Miltech has recently shared their latest dev update via their Facebook page where they gave us a lot of information about their future development plans. The team has shared new updates on existing products, their upcoming U2 spy plane, and future products. Miltech is well known in the community for its comprehensive military-themed add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
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Miltech Recent Releases
Miltech’s most recent product release is the CH47D, a tandem-rotor helicopter. The CH stands for cargo helicopter, making this aircraft suitable purely for cargo purposes. The developers from Miltech thanked the flight simulator community for the overwhelmingly positive reception towards their CH47D.
The project was very ambitious for the team with many technologies not natively supported by the simulator, as both mission and sling systems were developed for this helicopter. It also became the first aircraft in MSFS to come with 5 custom scenarios at no further cost. The impressive success of the CH47D made it the best-reviewed aircraft in the simulator marketplace.
Also shared in the update was the release of NAS Key West, developed by Miltech’s partners, Skydesigners. This scenery is available for PC now via their website. It will be released for PC and Xbox via the in-game Marketplace soon, according to Miltech.
CH47D Updates
Following the release of the CH47D, Miltech has been focusing heavily on any bugs and new features. A total of 5 updates have been released since the CH47D came out. V1.1.0 will be the first major update planned for this add-on. These changes include support for complex GPS systems, along with the first version of their autopilot system and dynamic cockpit vibrations.
The biggest update will be a new tandem and engine system. According to the developer, most customers are satisfied with the current model so any further changes aren’t a priority. Various bug fixes are also being implemented. The changelog for the CH47D has been made public but there is no release date for this update. Some features may be released early depending on how things progress next week (May 1-2, 2024 at the time of writing).
The development team has addressed some FAQs from the community in this dev update. One frequent question was regarding a glass cockpit/CH47F variant, and according to Miltech, this won’t be released anytime soon as it is complex to develop and most of the information needed is classified. It would also most likely be a paid expansion or a separate product.
A passenger variant was also asked about, however, this does not align with their lineup nor does it have sufficient demand and won’t likely be considered. The MH47 variant has also not been planned for this product. Additional cargo options for the CH47D won’t be added nor will external accessories. The only potential external accessories to be added would be a fuel boom and a side hoist.
MV-22B Updates
Furthermore, a new update for their MV-22B is still in the works. This will add support for many new features made for the CH47D. This includes a new EFB, cargo loading, mission system, and much more, although yet to be specified. There is no ETA for a release at this time. You can find out more about the MV-22B in one of our previous articles on its initial release.
Supercarrier Pro and UK Carrier Strike Updates
The last of the announced updates for Miltech products will be their carrier products. Supercarrier Pro will receive an update in a few weeks, this will address some minor issues and introduce some support for new features that will be released in the future. The UK Carrier Strike Group will also join the existing carrier ecosystem.
These features will include night lighting improvements on all ships and adjustments to the toolbar application will be made. The French CDG will receive steam effects on both catapults and will have new LSO voice recordings in French. Supercarrier Pro will use an application to control all carriers. UK carriers will get improved 3D models, moving elevators, hangar bays, new locations, and much more.
U2 Spyplane
The next release for Miltech Simulations will be the U2 Spyplane. The U2 is a single-engine, high-altitude reconnaissance plane. It was operated starting from the 1950s by the United States Air Force and the CIA, it is still in service today. The USAF currently has 27 U2 frames and despite showing their age, they are still coming in quite helpful for modern-day operations.
Operated during the Cold War, it was flown over the Soviet Union, Vietnam, Cuba, and China. More recently, the aircraft took part in post-Cold War conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has also since supported several multinational NATO operations. It can fly at altitudes above 70,000ft, beyond the range of most surface-to-air missiles.
The U2’s design with its combined aerodynamics of a glider and a very powerful jet engine, makes it difficult to land. The aircraft needs a chase car to land safely; this chase car drives behind the aircraft as it comes in for a landing and talks to the pilot to help it land safely. Once down, the crew from the chase car installs removable gear from under the wing while it taxis.
Miltech Simulations U2 Spyplane
According to the team, development is at an advanced stage with complete modeling and texturing, along with the flight dynamics. The system integration is an ongoing process currently. Identical to real-life operations, a chase car with voice commands will guide you during landing.
The U2 Spyplane features will include two variants, the U2R and the U2S. The -R variant comes with an analog cockpit while the -S variant will include a glass cockpit. Each variant has an accurate flight model and an “arcade flight model” for more casual simmers.
A mission system has also been built in, inspired by real-life Cold War and Modern events. This includes the missile crisis in Cuba and the Space Race with more modern events including the Chinese Balloon incident. Various airport sceneries will also be included with this addon. As of the 24th of April, no release date has been given for either Xbox or PC.
2024 and Beyond
Looking ahead, the team shared some brief plans for the future, this year and beyond. According to Miltech, they are currently working on 5 new projects one of which is the CH53E. However, this aircraft is far from release.
The remaining 4 projects include a fighter aircraft, 2 bombers and one more project yet to be specified. The team also hinted at many more interesting partnerships. You can read more about Miltech and its previous releases on FSNews.
