALQ-144 IRCM
The AN/ALQ-144 IRCM is a passive infrared countermeasures device that disrupts the seekers of missiles targeting the aircraft.
The AN/ALQ-144 was replaced by the AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System around 2009.
More information on this system can be found in AN/ALQ-144 Infrared Countermeasures Device.
Import Editor Drawings
The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior navigation system allows for the creation of multiple flight routes, as well as the drawing of Battlefield Graphics that are used to display locations on the map.
To facilitate the creation of these extra routes and graphics, we have implemented the ability to import Polygon and Line Drawings from the DCS Mission Editor as Routes and Graphics.
By default, these drawings will be imported (subject to use of the correct naming convention). Disabling this option will prevent the drawings from being loaded into the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior’s mission computers.
For more information on the use of Mission Editor Drawings to create Routes and Battlefield Graphics, see Creating Routes with Drawings and Creating Battlefield Graphics with Drawings.
IDM Net
The IDM Net value indicates which network the Improved Data Modem will connect to. The IDM will only be able to communicate with aircraft on the same network.