Eagle Dynamics (ED) has announced Black Shark 3 is now available in Early Access.

The new DCS: Ka-50 Black Shark 3 adds new features that include: Igla air-to-air missiles that significantly expands the Ka-50’s combat capabilities and the new Onboard Defense System (ODS) that detects and warns you of incoming missiles. Also for the first time in DCS, a physical model of the Inertial Navigation System (INS) has been implemented that includes alignment before the flight, drift error accumulation, and the ability to correct according to preset fixpoints.

The package is based on the helicopter factory number 8798000025, Serial number 00-05. This particular aircraft was completed on June 18, 1990 and became the standard for Ka-50 mass production. A variety of historically accurate liveries are also included.

A special Air Strike Group of two Ka-50s (No. 24 and 25) and a C2 Ka-29 took part in Combat Operations in Chechnya from late 2000 to early 2001. In those engagements, the Ka-50s had standard camo skins with side numbers but no country markings. That skin was intended to appear as neutral, but at the MAKS-2003 airshow at Zhukovsky, the skin was repainted with country markings and yellow side number 25 on each side.

The Black Shark skin helicopter was fielded by the 344th Army Aviation Combat and Training Center at Torzhok in 1995. By the end of 1996, it was painted black with a shark tail and mouth. Ka-50 helicopters were frequent guests at many exhibitions and air shows and ED has included two of these; the ‘Werewolf’ and the ‘Black Shark’ for the No. 18, commissioned July 1, 1991.

Black Shark 3 is available on Eagle Dynamics online shop for $69.99.

Owners of DCS: Black Shark 2 can upgrade to DCS: Black Shark 3 for only $9.99 until mid-March 2023. After that the upgrade price will increase to $19.99.