DCS World DCS: MB-339

DCS World DCS: MB-339 is an aircraft add-on featuring the MB-339, a single-engine, two-seat Italian jet trainer and light ground-support aircraft derived from the MB-326. Designed during the Cold War, it entered service in the early 1980s as the Italian Air Force’s main training aircraft. The add-on requires Open Beta.

The MB-339

The aircraft was exported to several countries, and some are still in operation. It served with the Armada de la República Argentina during the Falklands-Malvinas war and was used by the Eritrean Air Force in operations against rebels, smugglers and the Ethiopian Air Force. Historical operators of the A version include the Italian Air Force, Malaysia, Nigeria, Peru, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina and Ghana.

The aerobatic PAN version is flown by the Frecce Tricolori of the Italian Air Force and Al Fursan of the UAE Air Force. The MB-339 is the only jet aircraft capable of performing the Lomcovák manoeuvre.

Flight and aircraft systems

The external flight model uses performance and engineering data from the real aircraft and has been tested by MB-339 pilots, including former Frecce Tricolori pilots. The simulation includes detailed systems for:

• Flight controls, electrical circuits and circuit-breaker logic
• Hydraulic, fuel, oxygen and pressurization systems
• TACAN, VOR/ILS and AHRS/GPS navigation, with support for loading a custom data cartridge
• Blind-flying hood and radios compatible with SRS
• Interior and exterior lighting, armament and smoke systems

The 3D model is based on blueprints and surveys of a real MB-339. It includes animations, lighting and a complete damage model. The cockpit has six degrees of freedom, with detailed instruments, controls and textures.

Weapons and equipment

The aircraft can carry the following weapons and equipment:

• Anti-runway Durandal
• Belouga cluster bombs
• BAP-120 and BAP-100 bombs
• Conformal DEFA 553 30 mm cannon pods
• Conformal AN-M3 12.7 mm machine-gun pods
• A conformal camera pod, visual-only at release
• Travel pod
• LR-25-0 (or AL-25-50) for SNIA 50 mm rockets
• SNIA ARF-8/M3 50 mm rockets in API, HEI and TP variants
• BRD-4-250 for Mk-76 and MK-106 training bombs and two 50 mm rockets
• Mk-76 and MK-106 bombs for the BRD without hook, with Italian labels

Missions and liveries

The add-on includes liveries for the different countries that operated the aircraft, interactive training and practice missions, several single-player missions and instant actions, and a mini campaign. A PDF user manual is also included.