DCS Missions

From the GR Archives: Iran–Iraq War Dynamic Campaign

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We’re heading back into the Grim Reapers archives to revisit one of our older DCS campaign series — The Iran–Iraq War Dynamic Campaign.

Set during the Iran–Iraq War of the 1980s, this 11-part Desert Campaign follows the conflict as it develops mission by mission, with each episode building on what happened before.

The campaign begins with Day 1: Rude Welcome to the Region, before escalating into Tomcat hunts, major ground battles, tactical pushes and an increasingly intense fight for control of the desert.

Day 1: Rude Welcome to the Region

The opening mission throws us straight into the action and sets the scene for everything that follows.

We’ll be sharing some highlights from this first mission below, giving you a taste of the campaign before you head over to watch the full series.

Watch the Full Campaign

If you missed the Iran–Iraq War Dynamic Campaign when it was originally released — or simply fancy watching it again — the complete series is available to watch from the beginning.

Across the 11 missions, the situation develops continuously as both sides fight for control of the battlefield, making this a great campaign to binge from start to finish.

▶️ Watch the complete Iran–Iraq War Dynamic Campaign:

Iran–Iraq War Dynamic Campaign

We’ll be digging further into the GR Archives over the coming weeks and highlighting more classic Grim Reapers campaigns, missions and memorable moments.

Which campaign should we revisit next?

Reviews and Articles

Eagle Dynamics START HERE – Learning the AH-64D Apache with CPG Hellfire & TEDAC Training

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Eagle Dynamics’ START HERE missions are designed to help DCS players get to grips with an aircraft without having to dive straight into the deepest end of its systems.

They provide a more accessible starting point for learning the basics, helping newer players build confidence with an aircraft step by step before moving on to more advanced procedures and combat operations.

In this video, Cap works through the AH-64D START HERE mission, focusing on basic training from the Co-Pilot/Gunner seat and learning how to use the TEDAC and Hellfire missiles.

The Apache can be a daunting aircraft when you first climb aboard, particularly from the CPG position, so this mission is all about getting familiar with the essential controls and processes needed to find, designate and engage targets.

A New START HERE Series – Exclusive to GR3

This is the beginning of a brand-new series exclusive to the Grim Reapers 3 YouTube channel, where we’ll be working through Eagle Dynamics’ START HERE missions and seeing how well they help players learn DCS aircraft.

The idea is simple: follow the missions as a new or less experienced player might, work through the training provided, and give viewers a practical look at how these aircraft and systems come together.

If you’ve recently picked up the AH-64D, have been putting off learning the CPG seat, or simply want a refresher on Hellfires and the TEDAC, this is a great place to start.

Save 40% on the AH-64D

If this has tempted you to jump into the Apache yourself, you can currently get 40% off the DCS: AH-64D using Grim Reapers discount code:

GRSHAH64

A perfect time to pick up the module and follow along with the new START HERE series on GR3.

Watch: START HERE: AH-64D Basic Training – CPG Hellfire Missiles & TEDAC | DCS

Keep an eye on GR3 for more episodes as we continue through the START HERE missions and explore more DCS aircraft.

Sea Power

Enormous 2026 Battle: South Korean vs China – All Warships | Sea Power

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Today we simulate a massive China vs South Korea naval battle in Sea Power, featuring 11 modern warship types on each side.

This is an escort ships-only engagement — no aircraft carriers and no air wings. The battle takes place in the Yellow Sea, with each navy relying entirely on its surface warships and missile arsenals.

🇨🇳 Chinese Navy (PLAN)

China fields some of its most powerful modern surface combatants, including the massive Type 055 destroyer, Type 052D destroyer, and Type 054B frigate.

Their offensive firepower includes the YJ-20 and YJ-17 hypersonic anti-ship missiles, along with YJ-12 and YJ-18 supersonic anti-ship missiles.

Chinese air defence is provided primarily by HHQ-9B, HHQ-9C, and HQ-16 surface-to-air missiles.

🇰🇷 South Korean Navy (ROKN)

South Korea deploys the powerful Sejong the Great-class and Jeongjo the Great-class Aegis destroyers, alongside other modern surface warships.

Their offensive weapons include the AGM-84 Harpoon and RGM-109 Tomahawk, while their defensive systems include SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, K-SAM, and SAM-II missiles.

⚔️ The Battle

⚔️ 11 Chinese warship types vs 11 South Korean warship types
🚢 Surface ships only — no carriers or air wings
🚀 Hypersonic and supersonic anti-ship missiles
🛡️ Modern naval air-defence systems
🌊 Battle of the Yellow Sea

Which fleet has the advantage in a massive modern naval missile battle — China or South Korea?

Watch the full Sea Power simulation to see which navy emerges victorious!

DCS Missions

B-21 Raider Armed With 40 AIM-424 Malice Missiles vs Chinese Carrier Air Wing

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We take a second look at the newly announced next-generation US air-to-air missile concept, the AIM-424 Malice.

This time, we explore a very different scenario: a futuristic B-21 Raider stealth bomber armed with 40 AIM-424 Malice missiles.

With a claimed range of more than 250 miles, could a single stealth aircraft potentially engage dozens of enemy targets from long range?

We put the B-21 Raider to the ultimate test in a simulated engagement against an entire late-2010s Chinese carrier air wing: 24 J-15 fighter jets, each equipped with PL-15 air-to-air missiles with an estimated range of around 120 miles.

Can one heavily armed B-21 Raider overcome an entire carrier air wing? How does the AIM-424 Malice compare with the PL-15, and what would long-range stealth air combat look like?

Join us as we explore this hypothetical future air battle and find out whether the B-21 and AIM-424 Malice can pull off the impossible.

Reviews and Articles

Reaper Intel: New “Start Here” DCS Discount Codes Launch 26 August

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Getting into DCS World can be a little daunting at first — especially when you are staring at a long list of aircraft and wondering where to begin.

From 26 August 2026 onwards, if you are picking up one of the following DCS modules during the sale, please consider using the relevant Grim Reapers coupon code:

  • F/A-18C Hornet — GRSHF18
  • P-51D Mustang — GRSHP51
  • AH-64D Apache — GRSHAH64

When used during qualifying DCS sales, the codes can help bring the total discount to a maximum of 50%.

Why These Three Aircraft?

These modules give new DCS players three very different ways to get started.

The F/A-18C Hornet is one of the most versatile modern combat aircraft in DCS, capable of air-to-air combat, ground attack and carrier operations.

The P-51D Mustang offers a completely different experience, taking you back to classic WWII flying where energy management, gunnery and hands-on flying skills are everything.

And for those who would rather stay closer to the ground, the AH-64D Apache delivers one of DCS World’s most detailed attack-helicopter experiences.

Whichever route you choose, we have plenty of tutorials, guides and videos available to help you get started.

Starting DCS? Start Here.

The wider Start Here project is designed to make DCS more approachable for players who are completely new to the simulator.

If you are planning to buy the F/A-18C, P-51D or AH-64D during a sale from 26 August onwards, using one of the codes above is also a simple way to support Grim Reapers while getting the best available discount.

Thanks very much for the support.

Cap & the Grim Reapers

DCS Missions

With The AIM-424 Malice, Could The US Now Remove China From The Pacific? | DCS

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Today we take our first look at the newly announced USN AIM-424 Malice, a super long-range air-to-air missile designed to engage targets at extreme distances.

We break down the AIM-424 Malice missile, how it is expected to work, its potential capabilities, and what a weapon with a reported 250 nautical mile range could mean for modern air combat.

Then we put the concept to the test in DCS World with a modern Pacific scenario.

The US is invading a small but strategically important island when the PLAAF and PLAN launch a huge multi-pronged strike to stop the invasion. Rather than engage the incoming fighters head-on, the US takes a different approach.

F-35Cs operating from a US carrier group are tasked with hunting the most important targets behind the fighter screen: AWACS, electronic warfare, command and control, and aerial refuelling aircraft.

Using the new AIM-424 Malice, the F-35Cs attempt to strike these support assets from extreme range. With targeting information provided by an AWACS aircraft positioned around 400 miles behind the battle, the AIM-424 is fired over the heads of incoming J-20 and J-35 fighters to attack the aircraft keeping the Chinese strike package effective.

The strategy is simple: remove the support aircraft and the entire attack could begin to collapse.

But extreme-range air combat is anything but simple. Timing, targeting, missile guidance and situational awareness all have to come together perfectly — and one mistake could allow the PLAAF and PLAN strike to break through.

The stakes are high.

Could the AIM-424 Malice change the way air combat is fought across the vast distances of the Pacific?

Watch as we explore the missile concept and put it to the ultimate test in DCS World.

DCS Missions, DCS Tests, Reviews and Articles

Hybrid Rapid Dragon (Decoy JDAM LR + LRASM) vs 2020’s Chinese Carrier Group | DCS

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Take another look at the U.S. Air Force’s Rapid Dragon palletized missile system in this high-intensity DCS World military simulation. This scenario explores how decoy cruise missiles can overwhelm modern naval air defenses before a stealth anti-ship strike.

Two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft deploy 10 Rapid Dragon pallets, each releasing 18 low-cost 500 lb JDAM-LR cruise missiles, for a total of 180 missiles launched from 300 miles away against a 2020s Chinese carrier strike group.

Following the massive missile swarm, a single B-2 Spirit stealth bomber launches 16 AGM-158C LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles). Can the expendable JDAM-LR decoys force the Chinese fleet to exhaust its HHQ-9B and HQ-10 interceptor missiles, allowing the stealthy LRASMs to penetrate and strike the Type 003 aircraft carrier?

Watch this DCS World simulation to see whether saturation attacks and decoy tactics can defeat one of the world’s most advanced naval air defense networks.

Scenario Features:
Rapid Dragon palletized missile deployment
C-17 Globemaster III launch platform
180 JDAM-LR decoy cruise missiles
B-2 Spirit stealth bomber
16 AGM-158C LRASM anti-ship missiles
Chinese Type 003 carrier strike group
HHQ-9B and HQ-10 air defense systems
Long-range saturation attack simulation
Modern naval warfare in DCS World

If you enjoy realistic military simulations, modern missile technology, and naval combat scenarios, be sure to like, subscribe, and let us know what simulation you’d like to see next.

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