Threat Database

SA-6 Kub

The DCS universe is full of things that are constantly trying to kill you. In some cases, such as DCS: Black Shark, even your very own aircraft wants nothing more than to introduce you to the ground with maximum prejudice. In other cases, the threats you will encounter are proper anti-aircraft platforms, and that's what is covered here.

It helps to get an idea of what's out there. You should know when it's okay to dirty yourself when you hear BEEP! BEEP BEEP! come from your RWR vs. when it's safe to turn music back up. A SA-13 Gopher isn't much of a threat when you're 20,000 AGL, but if you see an SA-10 Grumble or one of its radars pop up on your green screen, well, it's probably a good time to call the wife and kids and tell them you might be stuck at the office for a while.

Basic symbology overview

Symbology Overview

Here is a list of symbology that can be found on most modern (Western) fighters: note that the Russian planes may make use of a different RWR system that does not use these symbols. Note that the symbols denote critical differences between various threats: an American F-15C jet aircraft will have the same symbol ('15') as a Russian SA-15 Tor SAM system: the ^ HAT symbol differentiates between airborne or not airborne threat.

Threat Overview

Ground Threat Guide	Threat	NATO Code	RWR IDENT	Type	Gun Ammo	Missile Amount	Speed (mach)	Range (nm)		Radar (nm)	Acquire Time (sec.)	Altitude (ft)		Danger (1~10)
								Min	Max	Max		Min	Max
AAA	2K22M Tunguska	SA-19 Grison		OP, RAD, LSR	1936	8x SACLOS		0	2/4	6	4	0 / 100	16000	5
	Flk. Pnz. Gepard		A	RAD	660			0	2	8	4	0	9500	4
	M163 VADS			OP	2280			0	1.4		6	0	4500	3
	ZPU-1/2/4			OP	50 - 4800			0	0.7		3.5	0	4500	1
	ZSU-23-4 Shilka		A	RAD	2000			0	1.3	12	8	0	6500	3
	ZSU-57-2 Sparka			OP	254			0	2		5	0	14000	2
	Zu-23-3 Sergey			OP	100			0	1.3		4	0	6500	1
MPD	3K38 Igla	SA-18 Grouse		IR		3x IR		0.25	2.5		6	0	12000	3
	9K338 Igla-S	SA-24		IR		3x IR		0.25	2.5		6	0	12000	3
	FIM-92 Stinger			IR		3x IR		0.1	2		6	0	11000	3
SHORAD	9A33 Osa	SA-8 Gecko		RAD		6x RAD		0.8	7.5	16	26	50	21000	7
	Strela-1 9P31	SA-9 Gaskin		IR		4x IR		0.4	2.5		2.5	100	12000	6
	9K35 Strela-10	SA-13 Gopher		IR		4x IR		0.4	2.8		2.5	75	15000	6
	9K331 Tor	SA-15 Gauntlet		RAD		8x RAD		0.8	6.5	16	9	60	26000	7
	Jeep Avenger ADS			OP, IR	180	8x IR		0.1	3.7		2.5	0	11000	4
	M6 Linebacker			OP, IR	1500	4x IR		0.1	2		2.5	0	11000	4
	MIM-115 Roland		RO	RAD		10x RAD		0.5	3.4	5.1	11	30	19500	6
	MIM-72G Chaparral			IR		4x IR		0.1	3		2.5	150	9500	5
MERAD	S-75 Devina	SA-2	02	RAD				?	?	25	?	?	?
	S-125 Pechora	SA-3 Goa		RAD		4x RAD		13.5	40	21	?	700	33000	5
	2K12 Kub	SA-6 Gainful		RAD		3x RAD		0.5	19.2	47	28	100	33000	7
	9K37 Buk	SA-11 Gadfly		OP, RAD		4x RAD		?	20.2	90	26	450	45000	8
	MIM-23 Hawk		HA, HK	RAD		3x RAD		1	25.6	?	12	450	45000	7
LORAD	S-300PS	SA-10 Grumble		OP, RAD		4x RAD		3	40	160	3	50	150000	10
	MIM-104 Patriot			RAD		4x RAD		1.6	86	92	?	200	80000	10
TGT RAD*	P-19 Flat Face	SA-3	FF	Often part of SA-3, but can also guide others						85	?		?
	SNR-125 Low Blow	SA-3	?	SA-3 Missile guidance radar						22	?		?
	1S91 Straight Flush	SA-6	?	SA-6 Target acquisition and tracking radar						?	?		?
	9S80M1 Dog Ear	SA-9	DE	SA-9, SA-13, ZSU-23-4 support radar						20	?		100000
	5N66M Clam Shell	SA-10		SA-10 TGT RDR						64	?		?
	64H6E Big Bird	SA-10		SA-10 TGT RDR						160	?		?
	30N6E Flap Lid	SA-10		SA-10 Target tracking radar						?	?		?
	9S18M1 Snow Drift	SA-11		SA-11 TGT RDR						86	?		?
	Roland Radar		RO	Roland TGT RDR						16	?		?
	AN/MPQ-46 HPIR		HA	MIM-23 Hawk Target tracking radar						?	?		?
	AN/MPQ-53		HK	MIM-104 Patriot acquisition and tracking radar						?	?		?
EWR / ACQR	1L13 Box Spring		S	Early Warning / Surveillance Radar						160	?		130000
	55G6 Tall Rack		S	Early Warning / Surveillance Radar						215	?		130000
	P-37 Bar Lock		S							210	?		?
	PRW-11 Side Net		S							100	?		100000
	RSP-7 Two Spot		S							20	?		?
Types: OP = optical, RAD = radar, LSR = laser,
Missile reload time for units supplied with logistical facilities (supply trucks, friendly bases) is approx. 10 minutes
Target radars (often) boost (radar) range and reaction time of the default vehicle: you could still be locked with the launchers own radar / optics
Vehicles that do not use radar for guidance may still use it for ranging and target detection (SA-13, SA-19)

Non-NATO

NATO Designation	Platform	RWR Symbol(s)	Min Range (nm)	Max range (nm)	Min Altitude (ft)	Max Altitude (ft)	Speed (Mach)	Armament	Threat Level
SA-3 Goa	S-125 Nyeva		3.24	13.5	300	82,200	3+	4	High
SA-6 Gainful	3M9 Kub/Kvadrat		2.16	13		46,000	2.8	3	High
SA-8 Gecko	9K33 Osa		0.8	5.4	80	19,700		6	Moderate
SA-9 Gaskin	9K21 Strela-1	N/A (IR Guidance)	0.43	2.27	100	11,500	1.8	4	Moderate
SA-10 Grumble	S-300			25.4		98,500	6	4	Extreme
SA-11 Gadfly	9K37 Buk		2	13		39,400	2.8	4	High
SA-13 Gopher	9K35 Strela-10		0.1	2.7	30	11,500	1.6	4	Moderate
SA-15 Gauntlet	9K330 Tor		0.54	6.5		19,700	2.7	8	High
SA-18 Grouse	9K38 Igla	N/A (IR Guidance - MANPAD)	N/A	2.8		9,800		1	High
SA-19 Grison	9K22 Tunguska		0.8	6.5		19,700		8	Moderate

Missiles

Non-NATO

Russian Designation	NATO Designation	Platform	Min Range (nm)	Max range (nm)	Speed (Mach)	Guidance type	Armament	Threat Level
R-24R	AA-7 Apex	link	0.25	10.8	3	SARH	High Explosive	Moderate
R-24T	AA-7 Apex	link	0.25	10.8	3	IR	High Explosive	Moderate
R-27ER	AA-10C Alamo	link	0.25	37.8	3	SARH	High Explosive	High
R-27ET	AA-10D Alamo	link	0.25	37.8	3	IR	High Explosive	High
R-27R	AA-10A Alamo	link	0.25	27	3	SARH	High Explosive	Moderate
R-27T	AA-10B Alamo	link	0.25	21.6	2.5	IR	High Explosive	Moderate
R-60	AA-8 Aphid	link	0.25	2.7	2	IR	High Explosive	Moderate
R-73	AA-11 Archer	link	0.25	8.09	2.5	IR	High Explosive	Very High
R-77	AA-12 Adder	link	0.25	31.07	3	ARH	High Explosive	Very High

NATO

NATO Designation	Platform	RWR Symbol(s)	Min Range (nm)	Max range (nm)	Speed (Mach)	Guidance	Armament (Warhead Type)	Threat Level
AIM-120B	link	N/A	0.25	29.71	4	ARH	Blast-Fragmentation	Very High
AIM-120C	link	N/A	0.25	29.71	4	ARH	Blast-Fragmentation	Very High
AIM-7M	link	N/A	0.25	24.31	3	SARH	Blast-Fragmentation	Very High
AIM-9M	link	N/A	0.25	9.71	2.5	IR	Blast-Fragmentation	Very High

Aircraft

Non-NATO

NATO Designation	Platform	RWR Symbol(s)	Min Range	Max range	Min Altitude	Max Altitude	Speed	Armament
shell	link		UNK	UNK	UNK	UNK	UNK	UNK

Airspace Surveillance

Non-NATO

NATO Designation	Platform	RWR Symbol(s)	Flexibility	Max detection range	Min Altitude	Max Altitude
Dog Ear	1S80 "Sborka" PPRU		self-propelled	80 km	UNK	UNK
Tall Rack	55G6-1 NEBO		stationary deployable	500 km	UNK	40 km
Box Spring	1L13-3 NEBO-SV		stationary deployable	500 km	UNK	40 km