Matrix Games Forums

When I see "Update" or "[update]" in the DB name of CWDB aircraft, while a very similar 'non-update' version of the aircraft exists but differs especially in regard to the sensor/electronic warfare suite, does this mean:

1) The update reflects a real-world update, meaning that both database entries are believed to be correct for certain airframes, timeframes, etc.

or

2) The update reflects a CMO database modeling update, meaning that the update uses more trusted (up-to-date, better-researched, etc.) sources and is believed to be more correct than the 'non-update' version.

or

3) There is historic ambiguity (conflicting sources, etc.), and either (or neither) entry could be more correct, but which one is unknown.

or

4) Some combination of those

If the answer leans toward 2, any thoughts on adding a deprecated flag so we can filter those out of searches?

I'm especially looking at US Vietnam-era stuff, where the electronic warfare suites are a complicated topic, I guess.

Examples:
EA-3B (659 vs. 3942)
F-4E 1977 USAF (2830 vs. 4051)
EA-6A 1966 USMC (2801 vs. 4066)

Honestly, when it comes to CWDB...it's such a mess, I can't answer definitively.

It should always be #1. If we had better sources/info as in #2 we'd just update the base platform so that updated scenarios would get the new, more realistic entry. If it was #3 there'd be a clearer note in the comments. But then, again, some of CWDB absolutely defies logic and explanation, so I can't promise anything. I'd assume it means there was an update sometime during the service life though, and whoever entered the new entry either got sloppy with the IS dates or didn't have them or this was at a time where the SOP was not to iterate dates for updates (I wasn't aware there ever was such a time, but hey, CWDB).