HOW TO SPAWN AI UNITS ON THE MAP
1
Open the right sidebar → click DIRECT CTRL or the ▶ icon
if the sidebar is hidden.
2
Choose the coalition → 🔵 BLUE or 🔴
RED in the "DIRECT CONTROL" section.
3
Choose the spawn mode:
- AIR — aircraft / helicopters
- GND — ground units (tanks, SAMs, infantry)
- SEA — warships or carriers
Only the categories your account is cleared for are shown.
4
Choose the unit type from the dropdown. For AIR pick the airframe (F-16C, Su-27, …). For GND
use a template from dbspawn.json.
5
Click the map where you want it → the unit spawns at that point. For AIR you can add
waypoints after the first click.
6
Set the parameters: SKILL (Average/High/Excellent), START (runway/air/hot), ALTITUDE, SPEED,
ROE.
7
Click ⚡ SPAWN — the unit appears in DCS within 1–3 seconds. The status
shows in the log below the panel.
💡 Tip: make sure the LIVE link is up (green dot in the top bar). Nothing spawns while DCS is
not connected.
HOW TO SPAWN AIRCRAFT WITH A CUSTOM PAYLOAD
1
Spawn the aircraft as usual (see the Spawn Units tab). Make sure AIR mode is active and an
airframe is selected.
2
The LOADOUT section appears below the airframe choice. Its dropdown lists the payload presets
from the database.
3
Choose a payload from the dropdown — the names match the DCS Mission Editor presets for that
airframe.
F-16C examples:
· AIM-120C*4, AIM-9X*2, FUEL*3 → CAP loadout
· AIM-120C*2, AIM-9X*2, GBU-31-1B*2, FUEL*2, ECM → Strike
· AIM-120C*2, AIM-9X*2, AGM-88C*2, FUEL*3, TGP, HTS → SEAD
4
For a custom payload that is not in the list, open the 🗃️ Payload
Database tab and add it to the database first.
5
Spawned on the ground / runway, the aircraft taxis and takes off with that payload. Hot-started in
the air, it flies straight away with it.
6
Bombing tasks: make sure the payload carries bombs or rockets. An "empty" loadout with a
carpet-bombing waypoint task gives a warning in the log.
POPULAR PAYLOADS PER ROLE:
| ROLE |
AIRFRAME |
LOADOUT |
| CAP |
F-16C_50 |
AIM-120C*4, AIM-9X*2, FUEL*3 |
| CAP |
MiG-29A |
R-73*4,R-27R*2,Fuel-1500 |
| CAS |
A-10C_2 |
AGM-65K*2,GBU-38*4,AIM-9*2,TGP,ECM |
| CAS |
Su-25 |
Kh-29L*2,Kh-25ML*4,R-60M*2 |
| Strike |
F-15E |
AIM-120B*2,AIM-9M*2,FUEL,GBU-31*4,AGM-65H |
| Strike |
Su-34 |
KAB-500*4,R-73*2,R-77*2,ECM |
| SEAD |
F-16C_50 |
AIM-120C*2, AIM-9X*2, AGM-88C*2, FUEL*3, TGP, HTS |
| SEAD |
MiG-27K |
Kh25MPU*2_Kh25ML*2_R60M*2_Fuel*2 |
HOW TO ADD A CUSTOM PAYLOAD TO THE DATABASE
The payload database is the file dbspawn.json in the
server's data folder. Edit it to add new payloads to LOADOUT_NAMES.
dbspawn.json LAYOUT (payloads
section):
{
"payloads": {
"F-16C_50": [
"AIM-120C*4, AIM-9X*2, FUEL*3",
"AIM-120C*2, AIM-9X*2, GBU-31-1B*2, FUEL*2, ECM",
"MY CUSTOM: AGM-88C*4, AIM-9X*2, FUEL*3, HTS"
],
"FA-18C_hornet": [
"AIM-9X*2, AIM-120C-5*6, FUEL*3",
"MY CUSTOM: GBU-38*6, AIM-120C-5*2, ATFLIR, FUEL*2"
]
}
}
1
Open dbspawn.json in a text editor (VS Code, Notepad++). It is in the server's
data folder.
2
Find the "payloads" section. If there is none, add it after the
"templates" section.
3
Add the new payload name as a string in the matching airframe's array. The name must be exactly
the same as the preset name in the DCS Mission Editor loadout editor.
4
Save the file. In BATARA C2 click ↻ RELOAD DB (if available) or reload
the page — the new payload shows in the LOADOUT dropdown.
5
Finding the exact DCS payload name:
- Open the DCS Mission Editor → add an AI unit → right-click → Edit Payload
- Pick the loadout you want → note the exact text in the "Payload Name" column
- Paste that name into dbspawn.json
6
For a new custom payload that DCS doesn't have yet: build it in the ME, name it, save the
mission, then note the name and add it to the DB.
⚠ Note: payload names MUST match DCS exactly (case-sensitive). DCS ignores a payload it doesn't
recognize and the aircraft spawns with the airframe's default payload.
QUICK ADD — add a payload to the
current LOADOUT_NAMES:
WAVE SYSTEM & ROUTE WAYPOINTS
WAVE — repeating attack waves
1
Switch to 🌊 WAVE in Direct Control → set the interval, the number of
units and the delay between waves.
2
Click the map to set the wave's spawn point. Every wave spawns from that point with the configured
payload and route.
3
Click START WAVE — waves spawn automatically every interval until
the wave count runs out. (Needs the WAVE permission.)
ROUTE — waypoint tasks
1
Select a unit that is already on the map → the right panel shows the route editor.
2
Choose a WP task from the dropdown: None (navigation), Carpet Bombing, CAS,
SEAD, Orbit, Racetrack, …
3
Click the map to add waypoints. Each WP can have its own task. A WP with an attack task sets
ROE = WEAPON FREE automatically.
4
Click SEND ROUTE → the AI flies the route and executes the task at each
waypoint.
Carpet bombing tips:
• Make sure the loadout carries bombs (not only air-to-air missiles)
• Set the WP altitude to 6000 ft or more for an effective bombing run
• Carpet length 300–600 m for a medium target area
• The AI needs 30–60 seconds to reposition before the attack run