If you laugh at landing rates, buzz towers, or prefer pointy planes, this one’s for you. Heatblur confirmed the F-14B(U) upgrade package for its famous rendition of the F-14 Tomcat for DCS is releasing on July 22nd.
The F-14B(U) brings the Tomcat into its modern form as a 2000s-era multirole air superiority and strike platform. Sold as a paid expansion package, the B(U) adds new avionics, new navigation and mission management tools, new defensive systems, new weapons capability, new missions, and new campaigns.
The biggest difference in the front cockpit is the new VDIG-R with modernized HUD, which brings targeting data, navigation cues, RWR information, LANTIRN integration, JDAM delivery information, and multiple target designation boxes directly into the pilot’s field of view.
The rear cockpit also gets a significant update with a new PTID, giving the RIO a larger and more capable interface for sensors, navigation, targeting, and precision strike employment.
Defensive systems also receive an upgrade with a new programmable, mission configurable, and better integrated ALE-47 chaff and flare dispenser. The ECMD gets a new MFD mode, enabling TID repeat functionality along with a new ALR-67 integration.
A new Fast Tactical Imaging System, or FTI, allows pilots to share images from one Tomcat to another. JDAM/GBU-31 integration, EGI navigation, GPS CDNU, and Mission Data Loader compatibility all help the F-14 become a heavy-hitting, long-range, two-seat strike platform.
From a pilot’s perspective, a new digital flight control system refines the Tomcat’s behavior in critical parts of the flight envelope like departure resistance, high-AOA handling, roll response, spin resistance, and carrier approach scenarios while preserving the plane’s raw feel.
Heatblur F-14B(U) Upgrade Pricing and Feature List
The Heatblur F-14B(U) feature list is extensive including:
- New art faithfully representing the changes in the cockpit, overhauling the exterior, and adjusting the aircraft to the F-14B Upgrade configuration, including new pilot models and helmets, improved pilot animations, new pilot equipment, new wing vapor effects, new liveries and new aircraft animations including vertical tail flex and horizontal tail flex.
- New modern Head-Up Display: VDIG replacement / VDIG-R and HUD, significantly improving pilot situational awareness with features such as:
- Multiple target designation boxes
- LANTIRN integration
- JDAM integration
- RWR integration
- Extensive navigation data integration
- Two New Campaigns:
- Operation Reforger III over Cold War Germany
- A tailor-made campaign for the F-14B Upgrade by Baltic Dragon, to be added after initial release.
- A whole new set of instant action missions.
- Tactical Information Display (TID) replaced by the new Programmable Tactical Information Display (PTID) which enables better and more efficient information readout and control of system parameters with features such as:
- Simultaneous display of raster video and symbology
- On screen buttons
- JDAM weapon programming
- Stores management system.
- New EGI-based navigation system, bringing quality-of-life improvements such as:
- GPS
- CDNU for navigation data input / output
- Automatic waypoint sequencing
- JESTER has learned new tricks: selected JESTER 2.0 features, such as the context button, will come to the F-14B Upgrade and the rest of the Tomcat family.
- Additional Tomcat family improvements, including:
- In-game browser
- In-game manual with click-to-explain feature
- Grease pencil
- GPS-guided munitions: the F-14B Upgrade brings JDAM / GBU-31 integration.
- ECMD upgraded with MFD mode, enabling TID repeat mode and ALR-67 integration.
- AFCS is replaced by DFCS, the Digital Flight Control System, introducing:
- Lateral Stick-to-Rudder Interconnect
- Wing Rock Suppression
- Roll Rate Command Tracking
- Low Airspeed AOA Cross-Control
- Spin Recovery Mode
- ALE-47 countermeasure system replaces ALE-39, bringing programmable, mission-configurable chaff and flare dispensing with improved integration into the aircraft’s defensive systems.
- New data cartridge / Mission Data Loader system integrated with the Mission Editor, enabling:
- JDAM target data
- Up to 12 flight plans with up to 50 waypoints each
- ALE-47 configuration
- New AN/AVX-3 Tactical Imaging Set. Allows sensor image capture, transmission, and reception between aircraft.
The F-14B(U) is a paid expansion package for the DCS: F-14 module by Heatblur set to officially release on the 22nd of July, 2026.
The pricing structure, detailed below, has created some controversy amongst existing DCS: F-14 customers.
It is available now for pre-order on the DCS E-Shop, Steam, and the Heatblur Store for USD 49.99 / EUR 43.70 / GBP 37.15.
Customers who have not yet purchased the original Heatblur F-14 can purchase both the F-14A/B and the F-14B(U) upgrade in one package called the F-14 Ultimate Edition for USD 98.99 / EUR 86.53 / GBP 73.56.
For more information, click here to view the product page on the Heatblur Website.
