Bug Fixes & Additions

Air Defender Changelog - Version 0.5.13.11 - March 2026

New Features

• Multi-Weapon Missile System

  F3 Tornado interceptors now carry two distinct missile types — 4x Skyflash (radar-guided, Fox 1, 24nm range) and 2x AIM-9L Sidewinder (heat-seeking, Fox 2, 10nm range).

  Fighters use a phased engagement

  firing Skyflash head-on at long range, then converting to tail chase for AIM-9L shots from behind.

• Improved Missile Guidance: Missiles now use proportional navigation (predicting where the target will be) instead of flying directly at the target's current position, significantly improving hit rates against maneuvering targets.

• Smart Firing Range: Fighters now account for target speed and direction when deciding to fire. Missiles won't be launched at targets that are receding too fast to catch within missile range.

• RemovedAccurate Fox CallsRadio calls now match the actual missile type — Fox 1 for Skyflash, Fox 2 for AIM-9L Sidewinder. Fox 3 calls removed (F3 Tornado does not carry AMRAAM missiles).
• FixedCOMMS Panel Button LayoutRadio channel buttons in the COMMS panel now have a consistent fixed size instead of stretching to fill the panel width. More columns appear as the panel widens, keeping buttons neatly arranged.

Bug Fixes

• FixedAWACS Dynamic FollowAWACS aircraft tasked to support a track now follow it at 100nm standoff distance instead of flying to a fixed point. If the target moves, the AWACS repositions its orbit to maintain coverage.

• AWACS Display Names: The Active Operations panel and ASMA console now show the target aircraft's callsign and track number instead of internal identifiers.

• Post-Kill Hover Fix: Fighter aircraft no longer stop mid-air after destroying a target. They now continue flying in a gentle orbit while waiting for their next task or return-to-base order.

• AdjustedMissiles Missing in Tail ChaseFixed an issue where all missiles would fly past fast-moving targets (Tu-160, MiG-31) because the effective missile range was dramatically reduced in tail-chase geometry but the firing logic didn't account for this.
• FixedFighters Always Tail-ChasingFixed fighters always hooking round behind targets even when ordered to engage. Fighters now approach head-on when armed with radar-guided Skyflash missiles, only converting to stern for heat-seeking Sidewinders.

• Nimrod Ferry RTB: Nimrod aircraft now correctly fly to their destination base after redeployment instead of flying straight indefinitely.

• Countdown Timer Format: All aircraft countdown timers now display consistently in minutes:seconds format (e.g. 29:28) instead of some showing only minutes (e.g. 29m).

• Phantom Stock at Destination: Redeployed AWACS, Nimrod, and Tanker aircraft no longer appear at the destination airfield in the Assets panel before they arrive. Stock only increases at the destination once the aircraft lands.

• Premature Radar Tracks: Hercules and Chinook supply flight radar tracks no longer appear while the aircraft is still on the ground preparing to depart.

• Tanker Redeploy Delay: Tanker redeployments now correctly use the standard 30-minute departure delay. The aircraft is no longer visible on radar during the ground preparation period.

• FixedHercules Redeploy DelayFixed Hercules redeploy using a 45-second delay instead of the correct 30-minute preparation time.

• Redeploy Countdown in Active Ops: Tanker, Hercules, and Chinook redeployments now show a "Redeploying → destination (mm:ss)" countdown in Active Operations, matching the AWACS and interceptor behaviour.

• AWACS/Nimrod Stock Accounting: Redeployed AWACS and Nimrod aircraft now remain visible at the source base while preparing to depart. Stock only moves once the aircraft takes off, not at the moment redeploy is initiated.

• Redeploy Hijacking Active Aircraft: Redeploying aircraft from the Assets panel no longer hijacks airborne aircraft on active missions. AWACS, Nimrod, and Tanker redeploy now correctly uses ground stock only, producing a visible ferry flight to the destination base.

• AWACS Retask Clone: Retasking an AWACS to support a specific track no longer creates a ghost duplicate aircraft on radar.

• Arrow Keys Menubar: Arrow keys no longer accidentally trigger menubar actions when pressed during gameplay.

• AWACS Redeploy Stock: Redeploying an AWACS no longer removes 3 aircraft from the source base inventory. Only 1 is now correctly deducted.

• CAP Pair Retask: Tasking interceptors on CAP to identify or engage a raid now correctly sends both aircraft in the pair, not just the one that was selected.

• Radio Channel Bleed: Radio calls from one intercept no longer bleed into another channel when switching between sorties. Intercepts no longer appear stuck after switching channels — a Judy cue plays automatically on return, and intercepts auto-resume after 90 seconds if not acknowledged.

• Interceptor Redeploy in Assets Panel: Redeployed fighter aircraft now correctly appear at the destination airfield in the Assets panel after landing.

• Panel Overlap Input: Overlapping panels no longer let you resize or drag the panel underneath through the one on top.