Can not find any evidence that MiG-15 pilots ever recieved G-Suits

[harmless]

I've been trying to find a single source that justifies the g-suits inclusion as a modification for the MiG-15bis and have been unable to find anything that states they received them, even post-war. It seems to have become standard from the MiG-17F (1953) variant and onward.

Dev Blog #75 states: In the Soviet Air Force, this equipment had only begun to appear during 1953, the last year of the war in Korea. Overall, the Soviet anti-G suits were copies of the American ones and shared the same characteristics

I'm wondering if a misunderstanding of the fact that g-suits existed in the Soviet Air Force in 1953 (almost certainly for the aforementioned MiG-17F) is being used as the reason for its inclusion?

I understand that server owners can limit them, and that the career mode limits modifications by their introduction date, but if they never received them as most sources appear to point to then I'm of the opinion it shouldn't be available in-game. There is a lot of incorrect information out there about the korean air war, much that still gets repeated to this day so you have to take all information you've heard about it with a grain of salt, but the g-suit difference between MiG-15 and F-86 had always been described as one of the key differences in the match up.

If anyone has any sources that show the opposite please share. 

[Valis]

I believe they were tested in theatre - but not issued. Same with Sirena RWR, I think.

[harmless]

I forgot to mention in my post that an aircraft has to have some way of interfacing with a g-suit so its not as simple as just being issued one to wear. The MiG-15bis would have had to receive some modification to support it, and I cant find any sources that say this took place. 

Reading through MiG Menace Over Korea (Book about Nikolai Sutiagin, ace Soviet pilot) and found this interesting blurb:

Edited July 20 by harmless

[AndreiTomescu]

Problem is that AI opponents, no matter their allegiance, already have the ability of tov. Kolia coupled with Apollo 11 G-suits.

Until this issue is fixed, the hole SP experience is compromised unless there is this untrue ability available for the Mig also.

Or you turn off the hole "body physical stress" from menu, and that's even more unrealistic.

There has to be a balance between AI capabilities and player ones.

Since the plane have similar limits and capabilities (ai vs player), so should the pilot, virtual or not .

So yes, you are right , but i guess the g-suit is there as a temporary compensation. Although it doesn't really compensate: the AI still has inhuman resistance to G forces. Or at least Kolia ones. 🙂 

[FuriousMeow]

The AI pilots have the same pilot model as players, they black out. I've watched a few auger in with the pilot slumped at the controls, no damage. This was present in GB as well. 

[LukeFF]

To answer the original question: we don't have exact info about its use in Korea, only that it began to be installed on Mig-15s around April 1953. 

[Bramimond]

6 hours ago, LukeFF said:

To answer the original question: we don't have exact info about its use in Korea, only that it began to be installed on Mig-15s around April 1953. 

I’m not sure that constitutes its inclusion in the game. I know it would be a hard choice to make to pull the rug out from under a bunch of us mig pilots being used to having them in some circumstances but, as it currently stands the mig is a very dominant fighter. With IL-2 Korea being predicated on historical accuracy to this specific theater, unlike DCS which doesn’t claim accuracy to any particular conflict, I feel it would make sense that an upgrade that was never actually used in-theatre to not be included.

Edited July 20 by Bramimond

[Redeye]

Well you can apply the same logic for its inclusion as with the 150 octane fuel in GB. Wasn’t operationally used either but can be used in MP if server allows.

[Avimimus]

2 hours ago, Bramimond said:

With IL-2 Korea being predicated on historical accuracy to this specific theater, unlike DCS which doesn’t claim accuracy to any particular conflict, I feel it would make sense that an upgrade that was never actually used in-theatre to not be included.

I suppose the question is whether it is more accurate to assume they were issued or to assume they weren't. If it was production standard by that period, then it'd be quite likely that replacement aircraft would be equipped. In any case, the Mig-15Bis with this modification will only appear at around the same time the F-86F or F-86F-2 Gunval appear in theatre, right? So there might well be prototypes running trials on both sides.

16 hours ago, harmless said:

Reading through MiG Menace Over Korea (Book about Nikolai Sutiagin, ace Soviet pilot) and found this interesting blurb:

Was the Meteor F.4 used in Theatre? I thought it was just the F.8 (and perhaps a few night fighters)?

[actionhank]

3 hours ago, Bramimond said:

I’m not sure that constitutes its inclusion in the game. I know it would be a hard choice to make to pull the rug out from under a bunch of us mig pilots being used to having them in some circumstances but, as it currently stands the mig is a very dominant fighter. With IL-2 Korea being predicated on historical accuracy to this specific theater, unlike DCS which doesn’t claim accuracy to any particular conflict, I feel it would make sense that an upgrade that was never actually used in-theatre to not be included.

I don't mind it as an included "extra" for servers and players to use. I guess in an ideal world, in terms of campaigns and missions, it would be restricted or locked behind a certain date that seems appropriate for the AI and players, but otherwise, I always enjoyed the ability to have the "what if" things in the Il-2 series as options, even if it wasn't always entirely realistic.

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Redeye said:

Well you can apply the same logic for its inclusion as with the 150 octane fuel in GB. Wasn’t operationally used either but can be used in MP if server allows.

Yes, and in career mode it will be like in GB, where mods are available based on date. G-suits for the MiG-15 will not be available until spring 1953, and 150-grade fuel will be fully blocked.

[KillerBee]

3 hours ago, Redeye said:

Well you can apply the same logic for its inclusion as with the 150 octane fuel in GB. Wasn’t operationally used either but can be used in MP if server allows.

Then I suggest we put them both plus any others in the “Mods Only” configuration option.

[Dash,Polder]

I find having a programmable G warning bell in the F-86 to be far more useful than just a suit, both combined are the ticket.  Set the alarm on 5 G and your good to go, exhaust your enemy, fly on the edge always maintaining good energy, and you'll never grow weary very fast. 

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, KillerBee said:

Then I suggest we put them both plus any others in the “Mods Only” configuration option.

I don't think you are understanding things correctly. 🙂 These are regular mods that are programmed into the game, i.e., nothing that can be added to the game by a third party. 

[Bramimond]

2 hours ago, LukeFF said:

Yes, and in career mode it will be like in GB, where mods are available based on date. G-suits for the MiG-15 will not be available until spring 1953, and 150-grade fuel will be fully blocked.

I suppose this works, options aren't a bad thing, but I do find it a little odd that even from 1953 on it would still end up in career considering 150 octane wouldn't. Mind you, this is my argument for G-suits being labeled possibly ahistorical, because the signs really do point to G-suits not being in theatre, or in so few amounts it would be similar to 150 octane or other testbed aircraft seeing few flights. 

I just that for all intents and purposes, standard issue for the VVS after 53' doesn't mean "in theatre."  

[harmless]

2 hours ago, LukeFF said:

Yes, and in career mode it will be like in GB, where mods are available based on date. G-suits for the MiG-15 will not be available until spring 1953, and 150-grade fuel will be fully blocked.

I guess I'm a little confused since you said that you don't have exact info on its use but it'll still be in the career mode from april 1953 to the end. That feels like something you guys have been pretty strict about(and rightfully so)since Great Battles, I thought there would need to be some more concrete evidence of its use for it to show up.

I feel like it being included isn't a problem if the description for it lists that it most likely wasn't used in in the conflict, and then also doesn't show up in the career mode at all. 

If possible could you share the source that mentions it being installed on MiG-15's in April 53? I haven't been able to find even that much.

[ParaguaySteve]

14 hours ago, LukeFF said:

To answer the original question: we don't have exact info about its use in Korea, only that it began to be installed on Mig-15s around April 1953. 

What was the source used to implement this decision?
Verification of use in-theater seems highly relevant to this discussion as there are a multitude of modifications and options used on both side that existed but were either used on a limited basis or not used in combat whatsoever. This is very much establishing a slippery slope. 

[Stonehouse]

150 octane fuel for F-51s is another one. 150 octane was never used in Korea by USAF forces. Possibly both are there as "what if" type things. As long as neither are used in career or historical campaigns it's workable. I believe everywhere else it's up to the mission author/server admin to decide what is available.

Edited July 21 by Stonehouse

[AEthelraedUnraed]

8 hours ago, ParaguaySteve said:

This is very much establishing a slippery slope. 

The slope has been there for a while. Take the Ta-152 that never ever flew over the areas depicted in GB, or the 150 octane fuel that wasn't used by the 9th AF (there's no 8th AF in Career). There's a few more examples.

For a while, IL2 has been "period-correct" rather than "theatre-correct". As long as the default option in Career mode is the historical one, I don't think it's a huge problem.

[Avimimus]

10 hours ago, Stonehouse said:

150 octane fuel for F-51s is another one. 150 octane was never used in Korea by USAF forces. Possibly both are there as "what if" type things. As long as neither are used in career or historical campaigns it's workable. I believe everywhere else it's up to the mission author/server admin to decide what is available.

I'm inclined towards this logic myself as well: Give the players the option in quick missions - but just keep it out of the career mode and multiplayer if it wasn't typical.

For instance, I'm pretty sure that the F-82G could still have the radar pod removed and replaced with the gunpod - but I don't believe this ever happened... it'd still be a lot of fun to be able to have the gunpod as a retrofit. The same goes for the Albatros D.II with the 20mm Becker cannon... it was used for trials but was never widely deployed... but it is still... well... just very very interesting. I relate to these sims as much or more as a test pilot than as a combat pilot - so I like these options.

But the campaign should be realistic.

IMHO, the big problem with the campaign is that we'll likely see more air-combat against more aggressive opponents than is realistic. There is a concession to the 'gameplay' in not having most missions see no opposition, with the exception of a Mig-15Bis showing up rarely (less than one out of ten sorties), and then only make one passe before using its climb advantage to disengage... and this is a much bigger issue for realism than one of the Mig-15Bis units receiving a handful of g-suits at the end of 1953, right at the end of the campaign...

[KillerBee]

18 hours ago, LukeFF said:

I don't think you are understanding things correctly. 🙂 These are regular mods that are programmed into the game, i.e., nothing that can be added to the game by a third party. 

Oh, I understand completely the difference between in-game mods versus 3rd party mods.  I’ve been at this this with IL2 since the very beginning.  And I think you know what I’m saying too.  There is no reason why these two in-game mods (..or any others in this category) could be set to not activate and display in-game unless the “Mods Only” (3rd Party) configuration switch is set.

[LukeFF]

20 hours ago, harmless said:

If possible could you share the source that mentions it being installed on MiG-15's in April 53? I haven't been able to find even that much.

 

18 hours ago, ParaguaySteve said:

What was the source used to implement this decision?
Verification of use in-theater seems highly relevant to this discussion as there are a multitude of modifications and options used on both side that existed but were either used on a limited basis or not used in combat whatsoever. This is very much establishing a slippery slope. 

The source is from this book:



It was also first published long ago (1998) in this one:



Additionally, our researchers have spoken with the author of the Gordon book about the source of his information. He said that Arseniev's references, as well as his own, are based on tech bulletins about MiG-15 modifications (and no one knows where they are now...) which he also worked with long ago when he worked in the Mikoyan bureau archives - for some publication back then.

[LukeFF]

16 hours ago, Stonehouse said:

150 octane fuel for F-51s is another one. 150 octane was never used in Korea by USAF forces. Possibly both are there as "what if" type things. As long as neither are used in career or historical campaigns it's workable. I believe everywhere else it's up to the mission author/server admin to decide what is available.

Yes, it's locked out entirely in career mode.

[FuriousMeow]

On 7/21/2026 at 11:49 AM, KillerBee said:

Oh, I understand completely the difference between in-game mods versus 3rd party mods.  I’ve been at this this with IL2 since the very beginning.  And I think you know what I’m saying too.  There is no reason why these two in-game mods (..or any others in this category) could be set to not activate and display in-game unless the “Mods Only” (3rd Party) configuration switch is set.

Because they aren't mods in the sense of 3rd party modifications. 3rd party mods just change graphical features or other non-core assets/features. These are not 3rd party related, and they are already toggleable by either mission designer or locked out of the campaign entirely.

Doesn't make sense to have a core feature built into the game behind a 3rd party mods lock, especially since they already require direct intervention to enable. 

 

I have also seen the AI/bots take advantage of the gsuits zero times, they perform the same as if they didn't have them on as in they aren't performing tighter turns or holding higher Gs.

Edited July 22 by FuriousMeow

[ataribaby]

I like g-suits optional as it is now. I have it locked in the career currently. It is just game after all so I am happy with some historical liberties. 

I wish AI pilots are bit more constrained with G forces. As player I have hard time to keep with them in turn fights. But it can be simply skill issue.

Edited July 23 by ataribaby