War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

F-8E

2024-11-03T18:14:20Z

U15020331: /* General info */ Updated Flight performance: removing any indication on wing rip and advised newer pilots to not use landing flaps in combat.

{{About
| about = US jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the other version
| link = F-8E(FN) (France)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f-8e
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The United States Navy showed clear interest in expanding the capabilities of the Crusader series of aircraft as quickly as possible to expand its role in maritime operations and offer primitive close-air support capabilities. This led to the development of the F8U-2NE (later renamed the F-8E), which featured a larger nose cone, new AN/APQ-94 fire control radar, detachable pylons, a more reliable J57-P-20 engine, and guidance equipment for the AGM-12 Bullpup missiles. The first prototype, a modified F8U-1 (No. 143710), was flown on June 30, 1961, and the aircraft was quickly approved for use by the Navy. During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps made extensive use of the F-8E, with squadrons like VMFA-235 considered to be among the best at using the aircraft in combat.

The F-8E Crusader was introduced in [[Update "Direct Hit"]] as the second Crusader variant in the American tech tree. Compared to the preceding [[F8U-2]], it has largely the same flight performance but improved ordnance options. The infrared-guided AIM-9D Sidewinder returns as a good option for dogfights and sneak attacks, but it can now utilize the radar-guided AIM-9C, which may be useful during head-on engagements. The ground attack options are vastly superior because of the addition of wing pylons. While the F8U-2 was limited to cheek-mounted Zuni rockets and its internal FFAR rocket tray, the F-8E can carry a decent bombload and AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-ground missiles, making it more capable as a multirole fighter. The F-8E can really be considered "The Last Gunfighter" in War Thunder because the succeeding [[F-4J Phantom II|F-4J Phantom]] is a very different aircraft to cap off the US naval jet line: a heavy twin-engine fighter lacking an internal gun and relying on powerful long-range missiles.

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


The F-8E, as a development of the previous [[F8U-2]], will feel very similar to the pilot in command. The Crusader is a highly agile aircraft, capable of dogfighting most enemy aircraft at its rank, blending initial pull with surprising energy retention. This allows the F-8E to pull inside enemy aircraft without bleeding massive amounts of speed like the delta wing aircraft at this rank are prone to doing. The engine has been upgraded, the extra 560 kgf making up for the slight additional weight of the wings and increasing the climb rate and speed of the aircraft. The F-8E is particularly strong at lower speeds, where the extra engine thrust allows it to sustain turns and accelerate quicker, and it also inherits the unique landing flaps of the Crusader: the wing detaching from the fuselage and angling upwards. This gives large amounts of extra lift, at the expense of becoming very sluggish. It is not advised to use landing flaps during combat.

That manoeuvrability and energy retention comes at a cost though, and that is speed. The F-8E is slow for its rank, and struggles to break past mach 1 at sea level. With missiles loaded, it will top out at exactly mach 1, and with any other ordnance loaded it is unable at sea level. At higher altitudes the F-8E is able of exceeding the speed of sound, though not by much and once past mach 1 the acceleration drops dramatically. The plane also compresses around mach .98, so pilots should be wary when diving on targets, as the aircraft may compress and be unable to pull as hard as the pilot may be accustomed to. The rudder on this aircraft is also something to be aware of. The rudder on this aircraft does not work like those on other aircraft, meaning that during a roll or pulling with mouse aim can cause the nose to swing wildly. This is especially a problem at sea level at high speeds, where the rudder will shake the nose around to a great extent. Also, the rudder during rolls throws the nose around unlike other aircraft, meaning it can be hard to get close shots with the gun but can be used for high speed snapshots.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 10,668 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,094 || 2,087 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.4 || 30.6 || 108.5 || 98.1 || rowspan="2" | 1,828
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,132 || 2,110 || 28.6 || 29.0 || 158.0 || 131.4
|-
|}

==== 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 || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 1,555  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 1,070 || N/A || 583 || ~10 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 1,000 || < 590 || < 500 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="6" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Pratt & Whitney J57-P-20 || 1
| colspan="3" | 8,953 kg || colspan="3" | 376 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="5" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 15m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 52m fuel
|-
| 1,592 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet
| 10,200 kg || 10,550 kg || 11,348 kg || 12,545 kg || 13,109 kg || 15,468 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="6" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 15m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 52m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 4,562 kgf || 8,520 kgf
| 0.84 || 0.81 || 0.75 || 0.68 || 0.65 || 0.55
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 4,804 kgf (1,000 km/h) || 9,543 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 0.94 || 0.91 || 0.84 || 0.76 || 0.73 || 0.62
|-
|}

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

Like the earlier [[F8U-2]] (F-8C), the only armour on the F-8E is 25 mm of bulletproof glass on the front windscreen. Most of the central fuselage and wing is filled with large fuel tanks which makes gunfire from above or behind likely to cause fuel leaks and fires. Near enough the entire rear fuselage is taken up by the engine, making engine damage likely from rear attacks. Despite these drawbacks, the F-8E is still more durable than some jets and can often make it back to base with light to moderate damage.

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

As with most high tier jets, the first modification you want to pick up will be the flares/chaff in order to let you effectively counter enemy missiles. From there you want to progress though the missile upgrades as fast as possible, taking your pick of flight performance upgrades in order to unlock each tier (you could also use the ordnance upgrades to unlock each modification tier, but as the F-8E is primarily a fighter flight performance is usually the best pick). Once you have all missiles unlocked your focus will probably be on the remaining flight performance upgrades, although the cannons upgrades are certainly useful if you enjoy gun fighting.

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

{{main|Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 (20 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (125 rpg = 500 total)
* 60 x countermeasures

The offensive armament of the F-8E consists of 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 autocannons, grouped into 2 selectable groups. The guns replaced the 20 mm M3 commonly used from the end of WW2 until the Korean war, and has a quick fire rate of 1,000 rpm, outputting 7.30 kg of shells per second towards the enemy. With 125 rounds per gun, this gives pilots of the F-8E 8 seconds of trigger time. If ammo capacity is a concern, pilots can select one group of 20 mm to fire at a time, doubling their trigger time. The guns do reliable damage and have a good velocity of 1,012 m/s, only slightly less than the [[M61 (20 mm)|20 mm M61]] found on later jets. This makes getting reliable gun kills easy for pilots.

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


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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="11%" | 1 !! width="11%" | 2 !! width="11%" | 3 !! width="11%" | 4
| rowspan="15" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! [[LDGP Mk 81 (250 lb)|250 lb LDGP Mk 81]] bombs
| 3, 6 || || || 3, 6
|-
! [[Mk 81 Snakeye (250 lb)|250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye]] bombs
| 3, 6 || || || 3, 6
|-
! [[LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|500 lb LDGP Mk 82]] bombs
| 3, 4 || || || 3, 4
|-
! [[Mk 82 Snakeye (500 lb)|500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye]] bombs
| 3, 4 || || || 3, 4
|-
! [[LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)|1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83]] bombs
| 1, 2 || || || 1, 2
|-
! [[LDGP Mk 84 (2,000 lb)|2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84]] bombs
| 1 || || || 1
|-
! [[LDGP Mk 84 Air (2,000 lb)|2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 Air]] bombs
| 1 || || || 1
|-
! [[Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary]] bombs
| 1 || || || 1
|-
! [[FFAR Mighty Mouse]] rockets
| 7, 19, 38 || || || 7, 19, 38
|-
! [[Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP]] rockets
| 4, 8 || 2*, 4 || 2*, 4 || 4, 8
|-
! [[AGM-12B Bullpup]] missiles
| 1 || || || 1
|-
! [[AIM-9B Sidewinder]] missiles
| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
|-
! [[AIM-9C Sidewinder]] missiles
| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
|-
! [[AIM-9D Sidewinder]] missiles
| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
|-
| colspan="6" | * Single missiles can be carried concurrently with dual Zuni rockets on the same hardpoint
|}

{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}

* Without load
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 2 x AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles
* 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 24 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 2 x AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
* 12 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 12 x 250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 8 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 8 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 Air bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs
{{Navigation-End}}

The F-8E has a much more extensive selection of multirole weaponry when compared to the preceding [[F8U-2]], although it is still intended for use mainly as an air supremacy aircraft.

Beginning with the unguided rockets, it gets access to both FFAR Mighty Mouse and Zuni Mk32 rockets. The Mighty Mouse is a small rocket, weighing only 8 kg and with only 290 mm penetration, but it makes up for this in quantity. The F-8E can carry 4 x pods of 19 rockets each, 2 mounted under each wing pylon, for a total of 76 rockets. As for the Zuni rockets, these are much larger at 56 kg and have 457 mm penetration, much more suited for taking out heavier targets. The placement is rather unique however. 4 can be mounted stock, 2 on each side of the fuselage behind the cockpit; however this is not recommended as it takes up the missile rails and greatly limits the anti-air capability of the plane. Once the modification is researched, it gains access to 16 more, mounted in 2 pods of 4 each under the wing pylons.

The F-8E also gains access to unguided bombs: 250 lb, 500 lb, 1,000 lb, 2,000 lb and of course the Mk 77 incendiary bomb. These are all mounted on the wing pylons, and pilots are recommended to use 500 lb or greater bombs if attacking enemy armour. The incendiary bombs work well against open topped vehicles, so these should be used if attacking large groups of open topped vehicles. They can also be used to shield allies from sight or deny a crucial area from open-topped vehicles while the napalm continues to burn.

The last anti-surface weapon is the AGM-12B Bullpup. This is the only guided air-to-ground munition the F-8E can carry, albeit it is manually guided, unlike later weapons like the later [[AGM-65A|Maverick]] missiles. These will take some practice for pilots to get accustomed to aiming, but with 8 km range these are the recommended option for use in ground battles against the long range AA common at this rank. Pilots are recommended to turn off "Relative Control' in the controls for the weapon, as with this setting on the missile will continue pulling in the same direction as the last input until another correction is given.

Now for anti-aircraft missiles, the original purpose of the F-8E. It gains access to three types: the AIM-9B, AIM-9C, and AIM-9D missiles.

The AIM-9B is the most basic missile that planes of this rank get. It is an IR missile with a caged seekerhead, limited range, and only 10Gs of pull. This is one of the two missiles pilots will get with an un-upgraded aircraft. It does not pull very well and is recommended for use against slow or unaware targets, although it can also be used to force enemy pilots to go evasive to allow the F-8E time to close to gun range.

The AIM-9C is a basic {{Annotation|SARH|Semi-Active Radar-Homing}} missile, and the other stock option for the F-8E: it has very similar flight performance to the AIM-9D IR missile also found on this aircraft, with good range, 18Gs of pull, however it does have an uncaged seekerhead and since it is a radar missile, is all-aspect. This missile works well, only limited by the radar set which is rather prone to ground clutter. Pilots are recommended to only use the missile at high altitude, or while below the enemy aircraft. Also, pilots should be aware that this missile uses "pulse" guidance; this means that unlike more advanced radar missiles like the [[AIM-7 Sparrow (Family)|AIM-7 Sparrow]], any amount of chaff from the enemy will immediately decoy it. It is recommended to use this missile against planes without countermeasures or enemy pilots which choose to not equip chaff, as it is more difficult to kinematically dodge the missile without the use of chaff.

The final missile the F-8E gains access to is the AIM-9D. As an IR version of the AIM-9C, this missile features a caged seekerhead like the previously available AIM-9B, so pilots may find it slightly difficult to fire the missile at a manoeuvring target, but once off the rails the missile performs admirably and is one of the better IR missiles at its rank. It is recommended to run 2 of the AIM-9D along with 2 of the AIM-9C if the pilot wishes to engage both with radar and IR missiles, or just the AIM-9D if the pilot prefers no warning to enemy pilots.

== Usage in battles ==

If you intend to play at a high altitude, it is advised to take mixed countermeasures prior to spawning in. This enables you to chaff any pulse-signal missile, such as the [[Matra Super 530F]] and [[R-3R]].

The way you start a battle in the F-8E will depend on what you think the likely composition of the enemy team is. A good place to start would be to climb to a high altitude (roughly 5,000 m) if you believe that the enemy team will only have jets equipped with pulse-signal missiles based on the battle rating of the match and the nations you are up against. Once at altitude, you can use your AIM-9C missiles to engage any other high altitude enemies you find head-on. As the AIM-9C is a rare weapon (only used on the F-8E), most people are not aware of its capabilities and are not expecting to receive a front-aspect missile. This allows you to pick up a couple of easy kills from safely outside the range of enemy cannon fire. If there are no more enemy aircraft to engage at high altitude, you can use your speed and altitude to dive down upon lower altitude enemy aircraft for gun/missile attacks. After completing your attack, you can either use your energy to go back to high altitude and prepare for another attack or use the F-8E's great manoeuvrability to stay at lower altitudes to engage in dogfights with enemy aircraft.

If you judge the enemy team to likely have jets equipped with CW signal missiles, then going to high altitude is very risky; in this case it is better to fly at a lower altitude, probably no more than 2,000 m. This gives you a little bit of altitude to play with and puts you in a position where you can potentially use your AIM-9C missiles against targets above you, while being somewhat protected against enemy CW missiles (aircraft with pulse-Doppler radars will still be able to hit you though, so stay vigilant and be prepared to dive or notch). At low altitude you can use the F-8Es great manoeuvrability and powerful armament to win out against many enemies in a dogfight, though you must always keep an eye out for enemy missiles.

The flight performance of the {{PAGENAME}} is similar enough to the preceding [[F8U-2]] that similar tactics should apply in a dogfight. The F-8E's instantaneous turn isn't the best, but it has great energy retention and sustained turn rate. Avoid scissors or any turn radius fight as the {{PAGENAME}}'s energy retention ability in this case will put the plane at a disadvantage because in a scissors, you will bleed less speed than the enemy and will end up in front of their guns. The plane's low-speed maneuverability also isn't a strong point, so avoid using the air brakes to bleed speed. Rate fighting makes the most of the {{PAGENAME}}'s ability as in these extended, longer-lasting dogfights, the F-8E's superior energy retention will see that it has kept more speed than an enemy aircraft. In this case, even if the enemy has a better initial turn rate, they will lose significantly more speed until they won't be able to keep up in a sustained turn. The {{PAGENAME}} will start gaining on them, and they will either be forced to pitch down to gain speed and try to gain on you, or they will run away. In these cases, you can simply pitch down too and stay on their tail. Eventually, the dogfight will move to a very low altitude, where there is no longer anywhere for the enemy to pitch down, and you will outrate them and get guns on them. If you haven't noticed yet, a rate dogfight like this will last a while depending on your position, so it is recommended not to engage in one when there are other enemies in the area.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Can carry four useful air-to-air missiles :
** Radar-guided AIM-9Cs, which can be used in surprise head-ons aswell as in BVR combat
** Heat-seeking AIM-9Ds, which have above average range (around 3 km)
* Equipped with a RWR, with E, G and I band identification
* Excellent guns with easy ballistics and high damage
* Very good sustained turn rate
* Good acceleration and climb rate
* Has an Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor which assists in locating targets by finding their heat signatures
* Has a variety of suspended air-to-ground ordnance
* Upgraded engine over F8U-2 allows higher acceleration and top speed

'''Cons:'''

* Below average low level top speed compared to other supersonic competitors; can barely break Mach 1 at low altitude
* Very likely to set on fire because of the fuel tank placement
* Lacks a ballistic computer, which greatly limits its ground attack potential
* Carries less gun ammo compared to F8U-2

== 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=f-8e Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|9SmcQee4_Vw|'''F-8E: A Basic Review''' - ''Tim's Variety War Thunder''|tQhEl042QE8|'''The Shooting Range #275''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [https://www.avialogs.com/aircraft-v/vought/item/5195-f-8e-crusader-standard-aircraft-characteristics-1-july-1967 Standard Aircraft Characteristics of the F-8E]

{{AirManufacturer Vought}}
{{USA jet aircraft}}

F8U-2

2024-11-03T17:58:18Z

U15020331: /* Pros and cons */ Removed con that F8U-2 as fragile wings, as the wing rip has been considerably buffed (happens very very rarely and in specific situations).

{{Specs-Card
|code=f8u-2
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]].

Nicknamed "The Last Gunfighter", the F8U Crusader is a famous and interesting aircraft with many unique features. The variable-incidence wing can tilt upwards for better low-speed performance during takeoff and landing. It lives up to its nickname with a quartet of nose-mounted 20 mm cannons like the preceding [[F3H-2|F3H-2 Demon]], but it also has access to infrared missiles like the AIM-9D Sidewinder that are mounted on Y-shaped cheek pylons. There is also a belly-mounted tray that can carry 32 FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets internally. Countermeasures are available for better defense against missiles, which are common at its battle rating. As the first supersonic US naval jet available in the tech tree (the [[F11F-1|F11F-1 Tiger]] is an event vehicle), the F8U-2 offers good all-round flight performance and capable armament in a versatile package. Some care should be taken in dogfights due to its fragile wings.

The succeeding [[F-8E]] has access to radar-guided AIM-9C missiles and a much larger array of ground attack options, whereas this model of the aircraft contains an Radar Warning Receiver, and the [[F-8E]] does not.

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

[[File:F8U-2 Wiki Image 1.jpg|thumb|F8U-2 after downing a enemy fighter.]]
The F8U-2 is a single engine supersonic carrier-based jet fighter, its powerplant is the Pratt & Whitney J57-P-16 engine that can produce 8,000 kgf of thrust. The Crusader is able to reach 1 Mach in level flight at sea level and 1.95 Mach at 10,600 m, that puts it on par with many jet fighters like the MiG-19 or the Su-7B, but it is also slower than any F-104 and MiG-21 at low altitude.
The structural speed limit is very high: 1,555 km/h IAS, reaching that speed even when the plane is diving is not that easy, so the player does not have to worry about overspeeding. Its thrust to weight ratio while not being close to 1.0 still is good enough to make the plane very good in any longer fight and makes the level acceleration very good.
The F8U-2 is also decent at climbing, at sea level with full fuel tanks it can reach up to 130 m/s, however other jets like the MiG-19, MiG-21, or Su-7 are better at climbing. With the afterburner on and full fuel tanks it can fly for about 12 minutes at low altitude, flying at higher altitude (5,000 m) increases it to about 16 minutes.

Compared to many other supersonic jet fighters, the Crusader is very good at dogfighting. Although it has quite low G limits (+10G with full fuel tanks) it is capable in both shorter and longer fights because of instantaneous turn rate which can be improved by using slats with the speed limit that is 1,070 km/h IAS (slats which are not automatic are being extended by switching flaps to the combat position, also the flaps itself are being extended after switching them to the landing position) and sustained turn rate, the plane is capable of performing a full horizontal circle at sea level in 22 seconds with 30 minutes of fuel.
The best sustained turn rate can be achieved by flying at ~650 km/h IAS where it reaches 16.2 deg/s, that makes it better at longer turning than many jet fighters, for example any MiG-21, Mirage, F-4 Phantom or F3H, however it will struggle below 300 km/h against anything because of high wing loading. Due to low G limits the plane is very easy to break in RB with the Mouse Aim controls, in SB it also the case, especially after switching to the damping stability augmentation system (SAS) mode, which overrides high speed locking of the elevator.
The roll rate performance is above the average compared to other jet fighters, it is ~135 deg/s at 600 km/h IAS and increases further to ~210 deg/s at 1,000 km/h IAS. The airbrake in this plane is located under the fuselage, that means it is not possible to extend it and the landing gear at the same time.
The most interesting feature about this plane is its variable-incidence wing design which can be pivoted by 7° out of the fuselage during the take-off or landing to make them easier, this functionality can be enabled by lowering flaps to the landing position and the minimum speed is 580 km/h IAS.

With full-real controls the F8U-2 has access to two SAS modes, manual and damping. With the manual mode it is quite challenging to fly, it is very easy to pull too much G or stall it out at lower speed. After switching to the damping mode it gets much more stable, but gets less responsive in roll axis, also makes the plane not lock up at any speed.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 10,668 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,025 || 2,017 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 28.4 || 29.4 || 113.8 || 104.6 || rowspan="2" | 1,828
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,054 || 2,038 || 27.6 || 28.0 ||162.5 || 137.0
|-
|}

==== 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 || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || 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" | {{Annotation|Max Static G|Full fuel tanks without any additional weapons}}
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
|  1,555 || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 1,070 || N/A || 583 || ~10 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 1,000 || < 590 || < 500 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="6" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Pratt & Whitney J57-P-16 || 1
| colspan="3" | 8,339 kg || colspan="3" | 341 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="5" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 14m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 48m fuel
|-
| 1,592 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet
| 9,531 kg || 9,916 kg || 10,708 kg || 11,925 kg || 12,279 kg || 12,760 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="6" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 14m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 49m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 4,562 kgf || 8,003 kgf
| 0.84 || 0.81 || 0.75 || 0.67 || 0.65 || 0.63
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 4,804 kgf (1,000 km/h) || 8,921 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 0.94 || 0.90 || 0.83 || 0.75 || 0.73 || 0.70
|-
|}

[[File:F8U-2 Wiki Image 3.jpg|thumb|F8U-2 on the USS Forrestal.]]

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


The only protection that this plane offers is a 25 mm bulletproof glass in front of the cockpit.
Fuel tanks are located in the center part of the plane: in the fuselage and wings, getting hit there will most likely set the plane on fire.
Flaps in this plane work also as ailerons, so losing them by overspeeding or being hit will make the plane unable to roll effectively.

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

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

[[File:F8U-2 Wiki Image 4.jpg|thumb|F8U-2 firing its 20 mm cannons.]]
{{main|Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 (20 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (144 rpg = 576 total)
* 60 x countermeasures

The F8U-2's quartet of 20 mm autocannons are shared with the preceding [[F3H-2|F3H-2 Demon]]. Their muzzle velocity and rate of fire are good but damage per round can be inconsistent. Having four of them tightly clustered in the forward fuselage makes them accurate and quite effective overall. Mind the ammunition capacity, as 144 rounds per gun is less than the Demon's 190.

The F8U-2 also is the first US naval fighter with access to countermeasures, which are welcome for spoofing dangerous missiles like the [[R-60]].

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


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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="15%" | 1 !! width="15%" | 2 !! width="15%" | 3
| rowspan="5" width="25%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! [[FFAR Mighty Mouse]] rockets
| || 32 ||
|-
! [[Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP]] rockets
| 2*, 4 || || 2*, 4
|-
! [[AIM-9B Sidewinder]] missiles
| 1*, 2 || || 1*, 2
|-
! [[AIM-9D Sidewinder]] missiles
| 1*, 2 || || 1*, 2
|-
| colspan="5" | * Single missiles can be carried concurrently with dual Zuni rockets on the same hardpoint
|-
|}

{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}

* Without load
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 8 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 32 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 32 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
{{Navigation-End}}

Although the Crusaders have a reputation as gunfighters, it is very important to bring suspended armaments as well. For air-to-air combat, two variants of the AIM-9 Sidewinder IR missile are available. The AIM-9B is a primitive weapon that will have a hard time hitting manoeuvring targets and should only be used during the stock grind. The improved AIM-9D is much better, with an 18G overload and a stronger rocket motor that can hit enemies at longer distances. Up to four Sidewinders can be carried on the cheek pylons.

Unlike the preceding Demon, which was a respectable ground attack platform with a large rocket and bomb capacity, the F8U-2 has no wing pylons and in fact cannot carry bombs at all. It still has several curious options for ground attack. Uniquely for a fighter jet, it has an internal rocket tray mounted in the belly that can carry 32 FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets. They have minimal impact on flight performance and a swarm of FFARs can do considerable damage to lightly armoured ground vehicles with their HEAT warheads. Zuni rockets can also be mounted on the cheek pylons: the Zunis are relatively heavy rockets with the same diameter as the Sidewinder missiles and are among the most powerful HEAT rockets in War Thunder with 457 mm of penetration. More importantly, they have 8.91 kg of TNT equivalent, which allows them to destroy targets through overpressure, even on near misses. Unfortunately, the Zunis compete with the Sidewinders for space on the cheek pylons and only 8 can be carried in total. The F8U-2 lacks a ballistic computer, so aiming the limited supply of Zunis and FFARs is a challenge.

== Usage in battles ==

It is recommended to first climb to above 4,000 m in a battle, especially when the enemies do not have any radar-guided missiles. This way, the fragile flight characteristics of the Crusader can be compensated since it is impossible to pull more than 8Gs at such altitude.

When at high altitude, use Boom-and-Zoom tactics and fire your AIM-9Ds at enemies. As it has a maximum overload of 18G , AIM-9Ds should be sufficient for defeating at least two enemy planes in a run. Ideally, the best distance for using these missiles is about 3 km, as it has the longest power stage of all IR missiles in game, and your enemy is less likely to notice the missile at longer ranges. Additionally, if you launch at enemies below you, they will have less chance of noticing the missile.

As the F8U-2 has a great energy retention and good manoeuvring characteristics, it is viable to engage enemies in a dogfight. Just pay attention to the speed, as the F8U-2's wing can be easily ripped when pulling high Gs. When dogfighting, you can avoid extreme overload by either lowering your speed to below 900 km/h or by climb to a higher altitude.

In a dogfight, the F8U-2's instantaneous turn isn't the best, but it has great energy retention and sustained turn rate. This means that the F8U-2 should avoid scissors or any turn radius fight. Its great energy retention in this case will put you at a disadvantage because in a scissors, you will bleed less speed than the enemy and will end up in front of their guns. Air braking to bleed speed also isn't beneficial as your low-speed manoeuvrability isn't a strong point. Therefore, in the F8U-2, the best way to dogfight is in a rate fight. In these extended, longer-lasting dogfights, the F8U-2's superior energy retention will see that the F8U-2 has kept more speed than an enemy aircraft. In this case, even if the enemy has a better initial turn rate, they will lose significantly more speed as the dogfight goes on and therefore won't be able to keep up in a sustained turn. You will start gaining on them, and they will either be forced to pitch down to gain speed and try to gain on you, or they will run away. In these cases, you can simply pitch down too and stay on their tail. Eventually, the dogfight will move to a very low altitude, where there is no longer anywhere for the enemy to pitch down, and you will out-rate them and get guns on them. If you haven't noticed yet, a rate dogfight like this will last a while depending on your position, so it is recommended not to engage in one when there are other enemies in the area.

A major downside to the F8U-2 is its elevator compression at low altitude. After Mach 0.95, the F8U-2's turn capability is diminished due to significant elevator compression. The major problem is that the faster you get after Mach 0.95, the worse this compression gets. This is especially apparent in dives; with your speed constantly increasing, the compression only gets worse, especially after Mach 1, where you will find the aircraft's elevator just barely working (or simply not working at all). Due to this, you must be careful and watch your speed during even very minor dives at low altitude, or else you will find yourself nearing Mach 1, your plane only slowly approaching the ground but with little options to pull out as your elevator is compressing to oblivion. At this point, your best option is to cut the engine, deploy the airbrake, and hope it's enough to stop compressing so you can pull up to safety. Fortunately, this compression only happens at low altitudes, so this isn't a problem above 1,500 meters.

The enemies worth noting are:

* A-5Cs, Jaguar As, French F8Es and Mirages, since R.550 Magic 1s are formidable missiles with good range and manoeuvrability. Most of these aircraft can be beaten in a rate dogfight, while the French F-8E has no flares and will therefore have trouble dodging your AIM-9Ds.
* MiG-21s, since they are significantly faster than you and can keep up with you in a dogfight if you aren't careful. Forcing them into a rate fight will allow you to eventually out turn them using your superior turn rate and energy retention.
* J35 Drakens, since they have great manoeuvrability and instantaneous turn rate. It dumps speed in turns, which makes them an ideal victim for a rate right.
* MiG-19s, as they rate fight even better than you do. Therefore, dogfighting them may not be the best option. Ideally, they can be taken out at range with AIM-9Ds as they lack flares.

'''SB EC'''

The F8U-2 is a great dogfighter, it can deal with almost any fighter in EC7 bracket, its main strengths are very good sustained turn rate, radar with an identification friend or foe feature and quite good missiles: the AIM-9D.
Before spawning in it is the best to select 30 or 45 minutes of fuel, its consumption is very high in combat and it is very easy to run out of it after fighting multiple enemies.
Due to the presence of radar guided missiles and the lack of any countermeasures or systems like the RWR it is recommended to not fly too high, flying even at very lot altitude will work because of the excellent turning capabilities of the Crusader.

Compared to the other jet fighters at a similar battle rating, the F8U-2 has similar low-altitude level speed, and planes like the MiG-21, Mirage III, J35, Lightning F.6 or F-104 will easily be able to outclimb or outrun it. However all of them can easily be outturned, any delta wing jet will struggle in sustained turning, even the MiG-21bis with a very high thrust to weight ratio. Since the F8U-2 has quite high wing loading and the fact it is very easy to break wings, going for scissors should be avoided. Flying at low speed (below 400 km/h) also will end up badly.

The best sustained turn rate can be achieved by flying with the speed range: 550 to 740 km/h, its turn rate will be ~16°/s without missiles and 30 min of fuel and 15 deg/s with missiles and the same fuel amount. The most dangerous delta wing plane, the MiG-21bis is worse by 1-2°/s and the other MiGs like the MF and earlier by 3-4°/s. Other planes like the Mirage or J35 are similar to the MiG-21MF, so outturning them should not be a problem, however the Mirage is equipped with the R.550 missile which can be launched from quite high angles and can pull up to 30G, so it is the best to not allow it to get anywhere near the rear of the F8U, the later MiG-21 versions can also carry a similar missile, the R-60M, which is very dangerous at close range within 2,000 m.
[[File:F8U-2 Wiki Image 2.jpg|thumb|F8U-2 Landing on USS Forrestal.]]

The most dangerous foes that this plane can meet are the MiG-19 and J32B, both are better at dogfighting and as fast as the Crusader at low altitude, engaging them without the speed and altitude advantage is not recommended, although since they carry very early missiles, the R-3S and AIM-9B, it is possible to just run away from them and easily dodge their missiles, but that will work only above 2,000 m. Both these fighters are better at sustained turning by at least 20%, their wing loading is also lower, so forcing them to one circle fight/scissors might be risky.

The last plane worth mentioning is the Su-17M2, its sustained turn rate is also superior to the F8U, but since its wing loading and stall speed are so much higher it can be forced to low speed or one circle fight, it also does not have any radar except for the rangefinding one for its gun. All weapons used by that plane are very similar to the MiG-21Bis, so running away will not end well, it is also one of the fastest planes.

===Radars===

The F8U-2 is equipped with an AN/APS-67 search radar. The radar is mounted in the nose of the aircraft.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Cannons can fire separately to save ammo
* Good cannons with high velocity and decent fire rate and damage
* Four AIM-9Ds have long range and good turning capability
* Superb acceleration
* Very stable, even at high speed
* Very good sustained turn rate
* Great climb rate
* Landing flaps provide a lot of lift thanks to the variable-incidence wing design
* Radar comes with identification friend or foe

'''Cons:'''

* At low altitudes, experiences significant elevator compression after Mach 0.95 (and gets progressively worse at speeds faster than that; after Mach 1, experiences extreme elevator compression that may be fatal in even minor dives).
* Slower sea level top speed compared to other supersonics; can barely break Mach 1 at sea level
* Very likely to set on fire because of the fuel tank placement
* Very limited air-to-ground payload options, no ballistic computer either
* Has a rather limited radar capabilities: no lock or elevation control

== History ==

In the early 1950s, the US Air Force and US Navy both realized that with the arrival of the supersonic age, they both needed to develop new fighters to meet the new challenges in the mid and late 1950s. The US Air Force's answer was the North American Aviation Sabre-45 program, this program would be later developed into the famous F-100 Super Sabre that entered service in 1954. But by contrast with the US Air Force, the birth of the first supersonic fighter of the US Navy was much more complicated.

In July 1952, Chance Vought leadership learned that there would be a competition for a simple, lightweight, low-cost day fighter with a maximum speed of Mach 1.0 (670 mph). During the first week of September 1952, Chance Vought's general manager Detweiler met Captain Russel in the chief of naval operations section and discussed the day fighter specifications. As for the result, Detweiler said that he preferred the twin-engine design and the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) was prepared to go ahead with a lightweight refinement of the Westinghouse J46 engine.

On 16th September 1952, the BuAer invited Chance Vought to submit proposals for a new Navy day fighter with special emphasis placed on simplicity, small size, low cost, and a maximum speed of Mach 1. This request for proposals was based on Outline Specification 130 (OS-130) which has often been regarded as the true beginning of the Chance Vought F8U. In general, the Navy wanted a fighter that could maintain air superiority in daylight and fair weather, both over friendly task forces and hostile areas. OS-130 specified a maximum speed of at least Mach 1 at 35,000 feet in level flight at combat weight, the combat radius was to be not less than 300 nautical miles, an altitude of 52,000 feet was the specified combat ceiling at maximum power with a combat load (fuel and weapons).
[[File:F8U-1 of VM-235 "Death Angels" squadron.jpg|left|thumb|353x353px|Vought F8U-1 "Crusader" of VMFA-235 Squadron 'Death Angels', MCAS Beaufort, S.C.]]
At the initial stages, Chance Vought's engineers preferred the twin-engine design, but a single-engine proposal was also put forward as a backup choice, and the powerplant that was chosen was the Wright J65 engine, a license-produced version of the British Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire engine. However, on 31st October 1952, a letter written by Paul Baker to Detweiler suggested that the single J65 engine design couldn't meet the required specification of the OS-130 program, and he recommended the newly developing Pratt Whitney J57 engine for replacement, as well as suggesting a variable-incidence swept wing with a tail configuration. In December 1952, twelve basic configurations was studied by Chance Vought's engineers including six configurations with a variable incidence feature on the wings and six configurations without.

But on 18th November 1952, the BuAer changed some required specifications of the OS-130 day fighter program including the maximum speed, which was increased from Mach 1 to Mach 1.2 at an altitude of 35,000 feet with thrust augmentation, and the Pratt Whitney J57-P-7 engine was chosen to be the only engine that could deliver an airplane to meet or exceed all requirements, the estimated landing speed was 145 to 160 knots depending on the wing area of the design. Also on 29th December 1952, amendment 3 released by the BuAer to the OS-130 program restricted catapulting and arresting accelerations to 5.5G. With the incorporation of these changes and wind tunnel test results, Chance Vought finally had a configuration for their day fighter proposal, the V-380, and the first engineering report of V-380 Navy day fighter was published to the BuAer on 5th September 1953.

To meet the new specification, Chance Vought proposed two aircraft: one maximum performance with the J57 engine and one minimum performance with the J65 engine, both with afterburners, these two proposals were divided from the original V-380 program and were called V-383 and V-384 program. At this stage, the basic weapon configuration for these two programs were sixty 2-inch rockets and three T-160 20 mm cannons, they both had the same variable-incidence wing design. On 19th May 1953, the V-383 proposal was selected by BuAer and a contract was rewarded by Chance Vought for the test of the V-383 proposal, now officially designated XF8U-1.

The first XF8U-1 prototype was delivered to the structures test lab at 7:42 am on 19th February 1955, and during the first flight mission on 25th March 1955, the XF8U-1 prototype with J57-P-11 engine successfully achieved the object of flight speed of Mach 1.1, which was six days ahead of contract schedule and only 22 months from the contract between the US Navy and Chance Vought. After some technical changes of the XF8U-1 prototype, the first production model of F8U-1 began to roll off the Dallas assembly line and successfully completed its first flight mission on 30th September 1955 which was only six months after the first flight of the XF8U-1 prototype.

The first 30 F8U-1s were equipped with a J57-P-12 engine while the later version was equipped with a new J57-P-4 engine which could produce 16,000 lbs of thrust in afterburner mode; the first 30 F8U-1s were retrofitted with new J57-P-4 engines later. The maximum level flight speed of the F8U-1 was nearly Mach 1.5, the basic weapon configuration of F8U-1 was four Colt Mk.12 20 mm cannons with 576 rounds in total and a retractable rocket launcher under the fuselage with twenty-four 2.75 inch Mighty Mouse rockets in total. Apart from that, since the new AIM-9B Sidewinder infrared-guided short-range air-to-air missile was entered into service in 1956, Chance Vought also introduced this new-generation weapon onto F8U-1 which later could carry two Sidewinder missiles in total.

The F8U-1 was equipped with Mk 16 Mod 12 Aircraft Fire Control System including an AN/APG-56 ranging radar (a modified AN/APG-30A ranging radar), this was inferior to the F-100 Super Sabre of USAF in the same period because the US Navy didn't purchase the A-1 or A-4 gun/rocket/bomb calculating gunsight like the USAF, also the only role for the F8U-1 was air superiority missions. The ranging radar system could lock onto any target within range and furnish target information to the fire-control system for gun firing, also the fire control system may be used in conjunction with Sidewinder missile launching. In this case, the missile release indicator displayed optimum missile launching point.

In September 1955, the US Navy decided that all its carrier aircraft needed to be equipped for aerial refuelling. Since the internal space of F8U-1 was already tight with the incorporation of all necessary equipment into the smallest airframe possible for the day competition, Chance Vought decided to install a retractable air-refuelling probe, and the 16th F8U-1 was modified and took place in test program from December 1956 to the end of March 1957. After the test program was finished, since the 50th (another source claim the 66th) production aircraft the In-flight refuel (IFR) ability was added into F8U-1, and the earlier F8U-1s were retrofitted with refuelling probes too. Apart from that, Chance Vought also tested the Boundary Layer Control System (BLC, the first test of BLC system was conducted in the 100th production F9F-4 and was first introduced in F-104A Starfighter) in the sixth F8U-1, and the Boundary Layer Control System was finally introduced into the French Navy F-8E(FN) and American F-8J Crusader (a modernization version of F-8E) in the 1960s.

After the carrier qualifications aboard USS Forrestal in April 1956, the F8U-1s began to come off the assembly line at a rate of eight per month, and VF-32 squadron at NAS Cecil Field became the first combat unit to receive the new F8U-1 in March 1957. It was named Crusader in August 1955 by Detweiler, which was a name that would became a truly nightmare for all MiG pilots. On 21st August 1956, Windsor successfully flew the 15th production F8U-1 Crusader to set a new speed record of 1,015 mph, breaking the previous record of 822 mph held by USAF's F-100C Super Sabre under the name of Project One Grand. This achievement helped him and the Crusader earned the highly prized Thompson trophy. The final F8U-1 came off the production line in 1961 and its name was changed to F-8A in 1962. The total amount of F8U-1 Crusaders to come off the production line was 317.

The second production version of the Crusader which entered into US Navy service was the F8U-1E. The most important change for the F8U-1E compared to the original F8U-1 was the new AN/AWG-3 Fire Control system including AN/APS-67 Search and Range-tracking Radar and a computer group to provide a limited all-weather capability for the Crusader, the computer group used the target range and range rate information from the AN/APS-67 radar to generate a lead angle which was presented to the pilot as gunsight pipper displacement. The prototype of the F8U-1E first flew in 3rd September 1958 and 130 F8U-1Es were produced in total. It was renamed F-8B in 1962.

In the 1960s, the F-8B became the first version of the Crusader family to integrate the new AIM-9D Sidewinder missile which was introduced into service in 1966 (F-8A didn't have provision for the AIM-9D Sidewinder missile). Cooling nitrogen was added to the launcher to permit the use of AIM-9D Sidewinder missile on F-8B Crusader.

On 29th April 1954, a recommendation of BuAer extended the current 5 basic configuration F8U-1 to 75 with an additional 34 being produced out of FY 1956, and an F8U-2 designation would be given to the new version with several new equipment such as Sidewinder missile and in-flight refuel probe etc. Though it was scheduled that 59 F8U-2 would be built from the remaining FY 1956 budget, this decision was be abandoned by BuAer in October 1955.
[[File:F-8C Crusader of VF-111 at NAS North Island 1968.jpg|thumb|331x331px|A US Navy Vought F-8C ''Crusader'' (BuNo 146991) of Fighter Squadron VF-111 "Sundowners" at Naval Air Station North Island, California, USA.]]
In the summer of 1957, the new F8U-2 project was born. The most important change for the new F8U-2 was the Pratt Whitney J57-P-16 engine which replaced the J57-P-4 engine used by F8U-1 and F8U-1E, the new engine could produce 16,900 pound thrust in afterburner mode compared to the former's 16,000 pound maximum thrust in afterburner mode, this improvement increased the maximum level flight speed of F8U-2 to Mach 1.95 and the maximum climb rate at sea level to 200 m/s. Other improvements including low aspect ratio ventral stabilizing fins installed on the lower rear fuselage for additional stability in the extended flight boundary region, external cooling air scoops for added cooling for the afterburner section as well as for increase afterburner thrust due to better air flow characteristics were also introduced into F8U-2, also the AN/AWG-3 fire control system was remained in F8U-2 too.

Apart from that, Chance Vought also introduced the new "Y" type missile racks that permitted the installation of four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles (two on each rack) on F8U-2 Crusader which doubled the firepower. Also in the 1950s, the Swiss Air Force once showed interest on F8U-2 and sent pilots to flew the F8U-2 at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River and the delivery was scheduled in February 1959, but the Swiss changed their mind to purchase French Mirage IIIs in the end. JASDF once reviewed the F8U-2 but they chose the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter in the end too. The Swordsman Squadron (VF-32) become the first navy unit to receive the new Crusader on March 25th, 1957 and they soon joined the USS Saratoga's first Mediterranean cruise. During the carrier's duties in the 1958 Lebanon crisis, the Swordsman's Crusaders provided air cover for the Marine Corps' landing in Beirut. In 1962, the designation of F8U-2 was changed to F-8C Crusader, and during the Vietnam War, F-8C Crusader flew combat missions by both the US Navy and US Marine Corps, where the Navy's F-8C Crusader scored six air-to-air kills including five MiG-17 and one MiG-21. (Another source claimed five air-to-air kills in total including four MiG-17 and one MiG-21).

=== [[wt:en/news/7078-development-f8u-2-crusader-the-last-of-the-gunfighters-en|Devblog]] ===
In 1952, the American Naval command announced requirements for a new supersonic jet carrier-based fighter to protect carrier groups from enemy aircraft and achieve air superiority. Chance Vought Aircraft Inc., which already had considerable experience working with carrier-based aircraft, became one of the participants in the competition. Their candidate differed from the competition by a variable-incidence wing. The wing tilted upward by 5 degrees, which noticeably improved taking off and landings on short decks of aircraft carriers.

Just 20 months after receiving the contract, the first prototype was built for tests. The fighter successfully passed the initial tests, in the very first flight it easily broke the sound barrier, and in a modified form went to the navy for deck tests. The first prototype series was successfully tested on aircraft carriers in the spring of 1956, after which the F8U-1 Crusader entered service with the US Navy. Work on a promising jet fighter did not stop after the start of mass production. The modified aircraft with a new power plant, advanced navigation system, radar, FCS and improved armament received the designation F8U-2.

The Crusader has become a real legend and a symbol of US carrier-based aviation for its excellent flight characteristics, ease of operation, reliability and significant firepower. The fighter received the baptism of fire almost immediately after entering the service, and since then has been actively used in combat and training missions in many parts of the world, including intensive combat service in Vietnam. Even when more advanced aircraft entered service, the naval pilots were reluctant to say goodbye to the Crusaders. "When you're out of F-8's, you're out of fighters" they said.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=f8u-2 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 01.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 02.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 03.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 04.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 05.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 06.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 07.jpg|
</gallery>

== See also ==


;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Mitsubishi [[T-2]]
* Mikoyan-Gurevich [[MiG-19 (Family)|MiG-19]]
* Mikoyan-Gurevich [[MiG-21 (Family)|MiG-21]]
* Hawker [[Hunter F.6|Hunter F.6]]
* Fiat [[G.91 YS|G.91 YS]]
* Saab [[J32B|J32B]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7078-development-f8u-2-crusader-the-last-of-the-gunfighters-en|[Devblog] F8U-2 Crusader: The Last of the Gunfighters]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/521052-f8u-2-crusader/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [https://www.aerosociety.com/publications/jah-an-examination-of-the-f-8-crusader-through-archival-sources/ <nowiki>[Royal Aeronautical Society]</nowiki> An Examination of the F-8 Crusader through Archival Sources]

{{AirManufacturer Vought}}
{{USA jet aircraft}}

F-8E

2024-11-03T17:53:51Z

U15020331: Overhaul of the Pros and Cons page with updated information, as the latest updates have negated the F-8E's wing rip issue + cleanup of information

{{About
| about = US jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the other version
| link = F-8E(FN) (France)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f-8e
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The United States Navy showed clear interest in expanding the capabilities of the Crusader series of aircraft as quickly as possible to expand its role in maritime operations and offer primitive close-air support capabilities. This led to the development of the F8U-2NE (later renamed the F-8E), which featured a larger nose cone, new AN/APQ-94 fire control radar, detachable pylons, a more reliable J57-P-20 engine, and guidance equipment for the AGM-12 Bullpup missiles. The first prototype, a modified F8U-1 (No. 143710), was flown on June 30, 1961, and the aircraft was quickly approved for use by the Navy. During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps made extensive use of the F-8E, with squadrons like VMFA-235 considered to be among the best at using the aircraft in combat.

The F-8E Crusader was introduced in [[Update "Direct Hit"]] as the second Crusader variant in the American tech tree. Compared to the preceding [[F8U-2]], it has largely the same flight performance but improved ordnance options. The infrared-guided AIM-9D Sidewinder returns as a good option for dogfights and sneak attacks, but it can now utilize the radar-guided AIM-9C, which may be useful during head-on engagements. The ground attack options are vastly superior because of the addition of wing pylons. While the F8U-2 was limited to cheek-mounted Zuni rockets and its internal FFAR rocket tray, the F-8E can carry a decent bombload and AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-ground missiles, making it more capable as a multirole fighter. The F-8E can really be considered "The Last Gunfighter" in War Thunder because the succeeding [[F-4J Phantom II|F-4J Phantom]] is a very different aircraft to cap off the US naval jet line: a heavy twin-engine fighter lacking an internal gun and relying on powerful long-range missiles.

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


The F-8E, as a development of the previous [[F8U-2]], will feel very similar to the pilot in command. The Crusader is a highly agile aircraft, capable of dogfighting most enemy aircraft at its rank, blending initial pull with surprising energy retention. This allows the F-8E to pull inside enemy aircraft without bleeding massive amounts of speed like the delta wing aircraft at this rank are prone to doing. The wings have been strengthened to allow for this, so pilots should feel free to perform harsher manoeuvres than while flying the previous F8U-2, albeit the F-8E will still rip in some extreme turns. The engine has been upgraded as well, the extra 560 kgf making up for the slight additional weight of the wings and increasing the climb rate and speed of the aircraft. The F-8E is particularly strong at lower speeds, where the extra engine thrust allows it to sustain turns and accelerate quicker, and it also inherits the unique landing flaps of the Crusader: the wing detaching from the fuselage and angling upwards. This gives large amounts of extra lift, giving the F-8E a sharp advantage at very low speeds, although the plane will "wallow" in the air from the extra lift, and has a difficult time dropping the nose in this flap configuration.

That manoeuvrability and energy retention comes at a cost though, and that is speed. The F-8E is slow for its rank, and struggles to break past mach 1 at sea level. With missiles loaded, it will top out at exactly mach 1, and with any other ordnance loaded it is unable at sea level. At higher altitudes the F-8E is able of exceeding the speed of sound, though not by much and once past mach 1 the acceleration drops dramatically. The plane also compresses around mach .98, so pilots should be wary when diving on targets, as the aircraft may compress and be unable to pull as hard as the pilot may be accustomed to. The rudder on this aircraft is also something to be aware of. The rudder on this aircraft does not work like those on other aircraft, meaning that during a roll or pulling with mouse aim can cause the nose to swing wildly. This is especially a problem at sea level at high speeds, where the rudder will shake the nose around to a great extent. Also, the rudder during rolls throws the nose around unlike other aircraft, meaning it can be hard to get close shots with the gun but can be used for high speed snapshots.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 10,668 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,094 || 2,087 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.4 || 30.6 || 108.5 || 98.1 || rowspan="2" | 1,828
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,132 || 2,110 || 28.6 || 29.0 || 158.0 || 131.4
|-
|}

==== 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 || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 1,555  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 1,070 || N/A || 583 || ~10 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 1,000 || < 590 || < 500 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="6" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Pratt & Whitney J57-P-20 || 1
| colspan="3" | 8,953 kg || colspan="3" | 376 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="5" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 15m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 52m fuel
|-
| 1,592 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet
| 10,200 kg || 10,550 kg || 11,348 kg || 12,545 kg || 13,109 kg || 15,468 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="6" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 15m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 52m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 4,562 kgf || 8,520 kgf
| 0.84 || 0.81 || 0.75 || 0.68 || 0.65 || 0.55
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 4,804 kgf (1,000 km/h) || 9,543 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 0.94 || 0.91 || 0.84 || 0.76 || 0.73 || 0.62
|-
|}

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

Like the earlier [[F8U-2]] (F-8C), the only armour on the F-8E is 25 mm of bulletproof glass on the front windscreen. Most of the central fuselage and wing is filled with large fuel tanks which makes gunfire from above or behind likely to cause fuel leaks and fires. Near enough the entire rear fuselage is taken up by the engine, making engine damage likely from rear attacks. Despite these drawbacks, the F-8E is still more durable than some jets and can often make it back to base with light to moderate damage.

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

As with most high tier jets, the first modification you want to pick up will be the flares/chaff in order to let you effectively counter enemy missiles. From there you want to progress though the missile upgrades as fast as possible, taking your pick of flight performance upgrades in order to unlock each tier (you could also use the ordnance upgrades to unlock each modification tier, but as the F-8E is primarily a fighter flight performance is usually the best pick). Once you have all missiles unlocked your focus will probably be on the remaining flight performance upgrades, although the cannons upgrades are certainly useful if you enjoy gun fighting.

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

{{main|Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 (20 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (125 rpg = 500 total)
* 60 x countermeasures

The offensive armament of the F-8E consists of 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 autocannons, grouped into 2 selectable groups. The guns replaced the 20 mm M3 commonly used from the end of WW2 until the Korean war, and has a quick fire rate of 1,000 rpm, outputting 7.30 kg of shells per second towards the enemy. With 125 rounds per gun, this gives pilots of the F-8E 8 seconds of trigger time. If ammo capacity is a concern, pilots can select one group of 20 mm to fire at a time, doubling their trigger time. The guns do reliable damage and have a good velocity of 1,012 m/s, only slightly less than the [[M61 (20 mm)|20 mm M61]] found on later jets. This makes getting reliable gun kills easy for pilots.

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


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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="11%" | 1 !! width="11%" | 2 !! width="11%" | 3 !! width="11%" | 4
| rowspan="15" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! [[LDGP Mk 81 (250 lb)|250 lb LDGP Mk 81]] bombs
| 3, 6 || || || 3, 6
|-
! [[Mk 81 Snakeye (250 lb)|250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye]] bombs
| 3, 6 || || || 3, 6
|-
! [[LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|500 lb LDGP Mk 82]] bombs
| 3, 4 || || || 3, 4
|-
! [[Mk 82 Snakeye (500 lb)|500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye]] bombs
| 3, 4 || || || 3, 4
|-
! [[LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)|1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83]] bombs
| 1, 2 || || || 1, 2
|-
! [[LDGP Mk 84 (2,000 lb)|2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84]] bombs
| 1 || || || 1
|-
! [[LDGP Mk 84 Air (2,000 lb)|2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 Air]] bombs
| 1 || || || 1
|-
! [[Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary]] bombs
| 1 || || || 1
|-
! [[FFAR Mighty Mouse]] rockets
| 7, 19, 38 || || || 7, 19, 38
|-
! [[Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP]] rockets
| 4, 8 || 2*, 4 || 2*, 4 || 4, 8
|-
! [[AGM-12B Bullpup]] missiles
| 1 || || || 1
|-
! [[AIM-9B Sidewinder]] missiles
| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
|-
! [[AIM-9C Sidewinder]] missiles
| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
|-
! [[AIM-9D Sidewinder]] missiles
| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
|-
| colspan="6" | * Single missiles can be carried concurrently with dual Zuni rockets on the same hardpoint
|}

{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}

* Without load
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 2 x AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles
* 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 24 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 2 x AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
* 12 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 12 x 250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 8 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 8 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 Air bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs
{{Navigation-End}}

The F-8E has a much more extensive selection of multirole weaponry when compared to the preceding [[F8U-2]], although it is still intended for use mainly as an air supremacy aircraft.

Beginning with the unguided rockets, it gets access to both FFAR Mighty Mouse and Zuni Mk32 rockets. The Mighty Mouse is a small rocket, weighing only 8 kg and with only 290 mm penetration, but it makes up for this in quantity. The F-8E can carry 4 x pods of 19 rockets each, 2 mounted under each wing pylon, for a total of 76 rockets. As for the Zuni rockets, these are much larger at 56 kg and have 457 mm penetration, much more suited for taking out heavier targets. The placement is rather unique however. 4 can be mounted stock, 2 on each side of the fuselage behind the cockpit; however this is not recommended as it takes up the missile rails and greatly limits the anti-air capability of the plane. Once the modification is researched, it gains access to 16 more, mounted in 2 pods of 4 each under the wing pylons.

The F-8E also gains access to unguided bombs: 250 lb, 500 lb, 1,000 lb, 2,000 lb and of course the Mk 77 incendiary bomb. These are all mounted on the wing pylons, and pilots are recommended to use 500 lb or greater bombs if attacking enemy armour. The incendiary bombs work well against open topped vehicles, so these should be used if attacking large groups of open topped vehicles. They can also be used to shield allies from sight or deny a crucial area from open-topped vehicles while the napalm continues to burn.

The last anti-surface weapon is the AGM-12B Bullpup. This is the only guided air-to-ground munition the F-8E can carry, albeit it is manually guided, unlike later weapons like the later [[AGM-65A|Maverick]] missiles. These will take some practice for pilots to get accustomed to aiming, but with 8 km range these are the recommended option for use in ground battles against the long range AA common at this rank. Pilots are recommended to turn off "Relative Control' in the controls for the weapon, as with this setting on the missile will continue pulling in the same direction as the last input until another correction is given.

Now for anti-aircraft missiles, the original purpose of the F-8E. It gains access to three types: the AIM-9B, AIM-9C, and AIM-9D missiles.

The AIM-9B is the most basic missile that planes of this rank get. It is an IR missile with a caged seekerhead, limited range, and only 10Gs of pull. This is one of the two missiles pilots will get with an un-upgraded aircraft. It does not pull very well and is recommended for use against slow or unaware targets, although it can also be used to force enemy pilots to go evasive to allow the F-8E time to close to gun range.

The AIM-9C is a basic {{Annotation|SARH|Semi-Active Radar-Homing}} missile, and the other stock option for the F-8E: it has very similar flight performance to the AIM-9D IR missile also found on this aircraft, with good range, 18Gs of pull, however it does have an uncaged seekerhead and since it is a radar missile, is all-aspect. This missile works well, only limited by the radar set which is rather prone to ground clutter. Pilots are recommended to only use the missile at high altitude, or while below the enemy aircraft. Also, pilots should be aware that this missile uses "pulse" guidance; this means that unlike more advanced radar missiles like the [[AIM-7 Sparrow (Family)|AIM-7 Sparrow]], any amount of chaff from the enemy will immediately decoy it. It is recommended to use this missile against planes without countermeasures or enemy pilots which choose to not equip chaff, as it is more difficult to kinematically dodge the missile without the use of chaff.

The final missile the F-8E gains access to is the AIM-9D. As an IR version of the AIM-9C, this missile features a caged seekerhead like the previously available AIM-9B, so pilots may find it slightly difficult to fire the missile at a manoeuvring target, but once off the rails the missile performs admirably and is one of the better IR missiles at its rank. It is recommended to run 2 of the AIM-9D along with 2 of the AIM-9C if the pilot wishes to engage both with radar and IR missiles, or just the AIM-9D if the pilot prefers no warning to enemy pilots.

== Usage in battles ==

If you intend to play at a high altitude, it is advised to take mixed countermeasures prior to spawning in. This enables you to chaff any pulse-signal missile, such as the [[Matra Super 530F]] and [[R-3R]].

The way you start a battle in the F-8E will depend on what you think the likely composition of the enemy team is. A good place to start would be to climb to a high altitude (roughly 5,000 m) if you believe that the enemy team will only have jets equipped with pulse-signal missiles based on the battle rating of the match and the nations you are up against. Once at altitude, you can use your AIM-9C missiles to engage any other high altitude enemies you find head-on. As the AIM-9C is a rare weapon (only used on the F-8E), most people are not aware of its capabilities and are not expecting to receive a front-aspect missile. This allows you to pick up a couple of easy kills from safely outside the range of enemy cannon fire. If there are no more enemy aircraft to engage at high altitude, you can use your speed and altitude to dive down upon lower altitude enemy aircraft for gun/missile attacks. After completing your attack, you can either use your energy to go back to high altitude and prepare for another attack or use the F-8E's great manoeuvrability to stay at lower altitudes to engage in dogfights with enemy aircraft.

If you judge the enemy team to likely have jets equipped with CW signal missiles, then going to high altitude is very risky; in this case it is better to fly at a lower altitude, probably no more than 2,000 m. This gives you a little bit of altitude to play with and puts you in a position where you can potentially use your AIM-9C missiles against targets above you, while being somewhat protected against enemy CW missiles (aircraft with pulse-Doppler radars will still be able to hit you though, so stay vigilant and be prepared to dive or notch). At low altitude you can use the F-8Es great manoeuvrability and powerful armament to win out against many enemies in a dogfight, though you must always keep an eye out for enemy missiles.

The flight performance of the {{PAGENAME}} is similar enough to the preceding [[F8U-2]] that similar tactics should apply in a dogfight. The F-8E's instantaneous turn isn't the best, but it has great energy retention and sustained turn rate. Avoid scissors or any turn radius fight as the {{PAGENAME}}'s energy retention ability in this case will put the plane at a disadvantage because in a scissors, you will bleed less speed than the enemy and will end up in front of their guns. The plane's low-speed maneuverability also isn't a strong point, so avoid using the air brakes to bleed speed. Rate fighting makes the most of the {{PAGENAME}}'s ability as in these extended, longer-lasting dogfights, the F-8E's superior energy retention will see that it has kept more speed than an enemy aircraft. In this case, even if the enemy has a better initial turn rate, they will lose significantly more speed until they won't be able to keep up in a sustained turn. The {{PAGENAME}} will start gaining on them, and they will either be forced to pitch down to gain speed and try to gain on you, or they will run away. In these cases, you can simply pitch down too and stay on their tail. Eventually, the dogfight will move to a very low altitude, where there is no longer anywhere for the enemy to pitch down, and you will outrate them and get guns on them. If you haven't noticed yet, a rate dogfight like this will last a while depending on your position, so it is recommended not to engage in one when there are other enemies in the area.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Can carry four useful air-to-air missiles :
** Radar-guided AIM-9Cs, which can be used in surprise head-ons aswell as in BVR combat
** Heat-seeking AIM-9Ds, which have above average range (around 3 km)
* Equipped with a RWR, with E, G and I band identification
* Excellent guns with easy ballistics and high damage
* Very good sustained turn rate
* Good acceleration and climb rate
* Has an Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor which assists in locating targets by finding their heat signatures
* Has a variety of suspended air-to-ground ordnance
* Upgraded engine over F8U-2 allows higher acceleration and top speed

'''Cons:'''

* Below average low level top speed compared to other supersonic competitors; can barely break Mach 1 at low altitude
* Very likely to set on fire because of the fuel tank placement
* Lacks a ballistic computer, which greatly limits its ground attack potential
* Carries less gun ammo compared to F8U-2

== 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=f-8e Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|9SmcQee4_Vw|'''F-8E: A Basic Review''' - ''Tim's Variety War Thunder''|tQhEl042QE8|'''The Shooting Range #275''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [https://www.avialogs.com/aircraft-v/vought/item/5195-f-8e-crusader-standard-aircraft-characteristics-1-july-1967 Standard Aircraft Characteristics of the F-8E]

{{AirManufacturer Vought}}
{{USA jet aircraft}}

Ballistic Computer

2021-07-09T12:56:12Z

U15020331: German Flag 2

{{Notice|This guide is currently only applicable for Arcade and Realistic Battles}}

__TOC__

==Overview==
The '''Ballistic Computer''' is a system found on some modern aircraft and helicopters used to aid the player in the delivery of unguided air-to-ground munitions. There are two key functions of the ballistic computer: Constantly Computed Impact Point (CCIP) and Constantly Computed Release Point (CCRP). CCIP continually calculates where munitions will land and gives the pilot an accurate impact point to aim with. By comparison, CCRP allows the player to specify an impact point, the ballistic computer will then continually calculate at which point along the player's flight path munitions will need to be released in order to hit the player's designated impact point, automatically releasing the munitions when that point is reached.

==Ballistic Computer Controls==
All ballistic computer key binds are unbound by default, you must bind a key to them or use the Multi-function menu (not all controls are present in the multi-function menu).
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | Ballistic Computer Controls
|-
! Control name
! Default Keybind (PC keyboard & mouse)
! Description
|-
| Toggle Ballistic Computer || Unbound || Toggles the ballistic computer functionality on or off.
|-
| Activate target point || Unbound || Places the target point where the player's reticle is pointing
|-
| Deactivate target point || Unbound || Removes any previously placed target point
|-
| Switch mission bombing target || Unbound || Automatically places the target point on a bombing point (mini-base or airfield). Press multiple times to select different bases.
|-
|}

==CCIP Usage==
===CCIP for guns===
To use CCIP for guns you must first turn on your ballistic computer using the "Toggle Ballistic Computer" control, when you do this a "CCIP" indicator will appear next to the ammo count of the weapon(s) which CCIP is active for (see images below). For aircraft, once the ballistics computer is on pointing your aiming reticle at a point on the ground (up to around 2.6 km away) will activate CCIP. When CCIP is activated the aiming reticle will gain a second set of angled crosshairs (signifying CCIP is active) and move to the point on the ground where your rounds will land; this can be seen in the images below, notice how the reticle has moved downwards and gained an additional set of angled crosshairs.

For helicopters activating CCIP for guns will cause the gun reticle to gain the additional angled crosshairs. For helicopters with turreted weapons, CCIP makes no real difference as the gun reticle behaves pretty much like CCIP by default, however for helicopters with fixed guns CCIP behaves much the same as with aircraft, albeit with greater range.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCIP Gun Aircraft Off.jpg|The normal gun reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Gun Aircraft On.jpg|The CCIP gun reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Gun Helicopter Off.jpg|The normal gun reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
File:CCIP Gun Helicopter On.jpg|The CCIP gun reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
</gallery>

===CCIP for rockets===
To use CCIP for rockets you must first turn on your ballistic computer using the "Toggle Ballistic Computer" control, when you do this a "CCIP" indicator will appear next to the ammo count of the weapon(s) which CCIP is active for (see images below). For aircraft, once the ballistics computer is on pointing your aiming reticle at a point on the ground (up to around 5.2 km away) will activate CCIP. When CCIP is activated your rocket reticle will change to an "X" with a dot in the middle and move to the point on the ground where your rockets will land; this can be seen in the images below, notice how the reticle has moved and changed to an "X".

For helicopters activating CCIP for rockets will cause the rocket reticle to gain a set of angled crosshairs and move to the point on the ground where your rockets will land; this can be seen in the images below, notice how the reticle has moved downwards and gained an additional set of angled crosshairs.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCIP Rocket Aircraft Off.jpg|The normal rocket reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Rocket Aircraft On.jpg|The CCIP rocket reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Rocket Helicopter Off.jpg|The normal rocket reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
File:CCIP Rocket Helicopter On.jpg|The CCIP rocket reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
</gallery>

===CCIP for bombs===
CCIP for bombs is always activated for vehicles which have it (regardless of if the ballistic computer is turned on). Aircraft with CCIP for bombs will have a "CCIP" indicator next to the ammo count for the player's bombs. It simply provides an "arcade-style" bombsight on the ground to accurately tell the player where their bombs will land; as seen in the images below.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCIP Bomb Aircraft.jpg|The bomb CCIP marker on a [[Phantom FG.1]].
File:CCIP Bomb Helicopter.jpg|The bomb CCIP marker on a [[Ka-50]].
</gallery>

==CCRP Usage==
{{Notice|While a target point is activated you cannot drop bombs manually (CCRP must be used), press the "Deactivate target point" key to remove the target point and restore normal bombing functionality.|!}}

In addition to CCIP, some aircraft have the option of dropping bombs using CCRP. Using CCRP does not require the ballistic computer to be turned on, however the process is more involved than using CCIP. First, the player must select a target point where they want their bombs to land. This can be achieved in one of two ways; the first is to point your aiming reticle where you want the bombs to land and then press the "Activate target point" key; the other is to press the "Switch mission bombing target" key, this will automatically place the target point on one of the missions "mini-bases" or airfield (press the key multiple times to cycle through available targets). You can place the target point on one pass and then come around for a second pass to drop the bombs (the marker will disappear when your plane is not facing towards it, however will reappear when you point your plane towards it again, the "CCIP/RP" indicator will remain present throughout). Note that while a target point is active you cannot drop bombs manually (CCRP must be used), press the "Deactivate target point" key to remove the target point and restore normal bombing functionality.

Both of the above methods will place a red target point square on the ground and activate CCRP and a "CCIP/RP" indicator will appear next to the ammo count of the player's bombs. More noticeably a vertical white line will appear passing through the target point. This line will have a circle on it, with a horizontal line somewhere above the circle; the circle and line will move up and down as the player's aircraft pitches up and down, and the line will move towards the circle as the player approaches the target point. The player must place their aiming reticle over the circle and then press and hold either the "Drop bomb" or "Drop bomb series" key (depending on if you want to drop one or multiple bombs).

When the key to drop bombs is pressed you will notice that no bombs are dropped, however a set of angled crosshairs appear around the circle on the vertical line, and "Bomb release permission" will appear at the bottom of your screen. You must now continue to hold whichever key you pressed to drop the bombs, while keeping your reticle pointed in the circle. As the circle moves with your pitch you can make pitch (nose of the aircraft up or down) adjustments, however you should take care not to yaw (nose of the aircraft side to side) off of the white line, it is also advisable to avoid rolling the aircraft (keep it as level as possible). As you fly towards the target point the horizontal line will move close to the circle, until the touch, at which point the bombs will automatically be released, and should hit the target point.

{{Notice|When dropping a bomb series the velocity of the aircraft can mean only the first set of bombs hit (the rest overshoot) therefore it is recommended to only drop bomb series in a drive or against large targets such as airfields/groups of ground targets.|!}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCRP Stage 1.jpg|Stage 1: A target point has been selected (placed on some parked vehicles), the "CCIP/RP" indicator is present and the white vertical line has appeared.
File:CCRP Stage 2.jpg|Stage 2: The player has placed their reticle over the circle and is holding the "Drop bomb" key, the crosshairs and "Bomb release permission" text have appeared.
File:CCRP Stage 3.jpg|Stage 3: The player has approached the target point and the horizontal line has gotten closer to the circle.
File:CCRP Stage 4.jpg|Stage 4: The bombs have been automatically released.
File:CCRP Stage 5.jpg|Stage 5: The targets have been destroyed.
</gallery>

==List of vehicles with Ballistic Computers==
===Aircraft===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Vehicle !! Country !! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs) !! CCRP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Specs-Link|saab_a32a}} || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|a_7d}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|av_8a}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|av_8c}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|buccaneer_s2}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f1}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4c}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4e}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4ej}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-104g}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-104g_china}} || [[File:China_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-104s}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_ys}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|harrier_gr1}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|harrier_gr3}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|jaguar_a}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|jaguar_gr1}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-15bis_ish}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_bis}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_pfm}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_mf}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_smt}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mirage_3e}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4k}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4m_fgr2}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|saab_105g}} || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|su-7b}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|su-7bkl}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|su_17m2}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|yak-38}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|yak-38m}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|[[F-4F]]
|[[File:Germany Flag.png|thumb]]
|{{Tick}}
|{{Tick}}
|{{Tick}}
|{{Tick}}
|}

===Helicopters===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Vehicle !! Country !! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Specs-Link|a_129_a}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|a_129_cbt}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1f}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1s_late}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1s_early}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1s}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1z}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64a}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64a_peten}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64d}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64d_japan}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_mk1}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|tiger_had_france}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|tiger_hap_france}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|tiger_uht}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ka_29}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ka_50}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ka_52}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24a}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24d}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24p}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24p_german}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24p_german_hfs80}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24v}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_28n}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_35m}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|}

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon 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 weapon and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-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>.''

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|FiDR5XVSPWE|'''War Thunder: How To Use C.C.I.P (Constantly Computed Impact Point) In Jets and Helicopters''' - Sako Sniper|P4oCwyETKJo|'''How to use CCRP bombing in War Thunder''' - Hunting Fox|oxSLAnHz7N8|'''Warthunder 1.99 CCRP explanation (Simulator Battles)''' - Dovacat|p8xlkPodauE|'''War Thunder Simulator {{!}} Tutorial: How To Bomb with CCRP in the Su-17M2''' - LanceLynxx}}

== See also ==


* [[HUD]] - How the ballistic computer is integrated into aircraft HUDs

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6637-development-new-onboard-aviation-systems-en|[Devblog] New onboard aviation systems]]
* [[wikipedia:Constantly_computed_impact_point|[Wikipedia] Constantly computed impact point]]

[[Category:Game mechanics]]

Ballistic Computer

2021-07-09T12:52:59Z

U15020331: Fixed flag

{{Notice|This guide is currently only applicable for Arcade and Realistic Battles}}

__TOC__

==Overview==
The '''Ballistic Computer''' is a system found on some modern aircraft and helicopters used to aid the player in the delivery of unguided air-to-ground munitions. There are two key functions of the ballistic computer: Constantly Computed Impact Point (CCIP) and Constantly Computed Release Point (CCRP). CCIP continually calculates where munitions will land and gives the pilot an accurate impact point to aim with. By comparison, CCRP allows the player to specify an impact point, the ballistic computer will then continually calculate at which point along the player's flight path munitions will need to be released in order to hit the player's designated impact point, automatically releasing the munitions when that point is reached.

==Ballistic Computer Controls==
All ballistic computer key binds are unbound by default, you must bind a key to them or use the Multi-function menu (not all controls are present in the multi-function menu).
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | Ballistic Computer Controls
|-
! Control name
! Default Keybind (PC keyboard & mouse)
! Description
|-
| Toggle Ballistic Computer || Unbound || Toggles the ballistic computer functionality on or off.
|-
| Activate target point || Unbound || Places the target point where the player's reticle is pointing
|-
| Deactivate target point || Unbound || Removes any previously placed target point
|-
| Switch mission bombing target || Unbound || Automatically places the target point on a bombing point (mini-base or airfield). Press multiple times to select different bases.
|-
|}

==CCIP Usage==
===CCIP for guns===
To use CCIP for guns you must first turn on your ballistic computer using the "Toggle Ballistic Computer" control, when you do this a "CCIP" indicator will appear next to the ammo count of the weapon(s) which CCIP is active for (see images below). For aircraft, once the ballistics computer is on pointing your aiming reticle at a point on the ground (up to around 2.6 km away) will activate CCIP. When CCIP is activated the aiming reticle will gain a second set of angled crosshairs (signifying CCIP is active) and move to the point on the ground where your rounds will land; this can be seen in the images below, notice how the reticle has moved downwards and gained an additional set of angled crosshairs.

For helicopters activating CCIP for guns will cause the gun reticle to gain the additional angled crosshairs. For helicopters with turreted weapons, CCIP makes no real difference as the gun reticle behaves pretty much like CCIP by default, however for helicopters with fixed guns CCIP behaves much the same as with aircraft, albeit with greater range.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCIP Gun Aircraft Off.jpg|The normal gun reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Gun Aircraft On.jpg|The CCIP gun reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Gun Helicopter Off.jpg|The normal gun reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
File:CCIP Gun Helicopter On.jpg|The CCIP gun reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
</gallery>

===CCIP for rockets===
To use CCIP for rockets you must first turn on your ballistic computer using the "Toggle Ballistic Computer" control, when you do this a "CCIP" indicator will appear next to the ammo count of the weapon(s) which CCIP is active for (see images below). For aircraft, once the ballistics computer is on pointing your aiming reticle at a point on the ground (up to around 5.2 km away) will activate CCIP. When CCIP is activated your rocket reticle will change to an "X" with a dot in the middle and move to the point on the ground where your rockets will land; this can be seen in the images below, notice how the reticle has moved and changed to an "X".

For helicopters activating CCIP for rockets will cause the rocket reticle to gain a set of angled crosshairs and move to the point on the ground where your rockets will land; this can be seen in the images below, notice how the reticle has moved downwards and gained an additional set of angled crosshairs.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCIP Rocket Aircraft Off.jpg|The normal rocket reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Rocket Aircraft On.jpg|The CCIP rocket reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Rocket Helicopter Off.jpg|The normal rocket reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
File:CCIP Rocket Helicopter On.jpg|The CCIP rocket reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
</gallery>

===CCIP for bombs===
CCIP for bombs is always activated for vehicles which have it (regardless of if the ballistic computer is turned on). Aircraft with CCIP for bombs will have a "CCIP" indicator next to the ammo count for the player's bombs. It simply provides an "arcade-style" bombsight on the ground to accurately tell the player where their bombs will land; as seen in the images below.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCIP Bomb Aircraft.jpg|The bomb CCIP marker on a [[Phantom FG.1]].
File:CCIP Bomb Helicopter.jpg|The bomb CCIP marker on a [[Ka-50]].
</gallery>

==CCRP Usage==
{{Notice|While a target point is activated you cannot drop bombs manually (CCRP must be used), press the "Deactivate target point" key to remove the target point and restore normal bombing functionality.|!}}

In addition to CCIP, some aircraft have the option of dropping bombs using CCRP. Using CCRP does not require the ballistic computer to be turned on, however the process is more involved than using CCIP. First, the player must select a target point where they want their bombs to land. This can be achieved in one of two ways; the first is to point your aiming reticle where you want the bombs to land and then press the "Activate target point" key; the other is to press the "Switch mission bombing target" key, this will automatically place the target point on one of the missions "mini-bases" or airfield (press the key multiple times to cycle through available targets). You can place the target point on one pass and then come around for a second pass to drop the bombs (the marker will disappear when your plane is not facing towards it, however will reappear when you point your plane towards it again, the "CCIP/RP" indicator will remain present throughout). Note that while a target point is active you cannot drop bombs manually (CCRP must be used), press the "Deactivate target point" key to remove the target point and restore normal bombing functionality.

Both of the above methods will place a red target point square on the ground and activate CCRP and a "CCIP/RP" indicator will appear next to the ammo count of the player's bombs. More noticeably a vertical white line will appear passing through the target point. This line will have a circle on it, with a horizontal line somewhere above the circle; the circle and line will move up and down as the player's aircraft pitches up and down, and the line will move towards the circle as the player approaches the target point. The player must place their aiming reticle over the circle and then press and hold either the "Drop bomb" or "Drop bomb series" key (depending on if you want to drop one or multiple bombs).

When the key to drop bombs is pressed you will notice that no bombs are dropped, however a set of angled crosshairs appear around the circle on the vertical line, and "Bomb release permission" will appear at the bottom of your screen. You must now continue to hold whichever key you pressed to drop the bombs, while keeping your reticle pointed in the circle. As the circle moves with your pitch you can make pitch (nose of the aircraft up or down) adjustments, however you should take care not to yaw (nose of the aircraft side to side) off of the white line, it is also advisable to avoid rolling the aircraft (keep it as level as possible). As you fly towards the target point the horizontal line will move close to the circle, until the touch, at which point the bombs will automatically be released, and should hit the target point.

{{Notice|When dropping a bomb series the velocity of the aircraft can mean only the first set of bombs hit (the rest overshoot) therefore it is recommended to only drop bomb series in a drive or against large targets such as airfields/groups of ground targets.|!}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCRP Stage 1.jpg|Stage 1: A target point has been selected (placed on some parked vehicles), the "CCIP/RP" indicator is present and the white vertical line has appeared.
File:CCRP Stage 2.jpg|Stage 2: The player has placed their reticle over the circle and is holding the "Drop bomb" key, the crosshairs and "Bomb release permission" text have appeared.
File:CCRP Stage 3.jpg|Stage 3: The player has approached the target point and the horizontal line has gotten closer to the circle.
File:CCRP Stage 4.jpg|Stage 4: The bombs have been automatically released.
File:CCRP Stage 5.jpg|Stage 5: The targets have been destroyed.
</gallery>

==List of vehicles with Ballistic Computers==
===Aircraft===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Vehicle !! Country !! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs) !! CCRP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Specs-Link|saab_a32a}} || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|a_7d}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|av_8a}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|av_8c}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|buccaneer_s2}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f1}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4c}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4e}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4ej}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-104g}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-104g_china}} || [[File:China_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-104s}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_ys}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|harrier_gr1}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|harrier_gr3}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|jaguar_a}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|jaguar_gr1}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-15bis_ish}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_bis}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_pfm}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_mf}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_smt}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mirage_3e}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4k}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4m_fgr2}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|saab_105g}} || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|su-7b}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|su-7bkl}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|su_17m2}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|yak-38}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|yak-38m}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|[[F-4F]]
|[[:Category:Germany aircraft]]
|{{Tick}}
|{{Tick}}
|{{Tick}}
|{{Tick}}
|}

===Helicopters===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Vehicle !! Country !! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Specs-Link|a_129_a}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|a_129_cbt}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1f}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1s_late}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1s_early}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1s}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1z}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64a}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64a_peten}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64d}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64d_japan}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_mk1}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|tiger_had_france}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|tiger_hap_france}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|tiger_uht}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ka_29}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ka_50}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ka_52}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24a}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24d}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24p}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24p_german}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24p_german_hfs80}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24v}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_28n}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_35m}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|}

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon 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 weapon and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-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>.''

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|FiDR5XVSPWE|'''War Thunder: How To Use C.C.I.P (Constantly Computed Impact Point) In Jets and Helicopters''' - Sako Sniper|P4oCwyETKJo|'''How to use CCRP bombing in War Thunder''' - Hunting Fox|oxSLAnHz7N8|'''Warthunder 1.99 CCRP explanation (Simulator Battles)''' - Dovacat|p8xlkPodauE|'''War Thunder Simulator {{!}} Tutorial: How To Bomb with CCRP in the Su-17M2''' - LanceLynxx}}

== See also ==


* [[HUD]] - How the ballistic computer is integrated into aircraft HUDs

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6637-development-new-onboard-aviation-systems-en|[Devblog] New onboard aviation systems]]
* [[wikipedia:Constantly_computed_impact_point|[Wikipedia] Constantly computed impact point]]

[[Category:Game mechanics]]

Ballistic Computer

2021-07-09T12:51:49Z

U15020331: Added F-4F in tabel

{{Notice|This guide is currently only applicable for Arcade and Realistic Battles}}

__TOC__

==Overview==
The '''Ballistic Computer''' is a system found on some modern aircraft and helicopters used to aid the player in the delivery of unguided air-to-ground munitions. There are two key functions of the ballistic computer: Constantly Computed Impact Point (CCIP) and Constantly Computed Release Point (CCRP). CCIP continually calculates where munitions will land and gives the pilot an accurate impact point to aim with. By comparison, CCRP allows the player to specify an impact point, the ballistic computer will then continually calculate at which point along the player's flight path munitions will need to be released in order to hit the player's designated impact point, automatically releasing the munitions when that point is reached.

==Ballistic Computer Controls==
All ballistic computer key binds are unbound by default, you must bind a key to them or use the Multi-function menu (not all controls are present in the multi-function menu).
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | Ballistic Computer Controls
|-
! Control name
! Default Keybind (PC keyboard & mouse)
! Description
|-
| Toggle Ballistic Computer || Unbound || Toggles the ballistic computer functionality on or off.
|-
| Activate target point || Unbound || Places the target point where the player's reticle is pointing
|-
| Deactivate target point || Unbound || Removes any previously placed target point
|-
| Switch mission bombing target || Unbound || Automatically places the target point on a bombing point (mini-base or airfield). Press multiple times to select different bases.
|-
|}

==CCIP Usage==
===CCIP for guns===
To use CCIP for guns you must first turn on your ballistic computer using the "Toggle Ballistic Computer" control, when you do this a "CCIP" indicator will appear next to the ammo count of the weapon(s) which CCIP is active for (see images below). For aircraft, once the ballistics computer is on pointing your aiming reticle at a point on the ground (up to around 2.6 km away) will activate CCIP. When CCIP is activated the aiming reticle will gain a second set of angled crosshairs (signifying CCIP is active) and move to the point on the ground where your rounds will land; this can be seen in the images below, notice how the reticle has moved downwards and gained an additional set of angled crosshairs.

For helicopters activating CCIP for guns will cause the gun reticle to gain the additional angled crosshairs. For helicopters with turreted weapons, CCIP makes no real difference as the gun reticle behaves pretty much like CCIP by default, however for helicopters with fixed guns CCIP behaves much the same as with aircraft, albeit with greater range.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCIP Gun Aircraft Off.jpg|The normal gun reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Gun Aircraft On.jpg|The CCIP gun reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Gun Helicopter Off.jpg|The normal gun reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
File:CCIP Gun Helicopter On.jpg|The CCIP gun reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
</gallery>

===CCIP for rockets===
To use CCIP for rockets you must first turn on your ballistic computer using the "Toggle Ballistic Computer" control, when you do this a "CCIP" indicator will appear next to the ammo count of the weapon(s) which CCIP is active for (see images below). For aircraft, once the ballistics computer is on pointing your aiming reticle at a point on the ground (up to around 5.2 km away) will activate CCIP. When CCIP is activated your rocket reticle will change to an "X" with a dot in the middle and move to the point on the ground where your rockets will land; this can be seen in the images below, notice how the reticle has moved and changed to an "X".

For helicopters activating CCIP for rockets will cause the rocket reticle to gain a set of angled crosshairs and move to the point on the ground where your rockets will land; this can be seen in the images below, notice how the reticle has moved downwards and gained an additional set of angled crosshairs.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCIP Rocket Aircraft Off.jpg|The normal rocket reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Rocket Aircraft On.jpg|The CCIP rocket reticle on a [[Phantom FGR.2]].
File:CCIP Rocket Helicopter Off.jpg|The normal rocket reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
File:CCIP Rocket Helicopter On.jpg|The CCIP rocket reticle on an [[AH-64A Peten (USA)|AH-64A Peten]].
</gallery>

===CCIP for bombs===
CCIP for bombs is always activated for vehicles which have it (regardless of if the ballistic computer is turned on). Aircraft with CCIP for bombs will have a "CCIP" indicator next to the ammo count for the player's bombs. It simply provides an "arcade-style" bombsight on the ground to accurately tell the player where their bombs will land; as seen in the images below.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCIP Bomb Aircraft.jpg|The bomb CCIP marker on a [[Phantom FG.1]].
File:CCIP Bomb Helicopter.jpg|The bomb CCIP marker on a [[Ka-50]].
</gallery>

==CCRP Usage==
{{Notice|While a target point is activated you cannot drop bombs manually (CCRP must be used), press the "Deactivate target point" key to remove the target point and restore normal bombing functionality.|!}}

In addition to CCIP, some aircraft have the option of dropping bombs using CCRP. Using CCRP does not require the ballistic computer to be turned on, however the process is more involved than using CCIP. First, the player must select a target point where they want their bombs to land. This can be achieved in one of two ways; the first is to point your aiming reticle where you want the bombs to land and then press the "Activate target point" key; the other is to press the "Switch mission bombing target" key, this will automatically place the target point on one of the missions "mini-bases" or airfield (press the key multiple times to cycle through available targets). You can place the target point on one pass and then come around for a second pass to drop the bombs (the marker will disappear when your plane is not facing towards it, however will reappear when you point your plane towards it again, the "CCIP/RP" indicator will remain present throughout). Note that while a target point is active you cannot drop bombs manually (CCRP must be used), press the "Deactivate target point" key to remove the target point and restore normal bombing functionality.

Both of the above methods will place a red target point square on the ground and activate CCRP and a "CCIP/RP" indicator will appear next to the ammo count of the player's bombs. More noticeably a vertical white line will appear passing through the target point. This line will have a circle on it, with a horizontal line somewhere above the circle; the circle and line will move up and down as the player's aircraft pitches up and down, and the line will move towards the circle as the player approaches the target point. The player must place their aiming reticle over the circle and then press and hold either the "Drop bomb" or "Drop bomb series" key (depending on if you want to drop one or multiple bombs).

When the key to drop bombs is pressed you will notice that no bombs are dropped, however a set of angled crosshairs appear around the circle on the vertical line, and "Bomb release permission" will appear at the bottom of your screen. You must now continue to hold whichever key you pressed to drop the bombs, while keeping your reticle pointed in the circle. As the circle moves with your pitch you can make pitch (nose of the aircraft up or down) adjustments, however you should take care not to yaw (nose of the aircraft side to side) off of the white line, it is also advisable to avoid rolling the aircraft (keep it as level as possible). As you fly towards the target point the horizontal line will move close to the circle, until the touch, at which point the bombs will automatically be released, and should hit the target point.

{{Notice|When dropping a bomb series the velocity of the aircraft can mean only the first set of bombs hit (the rest overshoot) therefore it is recommended to only drop bomb series in a drive or against large targets such as airfields/groups of ground targets.|!}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:CCRP Stage 1.jpg|Stage 1: A target point has been selected (placed on some parked vehicles), the "CCIP/RP" indicator is present and the white vertical line has appeared.
File:CCRP Stage 2.jpg|Stage 2: The player has placed their reticle over the circle and is holding the "Drop bomb" key, the crosshairs and "Bomb release permission" text have appeared.
File:CCRP Stage 3.jpg|Stage 3: The player has approached the target point and the horizontal line has gotten closer to the circle.
File:CCRP Stage 4.jpg|Stage 4: The bombs have been automatically released.
File:CCRP Stage 5.jpg|Stage 5: The targets have been destroyed.
</gallery>

==List of vehicles with Ballistic Computers==
===Aircraft===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Vehicle !! Country !! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs) !! CCRP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Specs-Link|saab_a32a}} || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|a_7d}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|av_8a}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|av_8c}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|buccaneer_s2}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f1}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4c}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4e}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4ej}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-104g}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-104g_china}} || [[File:China_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-104s}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_ys}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|harrier_gr1}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|harrier_gr3}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|jaguar_a}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|jaguar_gr1}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-15bis_ish}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_bis}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_pfm}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_mf}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mig-21_smt}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mirage_3e}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4k}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|f-4m_fgr2}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|saab_105g}} || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|su-7b}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|su-7bkl}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|su_17m2}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|yak-38}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|yak-38m}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|[[F-4F]]
|
|{{Tick}}
|{{Tick}}
|{{Tick}}
|{{Tick}}
|}

===Helicopters===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Vehicle !! Country !! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Specs-Link|a_129_a}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|a_129_cbt}} || [[File:Italy_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1f}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1s_late}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1s_early}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1s}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_1z}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64a}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64a_peten}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64d}} || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_64d_japan}} || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ah_mk1}} || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|tiger_had_france}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|tiger_hap_france}} || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|tiger_uht}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ka_29}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ka_50}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|ka_52}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24a}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24d}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24p}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24p_german}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24p_german_hfs80}} || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_24v}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_28n}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
| {{Specs-Link|mi_35m}} || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|}

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon 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 weapon and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-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>.''

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|FiDR5XVSPWE|'''War Thunder: How To Use C.C.I.P (Constantly Computed Impact Point) In Jets and Helicopters''' - Sako Sniper|P4oCwyETKJo|'''How to use CCRP bombing in War Thunder''' - Hunting Fox|oxSLAnHz7N8|'''Warthunder 1.99 CCRP explanation (Simulator Battles)''' - Dovacat|p8xlkPodauE|'''War Thunder Simulator {{!}} Tutorial: How To Bomb with CCRP in the Su-17M2''' - LanceLynxx}}

== See also ==


* [[HUD]] - How the ballistic computer is integrated into aircraft HUDs

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6637-development-new-onboard-aviation-systems-en|[Devblog] New onboard aviation systems]]
* [[wikipedia:Constantly_computed_impact_point|[Wikipedia] Constantly computed impact point]]

[[Category:Game mechanics]]