HOTAS & Joysticks

VKB HOTAS: Gladiator, Gunfighter, and STECS Explained

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VKB HOTAS gear works on a different idea than the bundled sets on the rest of this site. You don't get one box with a matched stick and throttle. VKB sells bases, grips and throttles as separate parts, and you combine them into your own setup. That is the main thing to understand about the brand before you compare any spec. It is also why we cover VKB here as an editorial topic and don't sell it through this site.

The Gladiator NXT: VKB's integrated stick

The Gladiator NXT is VKB's complete stick, with the base and grip sold together. VKB's spec sheet lists dual-axis Hall-effect sensors and contactless MaRS sensors. MaRS stands for Magnetically Resistant Sensor. The stick has 58 buttons you can program, and 21 of them sit on the grip. It also has 2 triggers, 2 hat switches and a mini-stick for an extra axis.

The base uses an active damper, tuned with magnets, to shape how the stick springs back. You can set the polling rate as high as 4 kHz. The buttons are made by ALPS, a type known to last through a great many presses.

That count of 58 buttons is far above most general sticks. It is aimed at combat sims like DCS World, where one aircraft can use dozens of cockpit functions. If you want that level of control but would like to compare bundled sets first, see our flight stick for PC roundup. It covers matched systems you can buy in one go.

Gunfighter: the base-only line for custom builds

The Gladiator NXT ships as a whole stick. The Gunfighter line is different. It is a base sold with no grip, for simmers who want to pick their own grip or already own one.

This is the more advanced end of the VKB range. It assumes you know which grip you want and are building toward a set plan. If you are new to HOTAS gear, this adds a buying step that a bundled set does not need.

STECS: VKB's modular throttle system

VKB's throttle line is called STECS, short for Space Throttle System. It follows the same mix-and-match idea as the rest of the brand. It comes in four sizes: Mini, Mini Plus, Standard and Max.

VKB's spec sheet says the STECS Max sits on a steel desk plate with non-slip rubber pads. It has 32-bit ARM chips in both the base and its grip modules. Its main axes use contactless MaRS sensors. The throttle takes swappable modules, and VKB sells STEM and ATEM modules with their own button and switch layouts. There is also an optional Space Throttle Grip for six-way thruster control in space sims.

Maybe you need a fixed throttle lever more than a modular space-sim grip. In that case, our flight sim throttle roundup covers throttle units you can buy as one product.

Firmware on the STECS, Gladiator and Gunfighter lines updates over USB. VKB also builds in memory to store profiles. Your button map stays in place from one session to the next, with no PC software running in the background.

Why simmers pay more for VKB HOTAS hardware over a bundled system

The case for VKB comes down to two things: sensor precision and choice. Contactless MaRS sensors and Hall-effect axes are built to avoid the wear and drift that older sensors can develop over years of use. That matters more the more hours you fly. And since VKB sells each part on its own, you are not stuck with one grip or throttle shape. You can build around the exact buttons and throttle modules your sim and aircraft need.

That freedom has real costs. A base, a grip and a throttle bought as three items from VKB usually cost more in total than a bundle with a similar button count. You also need to know roughly what you want, since there is no single starter VKB HOTAS. So VKB suits a second or third HOTAS, once you know your own taste, more than a first one.

The platform limitation

Every current VKB line is built for PC. That covers Gladiator, Gunfighter and STECS alike. No VKB product carries an Xbox or PlayStation license. If you are shopping for a console setup, VKB is not an option, however its specs compare.

The MaRS sensor system in more detail

MaRS sensors read the position of the stick or throttle through a magnetic field, with no parts touching. Hall-effect systems from other brands use the same basic idea. VKB pairs these sensors with 32-bit ARM chips in both the base and the grip. Those chips process the signal on the device instead of leaning on your PC.

The Gladiator NXT's active damper adds one more layer. A plain metal spring just pushes the stick back to center. The damper uses magnetic resistance to shape how that return force feels. The polling rate setting lets you tune how often the stick reports its position to your PC.

Building a full HOTAS around STECS modules

The STECS throttle shows the VKB idea most clearly, so it helps to walk through it. There is no one fixed throttle grip. You pick a base size first, from Mini up to Max. Then you add control modules on top.

VKB's STEM module adds 8 buttons. It also adds two K-switches with push buttons in the middle, two encoders with push buttons, and a 3-way flip switch that springs back to center. The ATEM module adds 4 buttons, two of them under safety lids. It also has a 4-way rotary encoder with a push button in the center.

For space sims, VKB's Space Throttle Grip adds a built-in gimbal and two analog axes. It also has hat switches, buttons, a trigger and a wheel encoder with a push button. It is aimed at thruster control rather than a classic aircraft throttle.

What VKB does not include that a bundle would

VKB sells parts, not a matched bundle. So there are a few things to plan that a single-box set handles for you. First, check that your grip fits your base. Not every grip generation fits every base generation without an adapter.

Second, plan how you will mount it. VKB's desk bases come with a steel plate and non-slip pads. A fixed cockpit rig may need extra mounting hardware, sold on its own. Third, budget for the base, grip and throttle as three items rather than one. That is the price of being free to choose each one.

How VKB compares to a metal-built bundled flagship

Take a metal flagship bundle like the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog MKII. The contrast is mostly choice against a matched set. A bundled flagship gives you a metal base and a matched throttle and grip. They are designed to be sold as one unit. VKB lets you choose each part from the start: the base, the grip, the throttle size and the modules.

The cost is more buying decisions. It is also, most of the time, a higher total price once your setup is complete. Simmers who want a set grip for a set aircraft tend to land on VKB. Simmers who want one box that just works tend to pick a bundle. Our Warthog HOTAS page covers that side.

Firmware and profile management

The Gladiator, Gunfighter and STECS lines all update firmware over USB. They all store button profiles in onboard memory. Your setup stays in place across PCs and sessions, with no software running all the time. Other brands do much the same on their own flagship gear.

Each brand uses its own setup tool, though. Profiles made in one brand's software won't move to another. If you switch between a VKB setup and a bundle later, you will rebuild your button map from scratch either way.

Verdict: is VKB HOTAS hardware worth it

VKB HOTAS gear is worth it for PC simmers who want precision and know the exact grip and base they need, plus the throttle modules. It shines in combat sims with dense button needs. You pay more in total for that choice, and for MaRS sensors that hold their precision over years of use.

Pick a bundle instead if you want one box that works right away. Our flight stick for PC and flight sim throttle roundups cover that route. A bundle is also the answer if you need a console setup, since no current VKB HOTAS gear carries an Xbox or PlayStation license.