Is there a DCS T-45 Goshawk mod, and how do I install it?

Yes. DCS World has a free, unofficial T-45C Goshawk community mod for naval flight and carrier training. Install it under your active Saved Games\DCS...\Mods\aircraft folder, not the simulator’s programme directory, then confirm the extracted T-45 folder contains entry.lua at its top level.

How do I install the T-45C mod in DCS World?

The T-45C installs as a Saved Games aircraft mod and does not use DCS Module Manager. Obtain the latest complete archive from the project’s authorised release channel rather than using an old repack.

1. Close DCS World. This prevents files being locked or the simulator retaining an older copy of the mod.
2. Open your Saved Games folder. Enter %USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\ in Windows File Explorer.
3. Find the active DCS profile. It is commonly named DCS, although installations may use DCS.openbeta or another suffixed name. The active folder normally contains directories such as Config, Logs and Missions.
4. Create the aircraft-mod path if necessary. Inside that profile, create Mods\aircraft. The resulting path should resemble %USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\DCS\Mods\aircraft\.
5. Extract the complete T-45 folder. Place the aircraft’s main folder inside Mods\aircraft. Do not move only its cockpit, textures or mission directories.
6. Check the folder depth. The correct layout is ...\Mods\aircraft\<T-45 folder>\entry.lua. A second identically named folder between the aircraft folder and entry.lua is the common double-nesting error.
7. Start DCS and test the aircraft. Open Mission Editor, add a US aircraft group, select the T-45C and set its skill to Player or Client. The absence of an Instant Action tile does not by itself mean installation failed.

Our Saved Games mod-installation walkthrough explains the folder structure and how to identify the profile DCS is actually using.

Is the DCS T-45 an official module?

No. The T-45C is a community-made aircraft rather than an Eagle Dynamics module, so it is not installed, licensed or supported through the official module system.

The established package is intended as a standalone aircraft rather than a donor-aircraft conversion. A paid carrier module is not normally required simply to install or fly it, although additional carrier content can provide a richer deck environment. Release notes should take precedence if a particular build lists changed requirements.

Its main role is naval training: formation work, approaches, carrier circuits and arrested landings. Our overview of trainer aircraft available in DCS World places the Goshawk alongside the official training options and explains the limitations of an unofficial mod.

Why is the T-45C not appearing in DCS?

A wrong Saved Games profile or double-nested archive causes most missing-aircraft problems. Check these points before reinstalling DCS:

• No T-45C in Mission Editor: confirm that entry.lua sits directly inside the aircraft’s main mod folder and that the archive has been fully extracted.
• Installed in the DCS programme directory: remove that copy and use Saved Games\...\Mods\aircraft. Editing the core installation can create repair and integrity-check problems.
• Wrong DCS profile: inspect Saved Games for multiple DCS folders. Use the one whose Logs\dcs.log changes when you run the simulator.
• Aircraft loads but controls do nothing: open DCS Controls, select the T-45C control category and bind its axes and essential commands. Bindings from another aircraft are not automatically suitable, and duplicate axis assignments can cause erratic input.
• It stopped working after an update: install a T-45 release compatible with that DCS build rather than copying old files over a newer package. Our advice on checking mod compatibility after DCS updates covers logs, clean reinstalls and version matching.

If it still fails to load, search Saved Games\<DCS profile>\Logs\dcs.log for the mod folder name. Lua-loading or missing-file messages usually identify an incomplete archive or unsupported release.

Can I use the T-45 for carrier training and multiplayer?

Yes, the mod is intended for carrier-training scenarios, but its systems and flight-model fidelity should not be treated as official-module certification. Use a carrier available in your installed content and confirm that the mission provides suitable launch and recovery slots.

For multiplayer, the host, server and pilots using the aircraft should run the same mod release. Servers may prohibit unofficial aircraft or reject them under their integrity and mod policies. Rear-seat or multicrew behaviour can also vary between releases, so check the documentation supplied with the exact package instead of assuming both seats are fully synchronised.