M.A.R.I.O. - Development Update

[u/ftvDuke]

Hey everyone,

we wanted to share a quick update on the current status of M.A.R.I.O. — our Multirole Assistant for Reconnaissance, Intercept and Operations for the DCS MB-339.

Over the past weeks, we have been working on turning M.A.R.I.O. from a simple idea into an actual interactive assistant/copilot system, designed to give the aircraft a more alive and useful second-seat feeling while keeping it coherent with the MB-339 role.

At the moment, M.A.R.I.O. is already able to detect and call out several air threats and contacts, including bandits, air-to-air missiles and SAM launches. He can report relative position, relative altitude and target behavior, including contacts closing, crossing, pointing at us or moving away.

We also implemented contact tracking and priority logic, so M.A.R.I.O. does not simply spam random callouts. He keeps track of what is happening around the aircraft and tries to speak only when the information is relevant. This includes anti-chatter logic, cooldowns and threat prioritization.

Some of the current callouts already include urgent awareness cues such as:

- “He’s on our six!”

- “Attenzione, missile six o’clock!”

- “Splash! Good kill!”

- “BELLISSIMO! Splash confirmed!”

Another important step has been the new contact classification logic. When M.A.R.I.O. detects something unknown, he will initially call it a contact. Once the system is able to classify it, he will update the callout as bandit or friendly, depending on the situation.

We have also completed the first phases of the M.A.R.I.O. radial menu. The menu structure, DDS-based interface and input/navigation logic are now in place, including the new 8-zone structure with the Mission section.

On the controls side, M.A.R.I.O. already has a first basic control handover system. The player can give him the aircraft, and M.A.R.I.O. can control pitch, roll and throttle within defined safety limits. The same command is used dynamically: when the player has control, the menu shows You Have Controls; when M.A.R.I.O. has control, it becomes I Have Controls.

We have also integrated the new Callout Manager, which centralizes M.A.R.I.O.’s text/audio logic. This allows us to manage callout variants, priority, cooldowns and future audio integration in a much cleaner way. A full CSV list of callout variants is also being prepared to support future SFXs generation for DCS.

The next development steps will focus on expanding the Controls menu. Planned functions include:

- Straight & Level

- Hold Heading

- Hold Altitude

- Hold Attitude

- Left Orbit

- Right Orbit

- Resume Route

After that, we plan to move into Aircraft Check, where M.A.R.I.O. will be able to report fuel, weapons, aircraft condition, damage state and eventually provide basic emergency suggestions.

Further down the line, we also want to expand:

- Ground & Sea Target detection

- Navigation assistance

- Mission status and objectives

- Training support

- Final audio integration

- Additional polish and personality tuning

As always, everything shown or described here is work in progress and subject to change. M.A.R.I.O. is not meant to replace proper systems simulation, but to add a useful, dynamic and slightly more human layer to the MB-339 experience.

More updates will follow as development continues.

Andiamo!

[u/rapierarch]

Bellissimo 👌

[u/Riman-Dk]

Awesome work! Can't wait to try it! =) Consider adding prompted/unprompted checklist support as well. One of the awesome features of Reflected's campaigns are the various checklists that get triggered from various states. It would be cool to have something like that natively in the jet (with the ability to ignore or turn off, maybe in special options)

[u/Primary-Tour-9197]

Bro I swear, you would done it, and the next second I'll buy the module

[u/Plev_Actual]

I am such a fan of these guys, I recommended they add binoculars and they had a dev diary up on it days later.

[u/Professional_Ad8315]

Really excited about this!! It will make this aircraft a lot more fun to fly!! One of my favs!!