🎯 Early Warning Radar Script (EWRS) for DCS World

A dynamic, realistic radar warning system that provides Bearing, Range, and Altitude (BRA) information to player aircraft in DCS World missions.

📋 Table of Contents

Overview
Key Features
What's New in v1.6.0
Requirements
Installation
Quick Start
Configuration Guide
F10 Radio Menu
Supported Aircraft
Supported Radar Units
Usage Examples
Troubleshooting
Credits
Contributing
License

🌟 Overview

EWRS transforms your DCS missions by providing realistic radar warning capabilities. Using actual in-game radar systems, it detects and reports hostile aircraft positions to friendly players, taking into account terrain masking, radar cross-sections, and electronic warfare considerations.

Perfect for:

Large-scale multiplayer missions
Training scenarios
Realistic combat operations
SEAD/DEAD missions
CAP (Combat Air Patrol) operations

✨ Key Features

🎮 Realistic Detection

Uses actual DCS radar systems for target detection
Terrain masking and low-altitude flying are effective
Beaming tactics work as intended
RCS (Radar Cross Section) is respected

🔄 Dynamic Network

Automatically detects new radar units spawned during mission
Perfect for missions with CTLD (Complete Troops and Logistics Deployment)
Adapts to changing battlefield conditions

📊 Customizable Reporting

Imperial (feet, knots, NM) or Metric (meters, km/h, km) units
Reference from pilot's aircraft or mission bullseye
Adjustable update intervals and display times
Limit number of threats displayed

🎯 Advanced Features

Bogey Dope: Request nearest threat on-demand
Picture Reports: Automated or on-demand threat overview
Friendly Picture: See positions of friendly aircraft
Coalition Support: Works for both RED and BLUE coalitions
Per-Group Settings: Each flight can customize their preferences

🛠️ Mission Designer Flexibility

Enable/disable automated messages
Restrict BRA to certain aircraft types
Control reference point options
Set display limits and intervals

🆕 What's New in v1.6.0

🚀 Major Updates by HeavenDCS (2025)

DCS 2.9+ Compatibility

Full API compatibility with latest DCS version
Updated all function calls and syntax
Verified against MIST 4.5.126

30+ New Aircraft Types

Modern fighters and attack aircraft now supported:

F-14A/B Tomcat 🦅
F-16C Viper ✈️
F/A-18C/E/F Hornet/Super Hornet 🐝
F-15E Strike Eagle 🦅
F-4E Phantom II 👻
AV-8B Harrier II ⚡
A-10C II ⚡
JF-17 Thunder 🌩️
AH-64D Apache 🚁
Mirage F1 variants 🇫🇷
Su-30/Su-34 Flanker/Fullback 🇷🇺
Tornado GR4/IDS 🌪️
And many more!

Expanded Radar Coverage

All modern SAM systems included
Naval radar units now active (carriers, destroyers, frigates)
Updated AWACS aircraft list

Quality Improvements

Comprehensive code validation
Enhanced error handling
Performance optimizations
Improved documentation

📦 Requirements

Essential

DCS World 2.9+ - Download
MIST 4.5.126 or later - Get MIST

🔧 Installation

Step 1: Download MIST

# Download MIST 4.5.126+
https://github.com/mrSkortch/MissionScriptingTools/releases

Step 2: Add to Mission

Open your mission in the DCS Mission Editor
Go to Triggers → Mission Start
Add DO SCRIPT FILE action
Load mist_4_5_126.lua (or newer)
Add another DO SCRIPT FILE action
Load EWRS.lua

Step 3: Configure

Edit EWRS.lua script options (see Configuration Guide)

Step 4: Test

Place radar units (EWR, SAM, AWACS, or ships) in the mission
Add player aircraft
Add hostile aircraft
Run mission and check F10 menu

🚀 Quick Start

Minimal Setup

-- In EWRS.lua, these are the essential settings:

ewrs.enableBlueTeam = true          -- Enable for Blue coalition
ewrs.enableRedTeam = true           -- Enable for Red coalition
ewrs.messageUpdateInterval = 30     -- Update every 30 seconds
ewrs.messageDisplayTime = 25        -- Show messages for 25 seconds

Mission Requirements

Radar Units: Place at least one radar unit from the supported list
Player Aircraft: Add client slots for players
Hostile Aircraft: Add enemy aircraft for detection
Bullseye (optional): Set mission bullseye for reference

That's it! EWRS will automatically detect valid radar units and start providing BRA information.

⚙️ Configuration Guide

Basic Settings

----SCRIPT OPTIONS----

-- Message Timing
ewrs.messageUpdateInterval = 30     -- Seconds between automated updates
ewrs.messageDisplayTime = 25        -- Seconds to display messages

-- Reference Options
ewrs.restrictToOneReference = false -- Allow players to change reference
ewrs.defaultReference = "self"      -- "self" or "bulls" (bullseye)
ewrs.defaultMeasurements = "imperial" -- "imperial" or "metric"

-- Coalition Settings
ewrs.enableRedTeam = true           -- Enable EWRS for RED coalition
ewrs.enableBlueTeam = true          -- Enable EWRS for BLUE coalition

-- Display Options
ewrs.disableFightersBRA = false     -- Disable BRA for fighters
ewrs.disableMessageWhenNoThreats = true -- Hide "no threats" messages
ewrs.maxThreatDisplay = 5           -- Max threats in picture (0 = all)

Advanced Settings

-- Detection Realism
ewrs.useImprovedDetectionLogic = true -- Realistic radar limitations

-- On-Demand Mode
ewrs.onDemand = false               -- Disable auto messages, use F10 only

-- Special Features
ewrs.allowBogeyDope = true          -- Allow nearest threat requests
ewrs.allowFriendlyPicture = true    -- Allow friendly aircraft picture
ewrs.maxFriendlyDisplay = 5         -- Max friendlies shown

Adding Custom Radar Units

-- Add to ewrs.validSearchRadars table
ewrs.validSearchRadars = {
    "YOUR_RADAR_UNIT_TYPE",         -- Add custom unit type names
    "p-10 s125 sr",                 -- SA-3 example
    -- ... existing radars
}

Custom Aircraft Categories

-- Modify aircraft behavior
ewrs.acCategories = {
    [ "F-16C_50" ] = ewrs.FIGHTER,  -- Gets BRA messages
    [ "A-10C_2" ]  = ewrs.ATTACK,   -- Can be filtered
    [ "AH-64D_BLK_II" ] = ewrs.HELO -- Helicopter category
}

📻 F10 Radio Menu

Players access EWRS features through the F10 radio menu:

F10 → EWRS
├── Request Bogey Dope           (nearest threat)
├── Request Picture              (all threats - on-demand mode)
├── Request Friendly Picture     (friendly positions)
├── Set GROUP's reference point
│   ├── Set to Bullseye
│   └── Set to Self
├── Set GROUP's measurement units
│   ├── Set to Imperial (feet, knts)
│   └── Set to Metric (meters, km/h)
└── Turn Picture Report On/Off
    ├── Message ON
    └── Message OFF

Menu Availability

Feature	Auto Mode	On-Demand Mode
Bogey Dope	✅ (if enabled)	✅
Request Picture	❌	✅
Friendly Picture	✅ (if enabled)	✅
Reference Settings	✅	✅
Measurement Units	✅	✅
Message On/Off	✅	❌

✈️ Supported Aircraft

Fighters (ewrs.FIGHTER)

F-14A/B Tomcat
F-15C/E Strike Eagle
F-16C Viper (all blocks)
F-4E Phantom II
F-86F Sabre
F/A-18C Hornet
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
JF-17 Thunder
M-2000C Mirage 2000C
Mirage F1 (CE/EE/BE)
MiG-29 (A/G/K/S variants)
Su-27/30/33/34 Flanker family
Tornado GR4/IDS

Attack Aircraft (ewrs.ATTACK)

A-10A/C/C II Warthog
AV-8B Harrier II
Bf-109K-4
C-101 (EB/CC)
F-5E-3 Tiger II
FW-190D9
Hawk
L-39 (C/ZA)
MB-339A
MiG-15bis/19P/21Bis
P-51D/TF-51D Mustang
Su-25/T/TM Frogfoot
Yak-52

Helicopters (ewrs.HELO)

AH-64D Apache
Ka-50/50-3 Black Shark
Mi-8MT Hip
Mi-24P/V Hind
OH-58D Kiowa
SA342 Gazelle (M/L/Mistral)
UH-1H Huey
UH-60A Black Hawk

Note: Aircraft categories determine if they receive BRA messages when ewrs.disableFightersBRA = true

📡 Supported Radar Units

Ground-Based SAM Systems

System	Type	Range
SA-3 Goa	Medium-range SAM	Search radar
SA-6 Gainful	Mobile SAM	Search & track
SA-10 Grumble	Long-range SAM	Search radar
SA-11 Gadfly	Mobile SAM	Search radar + TELAR
SA-15 Gauntlet	Point defense	Tor 9A331
SA-19 Grison	SPAAG	Tunguska
Hawk	Medium-range SAM	Search radar
Patriot	Long-range SAM	Search & track
Roland	Short-range SAM	Search radar
Rapier FSA	Point defense	Blindfire radar