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// Brand · flight · space

VKB

Boutique magnetic-sensor sticks with a value on-ramp.

VKB is a boutique flight-controls maker run by Russian and Belarusian engineers and operating out of Shenzhen, China, with a reputation built on metal gimbals, contactless magnetic sensors and obsessive mechanical tuning. It is one of the two pillars (with Virpil) of the serious HOSAS and HOTAS world. The honest take: VKB's genius is offering boutique sensor quality at an accessible entry price. The Gladiator NXT EVO is the single most-recommended affordable building block for Star Citizen and Elite Dangerous, magnetic sensors and self-centering twist at a price that lets you buy two for a full twin-stick rig, with a clear upgrade path to the premium full-metal Gunfighter Mk.IV base and its swappable cams, springs and dampers. The MCG Pro combat grip piles on six analog axes for binding-hungry sims. The catches are real: VKBDevCfg software is famously intimidating, popular grips and bases sell out constantly, and the whole line is PC-only. For pilots who want the best feel-per-dollar with room to grow, VKB is the default first buy.

// Ecosystem
Common Rev.C grip connector lets five grips share one Gunfighter base; magnetic sensors throughout, deep VKBDevCfg tuning software, PC-only and frequently stock-limited.

Who it's for: Space and combat pilots who want boutique sensor quality with a budget on-ramp (Gladiator) and a real upgrade path (Gunfighter).

VKB pedalss

1
VKB T-Rudder Mk.IV
flight · 8/10

T-Rudder Mk.IV

The VKB T-Rudder Mk.IV is the enthusiast pick for a durable, low-profile rudder with no toe brakes, a deliberate design choice for combat and warbird pilots who steer with rudder alone. Built on VKB's long line of precision controllers with contactless sensors, it is praised for smooth, accurate rudder motion and rugged build that punches above its price. The known quirk on this generation is a spring whine under load, addressed in the later Mk.V. If you fly DCS or IL-2 and do not need toe brakes, it is a compact, long-lasting option.

~$230

VKB throttles

2
VKB STECS Throttle System Mk.II - Standard
space · 9/10

STECS Throttle System Mk.II - Standard

VKB's modular metal throttle and the brand's dedicated answer for HOTAS and hybrid pilots who want a real lever to pair with a Gladiator or Gunfighter stick. The Standard Mk.II sits on a heavy steel baseplate with non-slip pads, mounts to a rig or chair, and carries dual independent (linkable) throttle levers with a swappable detent system — five detent frames and a stack of L/V/W-shape inserts let you set afterburner gates, reverse stops or a space-cruise notch. It's loaded with on-grip controls including a pre-installed front ministick, a swappable side ministick and multiple hats, plus wheel encoders. For pure HOSAS it's optional, but it's a superb tunable throttle for cruise and power management.

~$289
VKB Gladiator NXT EVO Omni-Throttle
space · 8/10

Gladiator NXT EVO Omni-Throttle

A clever HOSAS-native answer to the throttle question: it mounts a Gladiator EVO stick on an Omni-Throttle Adapter (OTA) so your off-hand becomes a multi-axis thrust/strafe controller instead of a single-axis lever. That maps perfectly to a spaceship's six-axis flight model, where lateral strafing matters as much as forward thrust. It shares the Gladiator's magnetic sensors, ALPS buttons and self-centering twist. It is essentially the left-hand half of a purpose-built VKB space rig.

~$149

VKB sticks

1
VKB Gladiator NXT EVO 'Space Combat Edition'
space · 9/10

Gladiator NXT EVO 'Space Combat Edition'

The canonical affordable on-ramp into a 'real' magnetic-sensor stick, and the single most-recommended HOSAS building block for Star Citizen and Elite Dangerous. It pairs an all-metal-internals gimbal with contactless sensors and VKB's self-centering twist mechanism at a price that lets you buy two for a full twin-stick rig. The Space Combat Edition adds a space-friendly button cluster and is fully buildable as a left- or right-hand stick. The trade-off versus the Gunfighter tier is a non-adjustable cam/spring feel and a smaller, lighter footprint.

~$119

VKB bases

1
VKB Gunfighter Mk.IV (Base Only)
space · 9/10

Gunfighter Mk.IV (Base Only)

VKB's premium full-metal gimbal base and the upgrade destination for serious pilots who outgrow the Gladiator's fixed feel. Released in 2023, the Mk.IV adds next-gen adjustable axis dampers, swappable cams and springs with pre-tighteners, and a no-stiction soft-start clutch for glass-smooth movement. Five interchangeable grips drop onto one common Rev.C connector, so a matched pair of Gunfighters makes a genuine endgame HOSAS. It is a base only — budget for a grip (MCG, SCG, etc.) on top.

~$289

VKB grips

1
VKB MCG Pro (Modern Combat Grip) Add-On
space · 9/10

MCG Pro (Modern Combat Grip) Add-On

VKB's flagship combat grip and the most common topping for a Gunfighter Mk.IV base. The MCG Pro packs six analog axes (two slew ministick, two trimmer ministick, a folding-trigger axis and a brake-lever axis on a contactless MaRS sensor) into a modular shell you can reconfigure hat-by-hat. A 25mm-adjustable palm rest and up to 15-degree grip rotation make it comfortable for long sessions. It is a grip only and requires a compatible VKB base (sold separately).

~$136

VKB — common questions

Is the VKB Gladiator good enough, or should I save for a Gunfighter?
For most pilots the Gladiator is genuinely good enough; it already uses magnetic sensors. The Gunfighter base adds adjustable cam/spring/damper feel and heavier combat grips, not a fix for a deficient stick.
Can I build a HOSAS from VKB sticks?
Yes. Buy a left-hand and a right-hand Gladiator NXT EVO Space Combat Edition; the twist axis on each covers the six axes a spaceship needs.
Does VKB work on Xbox?
No. Like all boutique flight gear, VKB is PC-only. For Xbox space combat the Turtle Beach VelocityOne is the main licensed option.
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