Ground Speed (GS)

Ground Speed (GS) is the aircraft’s speed over the ground, meaning how fast your position is moving across the Earth. It is the speed that actually determines time enroute, waypoint arrival, and whether you make a TOT (time on target) or an on-time rendezvous.

Conceptually:

• GS = TAS plus/minus wind component
  • Tailwind increases GS.
  • Headwind decreases GS.
  • A pure crosswind mainly affects track/heading correction, not GS much (unless there is a small head/tail component).

In DCS World, GS is one of the most practical speeds because it is what you use for:

• ETA and timing between waypoints
• TOT / time hacks in packages
• Rendezvous with tankers or other flights
• Ingress/egress timing in CAS/SEAD and multi-ship strikes
  Most aircraft show GS on the HUD, HSD/HSD-like pages, INS pages, or the kneeboard/mission tools depending on module.