Combat Air Patrol 2: Military Flight Simulator (v813.10)

The AV-8B Harrier II makes Combat Air Patrol 2 feel distinct from the usual fast-jet simulator: this is a naval aviation game built around a strike fighter that can hover, land vertically, and operate from warships as comfortably as it attacks targets inland. Set across a dynamic military campaign, it balances authentic cockpit procedures and weapons systems with controls that remain approachable for players who do not want a textbook-sized flight manual beside them. The mood is methodical and tense rather than arcade-like, with every sortie asking you to manage fuel, navigation, threats, and the limitations of a single versatile aircraft.

Flying begins in a detailed 3D cockpit, where multifunction displays, HUD information, radar modes, lighting, flap settings, landing gear, and the Harrier’s thrust-vectoring nozzle all matter. Missions range from air-to-air patrols using Sidewinders and AMRAAMs to ground strikes with Mavericks, laser-guided targeting equipment, bombs, anti-radar missiles, and anti-ship Harpoons. A mission planner lets pilots shape operations before launch, while the open-ended campaign creates a broader conflict where sorties are part of an evolving naval war rather than isolated scenarios. Air-to-air refuelling adds another layer of realism, with adjustable difficulty settings for players who want realistic hose handling or prefer to focus on combat.

What stands out is the attention paid to the Harrier’s unusual flight character: hovering, short takeoffs, vertical landings, and shipboard operations create challenges that conventional fighter sims rarely offer. It aims for the accessible middle ground between casual combat flying and hardcore study simulation, retaining working avionics and realistic payload constraints without burying newcomers in procedures. Environmental 3D audio, radio traffic, formation commands, and planned mod support help sell the atmosphere of an active air wing. Players who enjoy DCS-style aircraft detail but want a more forgiving, campaign-driven experience will find plenty to like, while Harrier enthusiasts get the clearest reason to climb into the cockpit.