Discover free DCS World drivable vehicle mods, which packs support Combined Arms, and how to install, control and troubleshoot community vehicles.
Free DCS World drivable vehicle mods include FrenchPack and selected Currenthill military-asset releases, covering modern armour, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery and air-defence systems. Most need the paid Combined Arms module for direct control; “free mod” means the vehicle files cost nothing, not that DCS ground-unit control is unlocked.
Which free DCS vehicle mods can you actually drive?
The most useful choices are community asset packs whose ground-unit definitions explicitly support Combined Arms. The shortlist is smaller than it first appears because many downloads add only AI units, static scenery objects or targets.
| Mod or release family | What it adds | Driving support |
|---|---|---|
| FrenchPack | French tanks, armoured cars, APCs, artillery and support vehicles | A substantial selection supports direct Combined Arms control, although support varies between vehicles and releases |
| Currenthill military assets | Modern US, Swedish, Russian, Chinese and other military vehicles released as individual assets or national collections | Selected tanks, IFVs, artillery, launchers and air-defence vehicles are controllable; check the documentation for each asset |
| Standalone CA-enabled vehicles | Community conversions and individual tanks, trucks, artillery pieces or SAM systems | Driveable only when the creator has enabled player control in that specific unit definition |
Names and supported units can change as maintainers revise or withdraw packages, so check that the description explicitly says Combined Arms compatible, player controllable or driveable. “Ground asset” by itself does not promise direct control. For other types of add-on, see our broader selection of worthwhile DCS World mods.
Driving quality also varies. Community vehicles commonly use simplified driver or gunner views rather than clickable interiors, and some expose movement but not every weapon or sensor through the Combined Arms interface.
Do free vehicle mods require Combined Arms?
Yes, normal direct control of modded DCS World ground vehicles requires the paid Combined Arms module. Installing a free vehicle does not add the commander roles, driving interface or ground-unit controls supplied by Combined Arms.
Combined Arms does not make every ground asset driveable. The mission must permit player control, and the mod creator must have configured that particular unit accordingly. Static models and AI-only assets remain non-driveable even when Combined Arms is installed.
How do you install and drive a modded vehicle?
- Extract the vehicle into the active Saved Games profile. Ground assets normally belong under
Saved Games\DCS\Mods\tech. Older installations may use a differently named DCS profile folder. - Check the folder depth. The mod's main folder should contain its defining files, commonly including
entry.lua. An extra wrapper folder is a frequent reason assets do not load. - Restart DCS World and open the Mission Editor. Add the vehicle under a supported country or coalition. If it is missing, disable the historical unit-list filter or change the mission date because that filter can hide otherwise installed units.
- Enable player control. Select the ground group and activate the available
Player Can Driveoption. Add a Game Master, Commander or Tactical Commander role where the mission design requires one. - Enter the mission through an authorised coalition role. Select the unit on the F10 map and use the take-control command, then check the Ground Unit control category for driving, station and weapon bindings.
Our complete DCS mod installation and folder guide covers Saved Games locations, nested folders and removal in more detail.
Why is a DCS vehicle mod installed but not driveable?
A visible but uncontrollable vehicle usually indicates a mission or compatibility problem rather than a failed installation. Check these causes in order:
- No Combined Arms licence: the asset can appear and operate as AI, but direct player control remains unavailable.
- Player control is disabled: edit the mission and enable the driveable setting for the ground group.
- Wrong coalition or role: commander access is restricted by coalition, password and role settings defined in the mission.
- The unit is AI-only: some packs mix controllable vehicles with static objects and AI weapon systems.
- Historical filtering is active: the Mission Editor can hide a vehicle when its service dates do not match the mission date.
- The mod is in the wrong folder: vehicle assets generally use
Mods\tech, notMods\aircraft. - A DCS update changed compatibility: remove the affected mod, install a compatible release and test it alone before restoring other community assets.
Do drivable vehicle mods work in multiplayer?
They work only when the server mission and every required installation agree. The server must load the same vehicle mod, clients generally need the matching release, and the mission must provide suitable Combined Arms roles and permit control of the unit.
A version mismatch can produce missing models, failed mission loading or rejection by the server. Public servers may also prohibit community assets or enforce integrity policies, so a vehicle that works in a private mission is not automatically usable online.