Compare DCS World free aircraft mods and its two included aircraft, with guidance on dependencies, installation and update compatibility.
DCS World permanently includes two free flyable aircraft: the Su-25T attack jet and unarmed TF-51D Mustang. Leading free community aircraft mods include the A-4E-C, UH-60L, T-45C, OV-10A, A-29B and OH-6A. Community add-ons vary in fidelity, dependencies and update compatibility; they are not official DCS modules.
Which aircraft are free with DCS World?
The base DCS World installation gives every player the Su-25T and TF-51D without a purchase or time limit. They represent two very different approaches to simulation.
| Aircraft | Type | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Su-25T | Ground-attack jet | A combat-capable aircraft with simplified systems, a non-clickable cockpit and guided weapon support. |
| TF-51D Mustang | Unarmed piston trainer | A detailed clickable cockpit and realistic warbird systems, but no guns, bombs or rockets. |
Temporary module trials are separate: they provide limited access but do not make the trial aircraft permanently free. Our breakdown of included, official and community aircraft explains how those categories differ.
Which free community aircraft mods are available?
The best-known standalone projects cover carrier jets, helicopters, trainers and light-attack aircraft. The list is not fixed: developers may pause a project, withdraw an old build or update it after DCS changes.
| Community aircraft | Role | Good choice for |
|---|---|---|
| A-4E-C Skyhawk | Carrier-capable attack jet | Clickable-cockpit combat, manual navigation, conventional weapons and naval operations. |
| UH-60L Black Hawk | Utility helicopter | Transport flying, formation work and medium-helicopter handling. |
| T-45C Goshawk | Naval jet trainer | Carrier circuits, formation training and learning naval procedures without buying a carrier fighter. |
| OV-10A Bronco | Observation and light-attack aircraft | Low-level flying, forward air control and counter-insurgency-style missions. |
| A-29B Super Tucano | Turboprop trainer and light-attack aircraft | Basic combat training and slower-paced strike missions. |
| OH-6A | Light observation helicopter | Low-level reconnaissance, confined-area landings and agile rotary-wing flying. |
These prominent projects are designed around the free base simulator, although the requirements of the exact release should always be checked. We cover their strengths alongside other add-ons in our comparison of standout DCS community mods, while our DCS freeware aircraft and add-on library provides additional community packages, missions and supporting files.
Other projects recreate modern fighters, historic jets, aerobatic aircraft and prototypes. F-22A, JAS 39 Gripen and various VSN conversions are names simmers often encounter, but these frequently depend on a donor aircraft or provide a different level of cockpit interaction. Their requirements must be assessed individually rather than assuming every free download is standalone.
Are community aircraft full fidelity?
Community aircraft do not share one fidelity standard. A detailed project can have a clickable cockpit, custom flight model and aircraft-specific systems, while a simpler conversion may reuse another aircraft's avionics, cockpit or flight model.
Unofficial developers also work without every interface available to licensed module developers. That can limit radar functions, weapons, multicrew behaviour or integration with other DCS systems even when the visible cockpit is highly detailed.
Do free DCS aircraft mods need paid modules?
Some free aircraft mods are standalone, but others require an installed and authorised donor module. There are four types to distinguish:
- Standalone aircraft: Require only the free DCS World installation. The A-4E-C and the main projects in the table above fall into this group for their standard releases.
- Flaming Cliffs-dependent aircraft: Reuse systems from an aircraft such as the F-15C or Su-27. The required donor must be installed and authorised.
- Module enhancements: Add a variant, cockpit feature or capability to a paid aircraft. An F-16-based enhancement, for example, is not a free substitute for the official F-16 module.
- AI-only aircraft: Add units for missions but provide no player cockpit or flyable client slot.
This is why a package described as free may still be unusable with a completely free account. Read the included documentation for dependencies, supported DCS builds and any required load order.
Which free DCS aircraft should I start with?
Choose the Su-25T for immediate combat, the TF-51D for detailed piston-engine systems, or a standalone community mod when you want a specific role.
- Fixed-wing combat: Start with the Su-25T for guided ground attack or the A-4E-C for a more hands-on cockpit.
- Carrier practice: Choose the T-45C for training or the A-4E-C for operational attack missions.
- Helicopters: Pick the UH-60L for utility operations or the OH-6A for a lighter, more agile aircraft.
- Slower tactical flying: The OV-10A and A-29B suit reconnaissance, light attack and short-field operations.
For learning procedures that transfer directly to a supported military aircraft, an official module remains the safer choice. Community mods are excellent for experimentation, but documentation, training missions and long-term compatibility differ between projects.
Why is my DCS aircraft mod not showing up?
Most missing aircraft mods are installed in the wrong folder, extracted with an extra directory level or missing a required donor module. A typical per-user location is C:\Users\your name\Saved Games\DCS\Mods\aircraft, although the Saved Games profile name can differ between installations.
- The individual aircraft folder should normally contain its
entry.luafile rather than another identically named folder. - Avoid placing community aircraft in the main DCS installation unless the developer explicitly requires it.
- Confirm that any paid donor aircraft is installed and authorised.
- Check that the mission contains a flyable client or player slot for the mod; installing an aircraft does not add it to every mission.
- If the problem began after a DCS update, remove the mod, test the simulator cleanly and install a compatible release.
A mistake we see constantly is copying the archive's outer folder into Mods\aircraft, leaving the actual aircraft one level too deep. Our Saved Games installation and troubleshooting guide covers the complete folder procedure without altering the core simulator files.
Do community aircraft work in multiplayer?
Community aircraft can work in multiplayer when the server permits them and the required systems use compatible versions. A mission containing unofficial aircraft may fail to load correctly, omit slots or display missing models when the relevant files are absent.
Server integrity rules may also prohibit unofficial units even when a mod passes DCS's normal file checks. For organised sessions, keep the same mod release across the server and participating clients, and expect to disable it when joining servers that run only official content.