Lightning F.53

2023-04-03T16:28:36Z

U129183430: /* Survivability and armour */

{{About
| about = premium gift British jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the regular version
| link = Lightning F.6
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=lightning_f53
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}_001.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} British jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Danger Zone"]] as a [[wt:en/news/7741-development-new-premium-jets-lightning-f-53-and-ariete-en|premium pack]] but was removed from the Gaijin store after the [[wt:en/news/8046-shop-war-thunder-winter-sale-en|2022 "Winter sale"]].

The Lightning F.53 is an export variant of the [[Lightning F.6]] which was used by the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) and the Kuwait Air Force (with the in-game vehicle representing a RSAF Lightning). The main difference between the Lightning F.53 and the standard F.6 version is that the F.53 can carry a selection of ground attack ordnance (bombs and rockets). The Lightning F.53 retains the stacked engines and side-mounted missiles, while adding to the list of unusual design choices with the unique ability to carry ordnance on top of the wings; something very few other aircraft were designed to do (the [[Jaguar GR.1A]] being a notable one).

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 12,192 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,240 || 2,213 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.8 || 28.0 || 124.6 || 115.4 || rowspan="2" | 850
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,353 || 2,290 || 24.4 || 26.0 || 177.8 || 150.0
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="6" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
|-
| X || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || 654 || 463 || ~10 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 850 || < 700 || < 700 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="4" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="2" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.302 || 2
| colspan="2" | 14,020 kg || colspan="2" | 436 kg/m<sup>2</sup>
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="3" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff<br>Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 6m fuel || 20m fuel || 22m fuel
|-
| 1,310 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet
| 15,382 kg || 18,109 kg || 18,559 kg || 19,000 kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="4" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 6m fuel || 20m fuel || 22m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 5,616 kgf || 7,413 kgf
| 0.96 || 0.82 || 0.80 || 0.78
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 5,616 kgf<br>(0 km/h) ||18000 kgf
(1000 km/h)
| 1.01 || 0.86 || 0.83 || 0.82
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}

The Lightning F.53 has an identical internal layout to the [[Lightning F.6]] upon which it is based. This means that most of the area in the wings is full of fuel tanks; likewise the stacked and staggered engines are retained. While the top engine is exposed and vulnerable to enemy attacks it can often absorb bullets, protecting the lower engine from damage (assuming the enemy is attacking you from the rear and above).

Where the Lightning F.53 does differ from the Lightning F.6 is in the addition of a 64 mm bulletproof glass windscreen. This is the only armour found on either aircraft.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|ADEN (30 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:

* 2 x 30 mm ADEN cannons, belly-mounted (120 rpg = 240 total)

=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}

{{main|Mk.M2 (540 lb)|L.D H.E. M.C. Mk.1 (1,000 lb)|RN|SNEB type 23}}
{{main|Firestreak|Red Top}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:

* Without load
* 2 x Firestreak missiles
* 2 x Red Top missiles
* 4 x 540 lb Mk.M2 bombs (2,160 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb L.D H.E. M.C. Mk.1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 144 x SNEB type 23 rockets + 48 x RN rockets
* 144 x SNEB type 23 rockets + 2 x Firestreak missiles
* 2 x Firestreak missiles + 4 x 540 lb Mk.M2 bombs (2,160 lb total)
* 2 x Red Top missiles + 144 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 2 x Red Top missiles + 4 x 540 lb Mk.M2 bombs (2,160 lb total)

==== Custom loadout options ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="9%" | 1 !! width="9%" | 2 !! width="9%" | 3 !! width="9%" | 4 !! width="9%" | 5
| rowspan="8" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! 540 lb Mk.M2 bombs
| 1, 2 || || || || 1, 2
|-
! 1,000 lb L.D H.E. M.C. Mk.1 bombs
| 1 || || || || 1
|-
! RN rockets
| || || 48 || ||
|-
! SNEB type 23 rockets
| 18, 36 || 36 || || 36 || 18, 36
|-
! Firestreak missiles
| || || 2 || ||
|-
! Red Top missiles
| || || 2 || ||
|-
| colspan="6" | Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 450 kg
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good climb rate and acceleration.
* Formidable angle-of-attack above low speeds.
* Very powerful cannons, and good missiles.
* Surprisingly good turn rate between 800 and 1,000 km/h IAS.
* Large rocket payload.

'''Cons:'''

* Quite poor energy retention.
* Large target for enemy aircraft.
* Awkward under-belly cannon placement.
* Relatively low top speed (1,280 km/h IAS at sea level).
* Poor low-speed manoeuvrability - accurate low-speed usage of rockets against ground targets is difficult.

== History ==

''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=lightning_f53 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|XFb5SuvpZ0U|'''The Shooting Range #315''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==


* [[Lightning F.6]]
* [[MiG-21 SPS-K (Germany)]]
* [[F-104 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7741-development-new-premium-jets-lightning-f-53-and-ariete-en|[Devblog] New Premium jets: Lightning F.53 and Ariete]]

{{Manufacturer EEC}}
{{Britain jet aircraft}}
{{Britain premium aircraft}}

War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Lightning F.53