In this update2
Full notes
Full Air Defender update
Read the full published notes in a cleaner layout. The original post stays linked below.
What changed
11 fixes0 additions3 changes1 removal
- Events
- Fixes
- UI and audio
- Gameplay
removedImprovementsWeapons Hot / Decision Popups: Removed (redundant) blocking popup dialogs from normal QRA intercept flow. Weapons Hot now appears as a high-priority ASMA alert instead of interrupting gameplay.
fixedBug FixesInterceptor Communication Sequence: Fixed a bug where, after visual identification (Tally and PosID), Judy and all subsequent controller calls (escort, presence, show of force) would never play. Interceptors now correctly proceed through the full communication sequence.
fixedBug FixesShadow Escalation Stability: Fixed shadow escalation getting stuck if a warning clip fails to play. Interceptors no longer keep post-warning voice follow-ups running after they have already gone RTB.
changedBug FixesInterceptor Post-Refuel Behaviour: Fixed interceptors returning from a tanker refuel not resuming their intercept at the proper altitude. Previously they could get stuck at the tanker's altitude and trail without re-engaging the target.
fixedBug Fixes4-Ship ID/Engage/RTB Commands: Fixed tasking or ordering RTB for one aircraft in a four-ship formation only affecting two aircraft instead of all four. All commands now correctly cascade to the full four-ship formation.
fixedBug FixesInterceptor Altitude Matching: Fixed interceptors not climbing to match hostile raid altitude during engagements.
Air Defender changes
removedWeapons Hot / Decision Popups: Removed (redundant) blocking popup dialogs from normal QRA intercept flow. Weapons Hot now appears as a high-priority ASMA alert instead of interrupting gameplay.
fixedInterceptor Communication Sequence: Fixed a bug where, after visual identification (Tally and PosID), Judy and all subsequent controller calls (escort, presence, show of force) would never play. Interceptors now correctly proceed through the full communication sequence.
fixedShadow Escalation Stability: Fixed shadow escalation getting stuck if a warning clip fails to play. Interceptors no longer keep post-warning voice follow-ups running after they have already gone RTB.
changedInterceptor Post-Refuel Behaviour: Fixed interceptors returning from a tanker refuel not resuming their intercept at the proper altitude. Previously they could get stuck at the tanker's altitude and trail without re-engaging the target.
fixed4-Ship ID/Engage/RTB Commands: Fixed tasking or ordering RTB for one aircraft in a four-ship formation only affecting two aircraft instead of all four. All commands now correctly cascade to the full four-ship formation.
Air Defender Changelog - Version 0.5.12.14 - March 2026
Improvements
Community recommendation - Redeployment Preparation Time: All military aircraft now require 30 minutes of preparation before taking off when redeployed to another base. ASMA messages now indicate the departure delay.
- Weapons Hot / Decision PopupsRemoved (redundant) blocking popup dialogs from normal QRA intercept flow. Weapons Hot now appears as a high-priority ASMA alert instead of interrupting gameplay.
Bug Fixes
- Interceptor Communication SequenceFixed a bug where, after visual identification (Tally and PosID), Judy and all subsequent controller calls (escort, presence, show of force) would never play. Interceptors now correctly proceed through the full communication sequence.
- Shadow Escalation StabilityFixed shadow escalation getting stuck if a warning clip fails to play. Interceptors no longer keep post-warning voice follow-ups running after they have already gone RTB.
- Interceptor Post-Refuel BehaviourFixed interceptors returning from a tanker refuel not resuming their intercept at the proper altitude. Previously they could get stuck at the tanker's altitude and trail without re-engaging the target.
- 4-Ship ID/Engage/RTB CommandsFixed tasking or ordering RTB for one aircraft in a four-ship formation only affecting two aircraft instead of all four. All commands now correctly cascade to the full four-ship formation.
- Interceptor Altitude MatchingFixed interceptors not climbing to match hostile raid altitude during engagements.
- Emergency Squawk CodesFixed aircraft with non-emergency squawk codes (such as 7000 VFR) being incorrectly classified as emergency. Also fixed random code generation occasionally producing reserved emergency codes (7500/7600/7700), and emergency status never clearing even if the squawk changed.
- Spoofer Save/LoadFixed spoofer aircraft vanishing after loading a saved game if they had previously been intercepted and turned away.
- Spoofer DespawnFixed spoofer aircraft endlessly flying back and forth after completing their route. They now correctly despawn when reaching the end of their route or after being turned away.
- ASMA Console on LoadFixed ASMA console messages not being preserved when loading a saved game from the main menu. The console was showing empty after loading.
- ASMA Redeploy MessagesFixed ASMA incorrectly showing "QRA RTB" messages during redeployment. It now correctly shows "QRA REDEPLOY" and "REDEPLOY COMPLETE".
- Redeployed Aircraft QRAFixed aircraft redeployed to a different airfield immediately returning to base when launched for QRA. They now correctly fly to their assigned target.
- International Civilian TrafficFixed international civilian aircraft (from France, Spain, Germany, North Atlantic, etc.) not spawning after loading a saved game. Traffic now correctly continues after load.
- Civilian Aircraft Altitude LimitsFixed civilian aircraft exceeding their real-world service ceiling. All aircraft types now respect their maximum altitude, and each type climbs and descends at its own realistic rate.
- Civilian Flight Plan AltitudesFixed civilian flight plans showing unrealistic cruise altitudes. Plans now use altitudes based on each aircraft type's actual service ceiling (e.g. a Jetstream will no longer show FL320 when its max is FL250).
Source
Changelog.gg summarizes and formats this update. How we read updates.