War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

MiG-29SMT

2023-11-22T22:47:04Z

U67360494: /* Engine performance */

{{About
|about = Soviet jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage = other versions
|link = MiG-29 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=mig_29smt_9_19
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

By the turn of the millennium, the Russian VVS had fallen behind its adversaries again in terms of air power, due to the financial issues of post-Soviet Russia. With lack of funding resulting in the failure of the Mikoyan MFI and the MiG 1.44 program to produce a 5th generation frontline fighter to replace the MiG-29, a new aircraft was required to act as a counter to the latest [[F-16 (Family)|F-16]] variants and new Eurocanard fighters such as the Typhoon, Rafale, and Gripen. RSK MiG decided to restart development of their MiG-29SMT (9.17) from the mid-90s, and presented the idea of a MiG-29 modernized for the 21st century to the Russian government. With the cost savings of updating a older airframe being the main advantage, the development of the MiG-29SMT was greenlit, and the MiG-29SMT was heavily updated and upgraded into the 9.18 and 9.19 variants. To recoup some of the development costs, both variants were almost exclusively intended for export, with a special and slightly downgraded variant of the 9.19 created exclusively for the Russian VVS to save costs. The development of the 9.19 was finalized in 2006 with pre-production aircraft performing regular test flights and air-show demonstrations to lure foreign buyers. In the following years, the MiG-29SMT (9.19) would enter mass production where it would find homes with the Russian VVS, the Algerian Air Force, and the Syrian Arab Air Force.

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', introduced in [[Update "Sons of Attila"]], brings a new taste to a formidable beast that most top-rank pilots in War Thunder are familiar with. While the flight performance feels significantly worse than its predecessor, the previous [[MiG-29|MiG-29 (9.13)]], the new MiG-29SMT brings to the table a completely game-changing set of weaponry, including some of the best air-to-air missiles in the game such as the R-73 and R-27E family. This, combined with the upgraded avionics, radar, and upgraded assortment of guided ground ordnance for precision CAS, makes the MiG-29SMT a very dangerous and formidable aircraft in the top ranks of War Thunder.

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

''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max speed (km/h at 12,000 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
| 2,261 || 2,216 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.1 || 23.5 || 257.5 || 244.8 || rowspan="2" | 750
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,442 || 2,347 || 21.9 || 22.5 || 346.1 || 300.0
|-
|}

==== 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" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| 1,575  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || - || 532 || 463 || ~10 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 680 || < 750 || < 700 || -
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="5" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Klimov RD-33 Series 3 || 2
| colspan="2" | 11,670 kg || colspan="3" | 435 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Max Gross Weight|Mass of the fully equipped aircraft with heaviest weapons load}}
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 12m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 40m fuel
|-
| 1,050 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning low-bypass turbofan
| 13,081 kg || 14,018 kg || 15,192 kg || 16,373 kg || 20,979 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="5" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 12m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 40m fuel || MGW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 3,920 kgf || 6,816 kgf
| 1.04 || 0.97 || 0.90 || 0.83 || 0.65
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 5,430 kgf (1,575 km/h) || 12,445 kgf (1,575 km/h)
| 1.90 || 1.78 || 1.64 || 1.52 || 1.19
|-
|}

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

''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''

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

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Ballistic Computer]]
|-
! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs) !! CCRP (Bombs) !! Lead indicator
|-
| {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
|}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|GSh-30-1 (30 mm)}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** 1 x 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon, cheek-mounted (150 rpg) + 60 x countermeasures
** 1 x 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon + 60 x countermeasures + 56 x large calibre countermeasures

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


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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="6%" | 1 !! width="6%" | 2 !! width="6%" | 3 !! width="6%" | 4 !! width="6%" | 5 !! width="6%" | 6 !! width="6%" | 7
| rowspan="20" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_MiG-29.png]]</div>
|-
! [[OFAB-100 (100 kg)|100 kg OFAB-100]] bombs
| || 4 || 4 || || 4 || 4 ||
|-
! [[FAB-250M-54 (250 kg)|250 kg FAB-250M-54]] bombs
| || 1, 2 || 1, 2 || || 1, 2 || 1, 2 ||
|-
! [[FAB-250M-62 (250 kg)|250 kg FAB-250M-62]] bombs
| || 1, 2 || 1, 2 || || 1, 2 || 1, 2 ||
|-
! [[OFAB-250Sh (250 kg)|250 kg OFAB-250Sh]] bombs
| || 1, 2 || 1, 2 || || 1, 2 || 1, 2 ||
|-
! [[FAB-500M-54 (500 kg)|500 kg FAB-500M-54]] bombs
| || 1 || 1, 2 || || 1, 2 || 1 ||
|-
! [[FAB-500M-62 (500 kg)|500 kg FAB-500M-62]] bombs
| || 1 || 1, 2 || || 1, 2 || 1 ||
|-
! [[FAB-500Sh (500 kg)|500 kg FAB-500Sh]] bombs
| || 1 || 1, 2 || || 1, 2 || 1 ||
|-
! [[KAB-500Kr-E (500 kg)|500 kg KAB-500Kr-E]] bombs
| || 1 || 1 || || 1 || 1 ||
|-
! [[ZB-500 incendiary]] bombs
| || 1 || 1 || || 1 || 1 ||
|-
! [[S-8KO]] rockets
| || 20 || 20 || || 20 || 20 ||
|-
! [[S-13OF]] rockets
| || 5 || 5 || || 5 || 5 ||
|-
! [[Kh-29TD]] missiles
| || || 1 || || 1 || ||
|-
! [[R-27R]] missiles
| || || 1 || || 1 || ||
|-
! [[R-27T]] missiles
| || || 1 || || 1 || ||
|-
! [[R-27ER]] missiles
| || || 1 || || 1 || ||
|-
! [[R-27ET]] missiles
| || || 1 || || 1 || ||
|-
! [[R-73]] missiles
| 1 || 1 || 1 || || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! 2,000 l drop tanks
| || || || 1 || || ||
|-
| colspan="8" | Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 1,500 kg
|-
|}

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

* 1 x 2,000 l drop tank
* 2 x R-73 missiles
* 6 x R-73 missiles
* 2 x R-27T missiles
* 2 x R-27R missiles
* 2 x R-27ET missiles
* 2 x R-27ER missiles
* 80 x S-8KO rockets
* 20 x S-13OF rockets
* 2 x Kh-29TD missiles
* 16 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,600 kg total)
* 8 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 6 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (3,000 kg total)
* 8 x 250 kg OFAB-250Sh bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 6 x 500 kg FAB-500Sh bombs (3,000 kg total)
* 4 x 500 kg KAB-500Kr-E bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 4 x ZB-500 incendiary bombs
{{Navigation-End}}

== Usage in battles ==

'''Air Combat'''

While the MiG-29SMT has reduced manoeuvrability from the added fuel tank compared to the MiG-29, it's still extremely strong in air combat.

When it comes to BVR, the MiG-29SMT dominates with the R-27ER missiles that have long range and acceptable overload, and its powerful radar that has a lot of special features and acceptable range. This, along with the new SPO-150 RWR that increases situational awareness by giving information about the exact vehicle that's pinging the MiG-29SMT, makes it perfect for BVR combat.

The MiG-29SMT is also strong in close-range engagements. It carries the R-73, which is an extremely effective heat-seeking missile with 40G overload and great range for its type. You'll want to use it in unpredictable ways where the enemy won't expect it to track reliably to avoid being flared away by using the missile's wide gimbal limits.

'''CAS (Close Air Support)/Ground Attack'''

The MiG-29SMT has amazing ground ordnance that allows it to take down ground targets reliably. The TV guided KAB-500Kr-E bombs are incredibly useful, enough to take down several tanks with ease when multiple bombs are dropped. And if you mix the TV guided bombs with the new and improved Kh-29TD air-to-ground missiles, it becomes the perfect aircraft to attack ground targets while remaining viable as a fighter.

You can also select traditional dumb bombs and rockets that, if used with precision, can be lethal to anything that crosses their path.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Incredibly versatile weapon systems; some of the best air-to-air missiles in-game
* Very effective radar, IRST, and HMD targeting systems
* Unlike its predecessor, it has an improved digital RWR that increases awareness.
* Great upgrade in CAS capabilities over its predecessors
* "Rita" voice warning system

'''Cons:'''

* Increased weight over previous variants; heavily downgraded manoeuvrability and acceleration
* Bleeds energy dangerously fast during manoeuvres
* Less countermeasures than majority of its adversaries

== History ==

After the dissolution of the USSR, the Russian Federation sought to find a replacement for its aging older Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, to match the 4+ and 5th generation capability of its NATO adversaries. The original program for a frontline fighter replacement for the MiG-29, the Mikoyan 1.44, failed due to lack of funding in post-Soviet Russia. Eventually, the Russian Federation would settle for heavily upgrading their existing MiG-29s into 4+ generation standards as a stop-gap solution not only for them, but also for export customers. The resulting project built upon Mikoyan's older ''Project 9.17A'', the original MiG-29SMT from 1996, upgrading it with 21st century avionics and equipment.
[[File:Mig-29smt.jpg|left|thumb|MiG-29SMT "02 Red" at Odintsovo, Russian Federation, circa 2009. This is the same aircraft that the default skin ingame is based on.]]
The "new" MiG-29SMT was split into two models, airframe numbers 9.18 and 9.19, and was developed throughout the early 2000s not only as Russia's new frontline fighter to replace the older MiG-29s, but also as a proper 4+ generation upgrade for export customers still using the older MiG-29A and MiG-29S, and as such was redesigned from the ground up. The new MiG-29SMT would incorporate a plethora of upgrades to differentiate it from all previous MiG-29s, and easily placing it on the same level of technological advancement as some other 4+ generation fighters. The MiG-29SMT, first and foremost, revamped the airframe and how it is controlled. The SMT received reinforced wings and fuel tanks to increase its range, and to account for the weight increase and changes in control, the aircraft features a hybrid control system of both mechanically linked hydraulics and fly-by-wire. The powerplant also included the option for uprated, higher thrust engines for export customers, as the Russian VVS opted out of this engine upgrade to keep unit costs down. One of the primary upgrades for the SMT was extending the poor range of previous MiG-29 variants. This was achieved by not only making the saddle fuel tank noticeably larger (giving the SMT its "hunchback" appearance), but by also adding a in-flight refueling probe on the portside of the nose, allowing for mid-air refueling. The 9.18 variant lacked the larger saddle tank to keep costs down and was marketed primarily for export to smaller countries where longer range was not a important factor. Yemen would be the only customer to purchase the 9.18.
[[File:Mig-29smt 2.jpg|thumb|MiG-29SMT "77 Green" demonstration at MAKS 2015]]
The MiG-29SMT also featured a full overhaul to its avionics suite, with the most important changes being the new Zhuk-M (N-010ME) radar, a modernized and heavily upgraded variant of the older N010 Zhuk originally intended for the [[Yak-141]], specific variants of the Su-27, and the MiG-29M modernization program. The new radar and fire control system were also linked to a new, state-of-the-art "Glass-cockpit" design, where instrumentation was either digitalized, or kept at a minimum for the sake of incorporating Color Multi-function Displays in the cockpit, to streamline the pilot's workload. The new radar and fire control system also allowed the new MiG-29SMT to carry a upgraded arsenal of weaponry, namely the R-74 and R-77 missiles, while also expanding upon the aircraft's CAS capabilities with new ground ordnance such as the [[Kh-29TD]], Kh-31, and [[KAB-500Kr-E (500 kg)|KAB-500Kr]]. The MiG-29SMT's fire control system also included software giving it compatibility with laser ordnance if a laser targeting pod was equipped, and compatibility with some NATO ordnance and targeting systems, intended for export customers' use with mixed hardware.

The MiG-29SMT (9.19) would first take to the skies in 2006, with deliveries to the Russian VVS starting in the following years. The 9.19 would also be exported to multiple countries throughout the 2010s, primarily Algeria and Syria, where it would see decent success in active combat with the latter country in the ongoing civil war. The same could not be said about Algeria, who had opted for the aforementioned option of having upgraded engines, but ended up returning some of the aircraft due to the engines being defective, and acquiring Su-30 aircraft instead to replace the defective MiG-29SMTs.

== Media ==

''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== 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 ==


* [[wt:en/news/8460-development-mig-29smt-strike-from-beyond-the-horizon-en|[Devblog] MiG-29SMT: Strike From Beyond The Horizon]]

{{AirManufacturer MiG}}
{{USSR jet aircraft}}

Kurnass 2000

2023-03-09T17:39:13Z

U67360494: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card
|code=f-4e_kurnass_2000
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

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

''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max speed (km/h at _,___ 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
| ___ || ___ || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || rowspan="2" | ___
|-
! Upgraded
| ___ || ___ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
|-
|}

==== 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
|-
| _ || _ || _ || _ || _ || _ 
|-
|}

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

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

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="4" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="2" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | _____ || _
| colspan="2" | _,___ kg || colspan="2" | ___ kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="3" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Max Gross Weight|Mass of the fully equipped aircraft with heaviest weapons load}}
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! _m fuel || __m fuel || __m fuel
|-
| ___ kg || colspan="2" | ___
| _,___ kg || _,___ kg || _,___ kg || _,___ kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="4" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || ___%/WEP
! _m fuel || __m fuel || __m fuel || MGW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || ___ kgf || ___ kgf
| _.__ || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
| ''Optimal'' || ___ kgf (_ km/h) || ___ kgf (_ km/h)
| _.__ || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
|}

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

''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''

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

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

{{main|M61A1 (20 mm)}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, chin-mounted (640 rpg)
** 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 90 x countermeasures

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

''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''

== Usage in battles ==


'''Air RB:'''

In Air RB the Kurnass 2000 could be compared to the F-4EJ Kai. Both, for now, has the same ir to air missile armament and similar radar. To utilize the 8 potent missiles and one of the best radar in game would be the major task that every Kurnass 2000 pilots would have to face. Typically, enter the battle at a low altitude and shoot down everyone on your way is still a viable and effective way to fly the Kurnass 2000. Climbing could also be attempted, but given the presence of AIM-54s and 3rd generation fighter jets featuring the same avionics and significantly higher climb rate, it would be a riskier style to fly the Kurnass 2000.

A major difference between the Kurnass 2000 and the F-4EJ Kai would be the slats on the Kurnass's wing. In high speed, slats could be extended to provide more lift and limit the angle of attack of the aircraft, resulting in a significant decrease in speed loss during turnings to a level even comparable to the level of 3rd generation aircrafts like the F-16 and Mig-29. In lower speed, the slats would also increase the overall maneuverability of the aircraft, so it is adviced to extend the slats in battles, espcially when fighting in groups. Retracting slats when there is the need to gain more speed or when higher angle of attack is needed during high speed situation. Overall, the slats of the Kurnass provides pilots with the ability to alter the aerodynamic of the aircraft in combats, and provide a higher versatility and a higher overall performance compare to the F-4EJ Kai.

=== Pros and cons ===

''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''

'''Pros:'''

* One of the most effective air to air armaments in game with APG-76, AIM-7Fs and AIM-9Ls.
* Slats for increased maneuverability and versetility
* High level of maneuverability at high speed as with any other Phantoms
* Guided bombs and missile with targeting pod for engaging ground targets

*

'''Cons:'''

* Big and heavy aircraft
* Thrust to weight ratio less than 3rd generation jets
*

*

== 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 ==

''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== 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 ==

''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Israel jet aircraft}}

Kurnass 2000

2023-03-09T14:50:25Z

U67360494: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card
|code=f-4e_kurnass_2000
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

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

''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max speed (km/h at _,___ 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
| ___ || ___ || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || rowspan="2" | ___
|-
! Upgraded
| ___ || ___ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
|-
|}

==== 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
|-
| _ || _ || _ || _ || _ || _ 
|-
|}

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

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

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="4" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="2" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | _____ || _
| colspan="2" | _,___ kg || colspan="2" | ___ kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="3" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Max Gross Weight|Mass of the fully equipped aircraft with heaviest weapons load}}
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! _m fuel || __m fuel || __m fuel
|-
| ___ kg || colspan="2" | ___
| _,___ kg || _,___ kg || _,___ kg || _,___ kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="4" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || ___%/WEP
! _m fuel || __m fuel || __m fuel || MGW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || ___ kgf || ___ kgf
| _.__ || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
| ''Optimal'' || ___ kgf (_ km/h) || ___ kgf (_ km/h)
| _.__ || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
|}

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

''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''

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

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

{{main|M61A1 (20 mm)}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, chin-mounted (640 rpg)
** 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 90 x countermeasures

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

''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''

== Usage in battles ==


'''Air RB:'''

In Air RB the Kurnass 2000 could be compared to the F-4EJ Kai. Both, for now, has the same ir to air missile armament and similar radar. To utilize the 8 potent missiles and one of the best radar in game would be the major task that every Kurnass 2000 pilots would have to face. Typically, enter the battle at a low altitude and shoot down everyone on your way is still a viable and effective way to fly the Kurnass 2000. Climbing could also be attempted, but given the presence of AIM-54s and 3rd generation fighter jets featuring the same avionics and significantly higher climb rate, it would be a riskier style to fly the Kurnass 2000.

A major difference between the Kurnass 2000 and the F-4EJ Kai would be the slats on the Kurnass's wing. In high speed, slats could be extended to provide more lift and limit the angle of attack of the aircraft, resulting in a significant decrease in speed loss during turnings to a level even comparable to the level of 3rd generation aircrafts like the F-16 and Mig-29. In lower speed, the slats would also increase the overall maneuverability of the aircraft, so it is adviced to extend the slats in battles, espcially when fighting in groups. Retracting slats when there is the need to gain more speed or when higher angle of attack is needed during high speed situation. Overall, the slats of the Kurnass provides pilots with the ability to alter the aerodynamic of the aircraft in combats, and provide a higher versatility and a higher overall performance compare to the F-4EJ Kai.

=== Pros and cons ===

''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''

'''Pros:'''

* One of the most effective air to air armaments in game with APG-76, AIM-7Fs and AIM-9Ls.
* Slats for increased maneuverability and versetility
* High level of maneuverability at high speed as with any other Phantoms
* Guided bombs and missile with targeting pod for engaging ground targets

*

'''Cons:'''

* Big and heavy aircraft
*

*

== 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 ==

''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== 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 ==

''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Israel jet aircraft}}

Phantom FG.1

2021-09-13T23:54:53Z

U67360494: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = F-4 Phantom II (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f-4k
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', otherwise known as the F-4K, is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]]. Like the other British Spey Phantom, the [[Phantom FGR.2]], this Phantom comes with AIM-9Ds, stock RHAW, and two turbofan engines that differentiate it from other [[F-4 Phantom II (Family)|Phantoms]] in the game. This Phantom is the naval variant of the British Phantom FGR.2, and as such has several adaptations for use on the smaller flight decks of British Carriers, including a longer nose wheel, slotted elevators like on the [[F-4E]], larger leading-edge flaps, a tougher undercarriage, Spey 203s with a quicker Afterburner activation time, and a slew of other upgrades that are not modeled in War Thunder, such as a folding nose radome, drooping ailerons to aid in lift, and a different radar to the FGR.2 (AN/AWG-11 as opposed to the AN/AWG-12 in the FGR, and the AN/AWG-10 in the base F-4J model). The FG.1 takes off a good deal faster than the FGR.2 thanks to the more rapid gain of afterburner thrust, higher angle of attack possible due to the extended nose wheel, and the larger flaps.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 10,667 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
| 2,195 || 2,158 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.5 || 26.9 || 178.0 || 168.0 || rowspan="2" | 850
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,350 || 2,268 || 25.5 || 26.0 || 244.7 || 210.0
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || 580 || 463 || ~11 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 810 || < 750 || < 700 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="5" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Rolls-Royce Spey 203 || 2
| colspan="2" | 14,415 kg || colspan="3" | 412 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 33m fuel
|-
| 1,860 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning low-bypass turbofan
| 16,167 kg || 17,887 kg || 19,623 kg || 20,255 kg || 25,400 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="5" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 33m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 5,110 kgf || 9,014 kgf
| 1.12 || 1.01 || 0.92 || 0.89 || 0.71
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 5,110 kgf (0 km/h) || 10,311 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 1.28 || 1.15 || 1.05 || 1.02 || 0.81
|-
|}
'''Radiator can be manually controlled for increased time with afterburner without the engines overheating'''

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


The Phantom FG.1 has no armour protection, the fuel tanks are self-sealing. The crew members are located towards the front of the fuselage, and all the important modules (engines, fuel tanks) are located in the rear of the fuselage. There are also fuel tanks in the wings. These factors make the pilots well protected from the rear, but vulnerable to the front, whereas all important modules are extremely vulnerable from the rear.

* No armour protection
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

'''Flares''' should be one of your top priorities, as well as the '''1000 LB GP''' upgrade. These give you a fighting chance against your missile-armed opponents, and the bombs provide a relatively reliable source of RP {{rp}} as you work towards better equipping the aircraft for dogfights later down the line. '''Compressor''' and '''Engine''' provide the single largest addition to performance, far more than any of the other upgrades, and should be prioritised. The Airframe and Cover are not priorities, but New Boosters help immensely with taking on trickier opponents. The Offensive 20mm and New 20mm cannon upgrades are not priorities, as the M61 is more accurate than one would think, and with a cyclic fire rate of 6000 rounds per minute, belt composition simply does '''not''' matter. In addition to that, the belts themselves are '''much''' too expensive, coming at 3.3K-4.9K Silver Lions {{Sl}}.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Ballistic Computer]]
|-
! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs) !! CCRP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
|}
=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}

{{main|G.P. Mk.I (1,000 lb)|SNEB type 23|M61 (20 mm)}}
{{main|AIM-7E Sparrow|AIM-9D Sidewinder|AIM-9G Sidewinder|Skyflash}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, belly-mounted (gunpod) (1,200 rpg)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 8 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (8,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles

== Usage in battles ==
[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL.png|thumb|A Phantom FG.1 of 111 Squadron, or "Treble One", patrolling over the North Atlantic.]]

[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL 5.png|thumb|533x533px|An [[F-4M|F-4M/FGR.2]] (front) and F-4K/FG.1 (back), both in the post-1983 RAF Medium Sea Grey camouflage scheme, flying above a Norwegian Fjord. While outwardly similar, the two Spey Phantoms perform slightly differently.]]
The F-4K/Phantom FG.1 is the ultimate energy fighter- its advantages over other aircraft are sheer power, roll rate, its ability to climb to high altitudes, and its nearly unparalleled speed and thrust-to-weight ratio down low are only rivaled by the MiG-21SMT. The twin Rolls-Royce Spey 203 engines produce just over 9,000 kgf thrust when you are stationary- that is to say, on the runway- and over 10,000 kgf when you're travelling at near-supersonic speeds.

Side-climb high- around 8,000-9,000 metres will do- and attack those beneath you. The Phantom's '''fantastic''' climb rate, as well as the FG.1's faster acceleration to maximum speed than '''any other F-4, including the FGR.2''', gives it an excellent climb advantage over any and all opposition up to around 5,000 metres (16,500 feet), and with side-climbing can easily manage to get to 10,000 metres (33,000 feet) before anybody else can, save for F-4E's. It must be noted however that the Phantom's high-altitude controllability is not very good, and the aircraft flies like a brick above 7500 metres (24,000 feet).

Unlike other F-4s, British Phantoms have stock RWR in the odd square section mounted on top of the tail. This gives the F-4K an additional advantage in combat, as unlike other phantoms, it can from the outset detect enemy radar impulses and thus at least know the direction of enemy aircraft, as well as the likelihood that they have been detected on an enemy's radar. This RWR can also differentiate between simple radar pings and a radar lock, which is invaluable in deciding whether one needs to start evasive manoeuvres to try break the lock or whether it is simply a sign of a distant enemy contact.

The Ferranti AN/AWG-11 Radar can scan up to 370 kilometers away in a 120 degree arc, but generally you should keep the radar scanning in a 120 degree search pattern for targets at 18.5km away from you. The radar also has an Air Combat Mode, or '''ACM''' mode, that shortens the radar search to an 11-by-11 degree search pattern with a maximum range of 9.25km. In this mode, it will lock on the first target that it manages to detect and will not stop tracking nor switch to another target until the lock is lost. While unlike other aircraft it does not give you a lead indicator, it is a useful tool for detecting and tracking targets that are not visible due to cloud, distance, or other such factors.

The AIM-9Ds do excellently when launched from 2.3-5.5 kilometers (1.5-2.5 miles) away, but not up close. They are superior to the AIM-9E, with 16 Gees of maximum overload as opposed to 10 Gees, but they are still inferior to the [[R-60|R-60/AA-8 Aphid]] (30G) and the [[AIM-9J Sidewinder|AIM-9J]] (20G). However, it is of note that the AIM-9D's seeker head is able to lock on and maintain a lock at much longer distances than either missile. It is possible to kill aircraft from 8-10km away given the right conditions and a bit of luck.

Any British Phantom should '''not''' be taken close to the beginning furball. All mentioned facts combined give the image of a long-range missile-hauler with a licence to kill from long range given by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II herself. This is indeed the case. British Phantoms perform admirably in a support role in a furball, killing tailsitting MiGs, Mirages and Phantoms, as well as taking out enemy aircraft who go high to try to attack aircraft with an energy advantage, and enemy aircraft extending away from the furball to make another pass. [[File:Phantom FG1 SC1.png|thumb|Phantom FG.1 over El Alamein]]

This, however, does '''not''' mean that the Phantom FG.1 cannot handle itself in a dogfight. The FG.1 is more than capable of engaging aircraft up close (between 0-1.5km away), with a powerful M61 Vulcan. You can easily kill aircraft in a head-on, but that doesn't mean that you should commit and stay there! Always break off if you see enemy tracer, or at the very least when the enemy aircraft is 1km away, lest you would like your own example of the World's Best Distributor of MiG Parts spread all over the sky. When using the Vulcan, one has two options on how to engage, one of which is more risky than the other, and depends on your aircraft being spaded.

* The first method of engagement is a fairly standard low-risk hit-and-run pass. Approach the enemy, shoot, and break off. There's nothing too special about it, and it relies more on the Phantom's blinding speed to get into the target area, the Vulcan's overwhelming Burst Mass to put at least a few rounds on the target, and then get out of the danger zone as soon as possible lest you become the target of unwanted attention. It requires little in the way of skill and little in the way of performance upgrades, as the FG.1 already has considerable engine power. However, it does not allow for sustained time on target and gives you only a small window of opportunity to make the shot.[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL 2.png|thumb|Phantom FG.1 above the North Atlantic.]]
* The second method of engagement is much more risky, more rewarding, and requires a fair amount of pilot skill and a '''fully upgraded plane'''. In addition, this method is '''specific''' to British Phantoms, if not the FG.1 in '''general''', as the FG.1 is the '''only''' Phantom which has this type of afterburner performance. Pilots are '''not''' recommended to try this in the [[F-4C]], [[F-4E]] or [[F-4EJ]]. Conversely, this tactic works very effectively against turning non-Spey phantoms. This method should '''not''' be used above 5000 metres under any circumstances. This method works best while in cloud and with an ACM lock on the enemy. The Phantom has its best roll performance at '''700-950 km/h''' (380-515 kts) and can use its takeoff flaps below 700km/h without risking them ripping off. You can use the airbrakes to slow the aircraft to the required speed, and then by tapping the flaps from raised to takeoff position, you can turn a little tighter than usual, and then use your outstanding afterburner performance to rapidly regain speed. You can out-accelerate any phantom in-game below 5000 metres, and even from a slower start you can rapidly close the gap. This manoeuvre can also be attempted at an angle to the horizontal, although speed can become a much greater concern (both flap rip speed and stall speeds). While this tactic may at first seem illogical- speed, after all, is the lifeblood of jet battles- the fast afterburner acceleration of the Spey Phantom can often ensure that you do not end up stalling. This tactic is, however, highly situational and requires a fair bit of situational awareness and pilot skill to pull off. Phantom neophytes shouldn't attempt this until they have at least spaded it and grown comfortable with it.

The Astute reader may have noticed that the engagement ranges described leave a "dead zone" between 1.5-2.4km away from the aircraft. This is correct. Unless the enemy is low, slow, or simply unaware of their surroundings, they can easily dodge the AIM-9Ds at this range, and they are too far away for a reliable guns kill. Pilots have two options should they come to this impasse. They can either break off the engagement, extend a little to a more comfortable range (hopefully 3km) and fire a missile, '''or''' head straight at the enemy, casting all pretenses of subtlety to the wind to go for a guns kill with the Vulcan. The choice is up to the pilot to decide.[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL 6.png|thumb|A Phantom FG.1 breaking away to the left while an [[Phantom FGR.2|FGR.2]] presses onwards.|left]]

===Dodging Missiles: The Do's and Don'ts.===
The Phantom FG.1 is slightly more manoeuvrable than the FGR.2 due to aerodynamic modifications to allow it to perform better at speeds. This means it has a slightly easier time dodging missiles. However, the easiest to avoid missiles is to not let the enemy get the opportunity to launch them at all. Keep your tail pointed '''away''' from enemy radars and the front of enemies. Utilize oblique angles and the Phantom's blinding speed and unrivalled acceleration to get out of missile lock range, and use head-on passes to avoid IRM locks on targets you wish to get gun kills on, before extending out quickly with full afterburner. Do not stay still for prolonged periods of time without checking behind you for tell-tale white streaks or the missile markers. In addition, don't let MiG-21s get close to you. Fly at an oblique angle to them (but keep your tailplane out of clear sight!) until you reach 2.5km. The R60s, while having a lock range of 3.5km, have an effective range of around 2.5km, making them almost useless at longer ranges (unlike the AIM-9Ds, which are most effective when '''at''' long range, and manoeuvres when seen from a distance mean smaller course corrections). Matra Magics are harder to evade using distance, but a similar rule applies, where having at least 3-5 kilometers between you and the enemy and travelling at an angle that obscures your engines from enemy aircraft helps massively in avoiding missile launches. Manoeuvring and flares should be an absolute last resort. Pre-emptive manoeuvring to deprive the enemy of chances to lock is the first and foremost way to avoid getting blown out of the sky.

If you need to manoeuvre, though, '''remember to turn off the afterburner'''. The Afterburner provides a large beacon-like heat signature that any IRM can track with a modicum of ease. Break '''into''' a missile while popping flares. Press your flare button at least three times to release a sufficient amount to decoy off the enemy missile.
[[File:Missile Inboard annotated.png|thumb|341x341px|'''Figure 1:''' Breaking into a missile.]]

==== Breaking into a missile ====
This situation assumes that you are in a Phantom FG.1, and have been locked on and launched at by an enemy aircraft from around 1.5-2.4 km with a missile.

# A missile is launched from the left of the Phantom, which is turning to the left. The Phantom pilot sees this, and switches off the afterburner in order to reduce heat signature.
# The missile is closing rapidly and is around 1 km away. The Phantom turns inwards towards the missile to increase the amount of Gs which the missile must pull, while popping flares (6-8) in an attempt to decoy off the missile.
# The missile cannot pull the necessary Gs, and it misses. The Phantom escapes.

If dodging SAMs at low altitude during Ground Battles matches, try to put terrain features such as trees, buildings and cliffs between you and the missile to force the radar to break a lock, and break towards the missile in order to increase the G-force it needs to pull. While you can do this to some extent in Air RB, there aren't often many terrain features to begin with, and missiles are usually IRMs, which means that they don't require the launcher to continuously maintain line-of-sight with the target they launched at. Another method to dodge missiles is a barrel roll while popping flares, executed at the last possible moment, while the missile is below 1km away. This method, while risky, is sometimes the only way you can evade close-range missiles such as the [[Hunter F.6]]'s [[SRAAM]]s, the [[MiG-21MF (Germany)|MiG-21MF]] and [[MiG-21SMT]]'s [[R-60]]s and the [[Mirage IIIC]]'s [[Matra R550 Magic 1|R550 Magics]], as well as helicopter-mounted IRMs such as the [[9M39 Igla]] on Russian helicopters, the [[AIM-92 Stinger]] on US helicopters, the British [[Starstreak]], and the [[Mistral]] on French, German, and Italian helicopters.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great top speed, one of the fastest aircraft in the game
* Decent instantaneous manoeuvrability for a plane of its size
* Excellent engine performance at low altitude
* Excellent rate of climb
* Excellent energy retention
* Adequate selection of secondary ordnance
* Powerful M61 Vulcan with sufficient ammo can wreak havoc against enemy aircraft
* Access to pulse doppler radar and 4 Skyflash missiles, making it the second best high-altitude heavy fighter (the best being the F-4EJ KAI)
* Access to AIM-9Gs, great when engaging at about 3km.

'''Cons:'''

* As with most jets, tends to bleed off energy in sustained turns- less so than the other top tiers but still significant enough to be worth mentioning
* Worst sustain turning performance out of any top tier jet
* Large target for cannons
* Limited payload options compared to American Phantoms
* Engines lose their edge higher up compared to US turbojets
* Control authority suffers drastically above ~8,000 metres

== History ==


===Background===
From the late 1950s onwards the British Government began looking to replace a number of its early second-generation jet aircraft. The RAF was looking to replace the [[Canberra_(Family)|English Electric Canberra]] in the long-range interdictor role, and the [[Hunter_(Family)|Hawker Hunter]] in the close air support role; meanwhile the Royal Navy was looking to replace their de Havilland Sea Vixens in the fleet air defence role<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK">Wikipedia: McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service</ref>. Two aircraft programs were started to produce suitable replacements; the BAC TSR-2 was to be a highly advanced strike and reconnaissance aircraft to replace the Canberra. Meanwhile the Hunter and the Sea Vixen would be replaced by different versions of the P.1154; a Mach 2 capable VTOL aircraft developed from the P.1127 (the predecessor of famous Harrier Jump Jet). The Navy were not entirely happy with the idea of the navalised P.1154, believing that it did not suit their needs; and in 1964 they dropped out of the programme, deciding to purchase the F-4 Phantom from America instead. In the same year a new government was elected and in 1965 cancelled both the TSR-2 and P.1154 programmes on cost grounds, leaving the RAF without its much needed Canberra and Hunter replacements. The Government announced a plan to purchase the F-111K from America to replace the TSR-2 program (the F-111K would also eventually be cancelled on grounds of cost), while the Hunter would be replaced by F-4 Phantoms from America<ref name="BurkePhantom">Burke 2016</ref>.

===Development===
Both the Royal Navy and RAF were now set to purchase the F-4 Phantom. The RAF could have operated standard F-4 Phantoms (and to some extent would have preferred to)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />, however the aircraft was going to need modifications in order to be able to operate off of the UK's aircraft carriers, which were smaller than the ones Phantoms usually operated from. In a bid to help the British aviation industry (which had been hurt by a number of cancelled programmes), and make the aircraft suitable for use by the Royal Navy it was agreed that all UK Phantoms would be significantly modified, by British companies, from their US counterparts. The most notable change would be the replacement of the American J79 turbojet engines with larger and more powerful Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans; a modified rear fuselage to accommodate the new engines would also be built by BAC, and the aircraft's radar system would be built under license by Ferranti<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />.

It was decided that the UK Phantoms would be based off of the F-4J, which was then the primary version in service with the US Navy at the time<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. As the RAF and Royal Navy had differing requirements it was decided that two variants of the UK Phantom would be designed: the first variant, for the Royal Navy, would be designated F-4K or Phantom FG.1; while the RAF variant would be developed from the navy variant and be designated F-4M or Phantom FGR.2. Work began on modifying the F-4J to meet the Royal Navy's needs; the nose radome had to be made to hinge 180 degreed, to allow the Phantom fit on the smaller deck elevators of British carriers, and a telescopic nose gear was installed to allow the aircraft to sit pitched nose-up on the flight deck (by up to 11°), reducing take-off distance<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. The new engines were installed at a slight downwards angle to further increase take-off performance and the rear fuselage to be redesigned to both accommodate the new engines and cope with the increased heat they produced; the air intakes also had to be made larger, and additional intake doors added in the fuselage to provide the Speys with the airflow they required<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. Many other small changes were also made to UK Phantoms. The first F-4K prototype flew on 27 June 1966, with the First F-4M prototype flying on 17 February 1967.

===Service===
The first F-4Ks were delivered in April 1968 and were designated Phantom FG.1, early the following year they began test flights from HMS Eagle and the USS Saratoga. During the testing the intense heat produced by the downward-angled Spey engines, while the afterburner was engaged, caused the flight deck plating of the USS Saratoga to buckle<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. On-board HMS Eagle heavy-duty steel plating had to be welded to the flight deck; and be cooled using water from the ship's fire hoses between flights, in order to stop it from melting<ref name="SearlesPhantom">Searles n.d.</ref>. When the HMS Ark Royal was upgraded to operate Phantoms it had to have water-cooled blast deflectors and decking installed to prevent the Phantom's engines from damaging the flight deck <ref name="BurkePhantom" />. HMS Ark Royal had finished its refit in 1970, by which point the refit of HMS Eagle had been cancelled, along with plans to build two additional aircraft carriers. With the Navy now only having one carrier capable of operating Phantoms it was decided to reduce the Navy's Phantom fleet down to 28 aircraft, with the other 20 FG.1s being transferred to the RAF. The remaining Royal Navy Phantoms would serve on the HMS Ark Royal (R09) until her retirement.

The first F-4Ms entered RAF service in May 1969, filling the role of tactical strike aircraft; they were given the designation Phantom FGR.2 (with FGR standing for Fighter/Ground attack/Reconnaissance). The RAF's Phantom FGR.2 was overall very similar to the Navy's FG.1 variant, but had a number of changes; they used a slightly different version of Spey engines (the FG.1 had faster afterburner engagement to aid with aborted landings on aircraft carriers), and naval features like the telescopic nose gear, slotted tail, and cockpit-controlled wing folding were dropped. The FGR.2 also had different avionics, the radar was slightly different and additional functionality such as an inertial navigation / attack system was added, as well as modification needed to allow the FGR.2 to use a gun pod and reconnaissance pod, among other changes<ref name="GledhillPhantom">Gledhill 2017</ref>. Both the FGR.2 and FG.1 would later be modified with squared off tails, holding a radar warning receiver.

The Phantom FG.1s were withdrawn from Royal Navy service in 1978, with the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal, and were transferred to the RAF to serve in air defence roles. The Phantom FG.1 was not originally equipped to carry a gun pod while in Royal Navy service, following their transfer to RAF service they were modified in order to carry the SUU-23/A 20 mm gun pod (the same one used by the RAF Phantom FGR.2s). The Phantoms were replaced in Navy service by the Harrier Jump Jet, which was able to operate from the Navy's new Invincible-class aircraft carriers (which were smaller than the HMS Ark Royal).

Following the Falklands War in 1982 the UK deployed a Squadron of FGR.2s to defend the Falkland Islands from any future attack; however this left a gap in the Air defence of the UK Mainland. It was decided to purchase 15 more F-4Js from America to fill this gap. The F4-Js were upgraded to F-4S standard and entered service with the RAF on 19 October 1984 under the designation Phantom F.3 or F-4J(UK)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. The Phantom remained the UK's primary Air defence aircraft until it was gradually replaced by the Panavia Tornado; the last FG.1s retired on 30 January 1990, the last F.3s retired on 31 January 1991, and the FGR.2 left RAF service on 1 November 1992. The FGR.2 was due to retire earlier however just before retirement it was called back into service to defend RAF Akrotiri, on Cyprus, during the First Gulf War<ref name="BurkePhantom" />.

A total of 48 Phantom FG.1s, 118 Phantom FGR.2s and 15 Phantom F.3s were built<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />.

===Further development plans===
Prior to the Phantom's retirement from RAF service there had been a plan to retrofit them with an upgraded version of the Spey engine. A program was started to design the new engines; they would have various improvements, the most notable of which being new turbine blades, reportedly manufactured from a single metal crystal<ref name="ThrustSSC">SSC Programme Ltd 1997</ref>. These blades would increase the operating life of the engines under normal conditions, but also give the option of operating the engines at higher temperatures, and thus higher thrust (although this would come at the expense of reduced engine life). These engines were known as Spey 205s and had a maximum thrust of 25,000 lb (11,340 kgf)<ref name="ThrustSSC" />, compared to 20,515 lb (9,305 kgf) for the regular Spey engines; although it is unclear if they would be used at this thrust rating while in service. With the Phantom retired the Spey 205 programme was cancelled, and no engines were produced under the Spey 205 name; however 12 Spey 202 engines had been upgraded to Spey 205 standard for testing (and are now generally referred to as Spey 205s, or Spey 202 hybrids)<ref name="BourneSSC">Bourne 1997</ref>. It is known that after the programme was cancelled two of the Spey 205 prototypes, along with two standard Spey 202s were obtained by the ThrustSSC programme (the world's fastest car)<ref name="ThrustSSC" />, although reports vary on whether the car was fitted with Spey 202s or 205s when it completed its record-breaking run.

===Comparison with American Phantoms===
The Rolls-Royce Spey engines gave British Phantoms notably different performance to their American counterparts. At low altitude British Phantoms accelerated faster than standard F-4Js and had a higher top speed; it was estimated that they had a 30% shorter take-off distance and a 20% faster climb to altitude<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. The Spey turbofan engines were also more fuel efficient than the J-79 turbojets, giving British Phantoms a 10 - 15 % increase in range compared to American aircraft<ref name="GledhillPhantom" />. The main drawback of the British design was that the reshaped fuselage produced more drag than the original design, meaning that at high altitude British Phantoms were slower and performed worse than their American counterparts (British Phantoms topped out at about Mach 1.9 at altitude, while American Phantoms could reach Mach 2.1)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />.

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|YTV8OmfpR0Y|'''Phantom FG Mk1 Review So Far''' - ''TWM12''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[F-4 Phantom II (Family)]]

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Mikoyan-Gurevich [[MiG-21 (Family)]]
* SAAB [[J35D]] ''Draken''
* Dassault [[Mirage IIIC]]

== External links ==


* [[Wikipedia:McDonnell_Douglas_Phantom_in_UK_service|[Wikipedia] McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service]]
* [https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/phantom/history.php <nowiki>[Thunder and Lightnings]</nowiki> McDonnell-Douglas/BAC F-4K/M Phantom II]

===Citations===
<references />

===Bibliography===

* Bourne, Nigel. (1997). Development of the Rolls-Royce Military Spey Mk202 Engine. Retrieved from [http://www.thrustssc.com/ ThrustSSC]
* Burke, Damien. (2016). McDonnell-Douglas/BAC F-4K/M Phantom II. Retrieved from [https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/phantom/history.php Thunder and Lightnings]
* Gledhill, David. (2017). Phantom in the Cold War: RAF Wildenrath 1977 - 1992. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation.
* Searles, Dick. (n.d.). HMS Eagle Deck Trials 1969. Retrieved from [https://www.phantomf4k.org/video-library/hms-eagle-deck-trials-1969 Phantom F4K - Fleet Air Arm Royal Navy]
* SSC Programme Ltd. (1997). The Story of the Rolls-Royce Spey. Retrieved from [http://thrustssc.com/ ThrustSSC]
* Wikipedia. (n.d.). McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service. Retrieved from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_Phantom_in_UK_service Wikipedia]

{{AirManufacturer McDonnell}}
{{Britain jet aircraft}}

MiG-27M

2021-09-13T03:35:49Z

U67360494: performance edits

{{Specs-Card
|code=mig_27m
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

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

This aircraft has an excellent top speed, which means it can speed away from enemy fighters if needed, with flares and chaff assisting in countering incoming missiles. Despite being a heavy aircraft, the Mig-27M has one of the best sustain turning ability among top tier jets thanks to its variable swept wing design.

Compare with its fighter jet version, the Mig-23M, the Mig-27M is slightly heavier and has a lower thrust (despite the difference being very little). As a result, the Mig-27Ms can pull less Gs than the Mig-23M, specifically, it tends to pull one less G than the Mig-23M across all speed. For example, at 800~900km/h, the best speed range for these two aircrafts to maneuver, the Mig-23M can pull 12Gs, where the Mig-27M could pull 11Gs. This characteristic, despite seemingly lowers the maneuverability of the aircraft, actually improves the gaming experience since both the Mig-23M and the Mig-27M breaks their wings at 12G. As a result, the Mig-23M could risk rip its wing during maneuvers, whereas the Mig-27M has no risk of damage.

The Mig-27M, just like the Mig-23M, fells sluggish in maneuvers. However, despite the bad instantaneous turning and rolling ability, the Mig-27M has exceptional sustained turning and rolling ability for a medium-heavy fighter. In speed lower than 900km/h and with the wings turned to forward position, the Mig-27M could outmaneuver most top-tier jets, even including the F-5Cs and Mig-21s. At 400km/h, with the wings set to the most forward position, the Mig-27M somewhat resembles a piston-engine attacker, with superb lift and great sustain turn rate. This is extremely helpful in a 1v1 situation, where you can use this characteristic to trick your enemy into low speed and outmaneuver them easily.

To be noted though, the high-speed maneuverability of the Mig-27M is not exceptional at all. At supersonic and with the wing set to the full back position, the Mig-27M could only pull 8Gs of overload, significantly less than the 10 to 11Gs of the F-4Es and the JA-37s. Also, the Mig-27M does not held its speed well in turns. In such case, it is advised to keep your speed and do less maneuvers in most times during a battle.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at _,___ 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
| 2340 || 2330 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 37.6 || 37.8 || 133.9 || 127.3 || rowspan="2" | 750
|-
! Upgraded
| ___ || ___ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
|-
|}

==== 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
|-
| _ || _ || _ || _ || _ || _ 
|-
|}

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

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

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="4" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="2" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Turmansky R-29B-300 || 1
| colspan="2" | _,___ kg || colspan="2" | ___ kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="3" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! _m fuel || __m fuel || __m fuel
|-
| 1780 kg || colspan="2" | Jet
| _,___ kg || _,___ kg || _,___ kg || _,___ kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="4" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || ___%/WEP
! _m fuel || __m fuel || __m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 7430 kgf || 9690 kgf
| _.__ || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
| ''Optimal'' || ___ kgf (_ km/h) || ___ kgf (_ km/h)
| _.__ || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
|}

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

The plane gets some 10 mm armor behind the pilot, and 9 mm on each side of the pilot. This will not really save you against the firepower faced in top-rank jet battles and is more against the stray machine gun round or shrapnel from ground attacks.

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

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

{{main|GSh-6-30 (30 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 30 mm GSh-6-30 cannon, belly-mounted (300 rpg)

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

{{main|OFAB-100 (100 kg)|FAB-250M-62 (250 kg)|OFAB-250sv (250 kg)|FAB-500M-62 (500 kg)|KAB-500 (500 kg)}}
{{main|Kh-23M|Kh-25ML|Kh-29L|Kh-29T|GSh-23L (23 mm)}}
{{main|R-13M1|R-60M|S-5KP|S-8KO|S-24B}}

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

* Without load
* 7 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,750 kg total)
* 4 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
* 7 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (3,500 kg total)
* 80 x S-8KO rockets
* 4 x S-24B rockets
* 2 x Kh-23M missiles
* 4 x Kh-25ML missiles
* 2 x Kh-29L missiles
* 2 x Kh-29T missiles
* 4 x R-60M missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg = 500 total)
* 128 x S-5KP rockets
* 20 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 12 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs + 64 x S-5KP rockets (1,200 kg total)
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 2 x Kh-25ML missiles
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 40 x S-8KO rockets + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 2 x S-24B rockets
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 12 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,200 kg total)
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 2 x S-24B rockets + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 5 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,250 kg total)
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 5 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (2,500 kg total)
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 12 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,200 kg total)
* 80 x S-8KO rockets + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 80 x S-8KO rockets + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (750 kg total)
* 40 x S-8KO rockets + 4 x R-60M missiles + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 40 x S-8KO rockets + 4 x R-60M missiles + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (750 kg total)
* 40 x S-8KO rockets + 5 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (2,500 kg total)
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 4 x R-60M missiles
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 5 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,250 kg total)
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 5 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (2,500 kg total)
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 40 x S-8KO rockets
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 40 x S-8KO rockets + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 4 x R-60M missiles + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 4 x R-60M missiles + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (750 kg total)
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 2 x Kh-25ML missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 2 x S-24B rockets
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 40 x S-8KO rockets + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 5 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,250 kg total)
* 4 x 500 kg KAB-500 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 2 x 500 kg KAB-500 bombs + 4 x R-60M missiles (1,000 kg total)
* 2 x 500 kg KAB-500 bombs + 2 x R-13M1 missiles (1,000 kg total)

== Usage in battles ==

'''Air-RB:'''

Thanks to its great low-altitude performance and powerful cannon armament, the Mig-27M could be a good fighter jet in Air-RB. Generally speaking, the best tactic for playing it as a fighter jet is similar to that of the Mig-23M: heading to the left after take-off, keep the altitude under 500m, postpone your entry as late as possible, then engage in head-o n combat using the all-aspect R-60Ms and your powerful GSh-6-30 cannon.

Since the Mig-27M has a significant low-altitude speed advantage compare with most of its opponents, it is advised to keep your speed throughout the battle. However, when there's only one or two enemies left, the Mig-27M could quickly become a dogfight by setting its wing to about 50% gradient. In such a setting without load, the Mig-27M could pull 11Gs at 900km/h, and with even more aggressive dog-flighting techniques and less gradient for the wing, the Mig-27M is capable of dogfighting light fighters like F-5Cs and Mig-21MFs.

Enemies worth noting:

* J-35Ds, since it is the only aircraft that could certainly win a dogfight against Mig-27M.
* F-5Es, F-5Cs and Mig-21s, since they are great dogfighters, but it is still possible to defeat them in dogfights.
* F-4EJ Kai, JA-37, F-4M/K, since they have doppler radars and great mid-range missiles.

The Mig-27M could also be played as an attacker in Air-RB. When doing so, though, it is still advised to take the 4 R-60Ms and play using the tactic mentioned above to maximize your survivability. When flanked to the back of the enemy, rush to a base and drop your bombs, then either play it as a fighter-jet or ground strike the enemy targets.

'''Ground-RB'''

It is fair to say that the Mig-27M is the new best top-tier aircraft for ground-RB because its decent maneuverability, the variety of guided weapons it could carry, and its GSh-6-30 cannon. To use it effectively, first shoot down any flying object using the R-60Ms, then deploy whatever weapons you got on board. Your cannon is also remarkably effective against the thin side of western MBTs and other light-armored targets. Using all your armaments effectively, it is possible to kill quite a few targets in one run.

=== Pros and cons ===
'''Pros:'''

* Very high top speed at low altitude.
* Good sustain turning ability, could even dogfight F-5Cs at lower speed.
* Variable swept wing design allows impressive performance at any speed.
* Most powerful cannon for top-tier jet, effective at destroying both ground and air targets.
* Wide variety of suspended weapons, making it a multi-purpose aircraft.
* KAB-500 guided bombs provide all the advantages of air-to-ground missiles with none of their drawbacks.
* The TV-guided weapons lock on to target faster than their NATO counterparts.
* Thanks to its laser targeting system, it is no longer needed to point the nose exactly at the target, just need to point it at the general direction.

'''Cons:'''

* Lacks radar and IRST for air-to-air combat.
* Lacks mid-range missiles.
* The cannon has a war-up time before fires.
* The cannon has a paltry ammunition capacity for its rate of fire, requiring stringent trigger discipline.
* Bad instantaneous turn and roll rate, making it hard to catch most windows at high-speed.
* R-60Ms could be easily defeated by countermeasures.

== 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=mig_27m Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Q1MSq6KWibw|'''The Shooting Range #269''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:27 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 ==

''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{USSR jet aircraft}}

MiG-27M

2021-09-13T00:57:36Z

U67360494: Pros and cons, usage in battles edits.

{{Specs-Card
|code=mig_27m
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

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

This aircraft has an excellent top speed, which means it can speed away from enemy fighters if needed, with flares and chaff assisting in countering incoming missiles. Despite being a heavy aircraft, the Mig-27M has one of the best sustain turning ability among top tier jets thanks to its variable swept wing design.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at _,___ 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
| 2340 || 2330 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 37.6 || 37.8 || 133.9 || 127.3 || rowspan="2" | 750
|-
! Upgraded
| ___ || ___ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
|-
|}

==== 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
|-
| _ || _ || _ || _ || _ || _ 
|-
|}

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

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

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="4" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="2" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Turmansky R-29B-300 || 1
| colspan="2" | _,___ kg || colspan="2" | ___ kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="3" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! _m fuel || __m fuel || __m fuel
|-
| 1780 kg || colspan="2" | Jet
| _,___ kg || _,___ kg || _,___ kg || _,___ kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="4" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || ___%/WEP
! _m fuel || __m fuel || __m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 7430 kgf || 9690 kgf
| _.__ || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
| ''Optimal'' || ___ kgf (_ km/h) || ___ kgf (_ km/h)
| _.__ || _.__ || _.__ || _.__
|-
|}

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

The plane gets some 10 mm armor behind the pilot, and 9 mm on each side of the pilot. This will not really save you against the firepower faced in top-rank jet battles and is more against the stray machine gun round or shrapnel from ground attacks.

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

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

{{main|GSh-6-30 (30 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 30 mm GSh-6-30 cannon, belly-mounted (300 rpg)

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

{{main|OFAB-100 (100 kg)|FAB-250M-62 (250 kg)|OFAB-250sv (250 kg)|FAB-500M-62 (500 kg)|KAB-500 (500 kg)}}
{{main|Kh-23M|Kh-25ML|Kh-29L|Kh-29T|GSh-23L (23 mm)}}
{{main|R-13M1|R-60M|S-5KP|S-8KO|S-24B}}

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

* Without load
* 7 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,750 kg total)
* 4 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
* 7 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (3,500 kg total)
* 80 x S-8KO rockets
* 4 x S-24B rockets
* 2 x Kh-23M missiles
* 4 x Kh-25ML missiles
* 2 x Kh-29L missiles
* 2 x Kh-29T missiles
* 4 x R-60M missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg = 500 total)
* 128 x S-5KP rockets
* 20 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 12 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs + 64 x S-5KP rockets (1,200 kg total)
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 2 x Kh-25ML missiles
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 40 x S-8KO rockets + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 2 x S-24B rockets
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 12 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,200 kg total)
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 2 x S-24B rockets + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 5 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,250 kg total)
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 5 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (2,500 kg total)
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 12 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,200 kg total)
* 80 x S-8KO rockets + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 80 x S-8KO rockets + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (750 kg total)
* 40 x S-8KO rockets + 4 x R-60M missiles + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 40 x S-8KO rockets + 4 x R-60M missiles + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (750 kg total)
* 40 x S-8KO rockets + 5 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (2,500 kg total)
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 4 x R-60M missiles
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 5 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,250 kg total)
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 5 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (2,500 kg total)
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 40 x S-8KO rockets
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 40 x S-8KO rockets + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 4 x R-60M missiles + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 2 x S-24B rockets + 4 x R-60M missiles + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (750 kg total)
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 2 x Kh-25ML missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 2 x S-24B rockets
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 40 x S-8KO rockets + 3 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total)
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 5 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,250 kg total)
* 4 x 500 kg KAB-500 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 2 x 500 kg KAB-500 bombs + 4 x R-60M missiles (1,000 kg total)
* 2 x 500 kg KAB-500 bombs + 2 x R-13M1 missiles (1,000 kg total)

== Usage in battles ==

'''Air-RB:'''

Thanks to its great low-altitude performance and powerful cannon armament, the Mig-27M could be a good fighter jet in Air-RB. Generally speaking, the best tactic for playing it as a fighter jet is similar to that of the Mig-23M: heading to the left after take-off, keep the altitude under 500m, postpone your entry as late as possible, then engage in head-o n combat using the all-aspect R-60Ms and your powerful GSh-6-30 cannon.

Since the Mig-27M has a significant low-altitude speed advantage compare with most of its opponents, it is advised to keep your speed throughout the battle. However, when there's only one or two enemies left, the Mig-27M could quickly become a dogfight by setting its wing to about 50% gradient. In such a setting without load, the Mig-27M could pull 11Gs at 900km/h, and with even more aggressive dog-flighting techniques and less gradient for the wing, the Mig-27M is capable of dogfighting light fighters like F-5Cs and Mig-21MFs.

Enemies worth noting:

* J-35Ds, since it is the only aircraft that could certainly win a dogfight against Mig-27M.
* F-5Es, F-5Cs and Mig-21s, since they are great dogfighters, but it is still possible to defeat them in dogfights.
* F-4EJ Kai, JA-37, F-4M/K, since they have doppler radars and great mid-range missiles.

The Mig-27M could also be played as an attacker in Air-RB. When doing so, though, it is still advised to take the 4 R-60Ms and play using the tactic mentioned above to maximize your survivability. When flanked to the back of the enemy, rush to a base and drop your bombs, then either play it as a fighter-jet or ground strike the enemy targets.

'''Ground-RB'''

It is fair to say that the Mig-27M is the new best top-tier aircraft for ground-RB because its decent maneuverability, the variety of guided weapons it could carry, and its GSh-6-30 cannon. To use it effectively, first shoot down any flying object using the R-60Ms, then deploy whatever weapons you got on board. Your cannon is also remarkably effective against the thin side of western MBTs and other light-armored targets. Using all your armaments effectively, it is possible to kill quite a few targets in one run.

=== Pros and cons ===
'''Pros:'''

* Very high top speed at low altitude.
* Good sustain turning ability, could even dogfight F-5Cs at lower speed.
* Variable swept wing design allows impressive performance at any speed.
* Most powerful cannon for top-tier jet, effective at destroying both ground and air targets.
* Wide variety of suspended weapons, making it a multi-purpose aircraft.
* KAB-500 guided bombs provide all the advantages of air-to-ground missiles with none of their drawbacks.
* The TV-guided weapons lock on to target faster than their NATO counterparts.
* Thanks to its laser targeting system, it is no longer needed to point the nose exactly at the target, just need to point it at the general direction.

'''Cons:'''

* Lacks radar and IRST for air-to-air combat.
* Lacks mid-range missiles.
* The cannon has a war-up time before fires.
* The cannon has a paltry ammunition capacity for its rate of fire, requiring stringent trigger discipline.
* Bad instantaneous turn and roll rate, making it hard to catch most windows at high-speed.
* R-60Ms could be easily defeated by countermeasures.

== 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=mig_27m Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Q1MSq6KWibw|'''The Shooting Range #269''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:27 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 ==

''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{USSR jet aircraft}}

MiG-23M

2021-09-09T03:15:42Z

U67360494: /* Usage in battles */ Updated for 2.9

{{Specs-Card
|code=mig_23m
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 13,000 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
| 2,349 || 2,346 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 35.4 || 35.5 || 149.5 || 144.6 || rowspan="2" | 750
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,369 || 2,358 || 34.6 || 35.0 || 192.3 || 169.9
|-
|}

==== 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 1423  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || 524 || 450 || ~12 || ~5
|-
|}

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

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="5" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Tumansky R-29-300 || 1
| colspan="2" | 11,155 kg || colspan="3" | 395 - 445 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 35m fuel
|-
| 1,780 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet
| 12,367 kg || 13,462 kg || 14,615 kg || 15,195 kg || __,___ 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="5" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 35m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 7,950 kgf || 10,494 kgf
| 0.85 || 0.78 || 0.72 || 0.69 || _.__
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 8,268 kgf (1,400 km/h) || 12,987 kgf (1,400 km/h)
| 1.05 || 0.96 || 0.89 || 0.85 || _.__
|-
|}

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

''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''

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

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Ballistic Computer]]
|-
! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs) !! CCRP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|GSh-23L (23 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon, belly-mounted (200 rpg)

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

{{main|OFAB-100 (100 kg)|FAB-250M-62 (250 kg)|FAB-500M-62 (500 kg)}}
{{main|R-3S|R-13M1|R-23R|R-23T|R-60}}
{{main|Kh-23M|S-5K|S-24B}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x R-3S missiles
* 16 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,600 kg total)
* 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs + 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,300 kg total)
* 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs + 2 x R-3S missiles (800 kg total)
* 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs + 2 x R-13M1 missiles (800 kg total)
* 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs + 2 x R-60M missiles (800 kg total)
* 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs + 2 x R-23R missiles (800 kg total)
* 8 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs + 2 x R-23T missiles (800 kg total)
* 4 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total)
* 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs + 2 x R-3S missiles (500 kg total)
* 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs + 2 x R-13M1 missiles (500 kg total)
* 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs + 2 x R-60M missiles (500 kg total)
* 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs + 2 x R-23R missiles (500 kg total)
* 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs + 2 x R-23T missiles (500 kg total)
* 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs + 64 x S-5K rockets (500 kg total)
* 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total)
* 4 x R-3S missiles
* 2 x R-3S missiles + 2 x R-13M1 missiles
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 2 x R-13M1 missiles
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 2 x R-23R missiles
* 4 x R-60M missiles + 2 x R-23T missiles
* 4 x R-13M1 missiles
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 2 x R-23R missiles
* 2 x R-13M1 missiles + 2 x R-23T missiles
* 6 x R-60M missiles
* 2 x R-23R missiles
* 2 x R-23T missiles
* 64 x S-5K rockets
* 64 x S-5K rockets
* 96 x S-5K rockets
* 4 x S-24B rockets
* 2 x Kh-23M missiles

== Usage in battles ==


'''RB & SB'''

There's two recommanded tactics when flying the Mig-23M:

* Low altitude, high speed, side of the map. Try to get as much speed as possible maintaining a very low altitude and go to the right if you want a more head-on engagement or to the left if you want a side/back of the enemy attack position (in a majority of maps players go to their left). Better yet used with a squadron, the MiG-23M can eliminate several enemy aircraft if played right with 3 teammates and using the IR-guided R-23T missile.
* high altitude, high speed, together with your team, BVR - This tactic is a more relaxed and is only recommanded when facing Americans and German, since they do not have good radars: fly along with your team, maintain a high altitude until all enemy aircraft are below you, then make surprise attacks on enemies that are busy, normally use the R-23R to destroy the high altitude F-4s or F-104s with BVR missiles.

No matter which tactic though, it is recommanded to engage your enemy from their front hemisphere, since you got all-aspect IR missiles. This way it leaves your enemy less time to react and dodge the missiles.

Also, since both the R-60Ms and the R-23Ts has a relatively wide FOV, it is recommanded to lock the enemy using your IRST before engaing the missile guidence. This way you could ultilize their wide FOV better.

Only use the R-60Ms at close range, better be about 1.5km. They performs the best under such range, and it also gives your enemy less reaction time to release the contermeasures, since R-60Ms could be eaily tricked by those flares.

When under a 1v1 situation, you could try to use your great low-speed performance to trick the enemies into low speeds, especially when against Phantoms. When your speed drops below 400km/h, manually control the wing to the most frontal position to improve your manuverbility.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very high low-altitude top speed, could outrun any of your opponents.
* Decent sustained turn rate.
* Reasonably high acceleration for its size.
* R-23T and R-60M all aspect missiles.
* Variable swept-wing aircraft, allowing for decent performance at any speed.
* HUD displays speed and altitude information, most useful in simulator mode.
* Can carry 6 x R60M AAMs.
* Contains IRST tracking system and decent radar that allows you to track aerial targets at ground level.
* Varied armament preset selection.

'''Cons:'''

* Underwhelming instantaneous turn rate, cannot pull some extreme windows easily.
* Could loss quite a lot of speed in turns.
* Control the variable swept wing could be tricky, need more concentration on the aircraft's speed.
* Low countermeasure count.
* Low ammo count and low muzzle velocity for the Gsh-23L cannon.
* R-60Ms could be easily attracted by flares.
* R-23T cannot be used in close combats.

== 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=mig_23m Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|I0Q3ZuD5o1U|'''The Shooting Range #255''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:25 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|wbRt9S_ZYes|'''How To Use IRST (Infrared Search and Track)''' - ''TeaRex''}}

== 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 ==


* [[wt:en/news/7177-development-the-mig-23m-and-rank-vii-for-aviation-en|[Development] The MiG-23M and rank VII for aviation]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/526068-mig-23m Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer MiG}}
{{USSR jet aircraft}}

F8U-2

2021-09-09T02:57:26Z

U67360494: /* Usage in battles */ Updated for version 2.9

{{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"]].

== 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 !! + !! -
|-
|  1555 || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 1070 || N/A || 583 || ~10 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 1000 || < 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.

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

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

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

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

* A choice between two presets:
** 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (144 rpg = 576 total)
** 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (144 rpg = 576 total) + 32 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets

[[File:F8U-2 Wiki Image 4.jpg|thumb|F8U-2 firing its 20mm Cannons.]]

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

{{main|AIM-9B Sidewinder|AIM-9D Sidewinder|Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP}}

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

* 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
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets

== Usage in battles ==
It is recommended to first climb to above four thousand meters in a battle, especially when the enemies do not have any radar-guided missiles. By this way, the fragile characteristic of the crusader could be compensated since it is impossible to pull more than 8Gs at such altitude.

When at a high altitude, use BZ tactic and fire your AIM-9Ds at enemies under you. As it now has a maximum overload of 18G and no launch overload limitation, AIM-9Ds should be sufficient for at least two kills in a run. The best distance for using these missiles is about 3km, as it has the longest power stage of all IR missiles in game, and your enemy would be less likely to notice the missile at longer range.

When dogfighting, do two things to avoid extreme overload:

* Lower the speed to below 900km/h.
* Climb to a higher altitude

As the F8U-2 has a great energy retention and good maneuvering characteristic, it is recommended to engage enemy in a dogfight. Just pay attention to the speed, as the F8U-2's wing could be easily ripped when pulling high Gs.

The enemies worth noting are:

* A5Cs, Jaguar As, French F8Es and Mirages, since it is almost impossible for the F8U-2 to dodge the R-550 magics at high speed, even with countermeasures.
* Soviet aircrafts with R-60s, since the only way of dodging this missile is by using flares.
* Other American aircrafts with AIM-9Gs and 9Js, for the same reason as the two above.
* Mig-17s, as they could outmaneuver you in a dogfight.

'''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 with similar battle rating it has similar low altitude level speed, but planes like the MiG-21, Mirage, 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 - 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/APQ-50 search and tracking radar. The radar is mounted in the nose of the aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" | AN/APQ-50 - Target Detection Radar
|-
! {{Annotation|Maximum Detection Range|The maximum possible range at which a target can be detected}}
! {{Annotation|Guaranteed Detection Range|The range, below which, detection of a target is practically guaranteed}}
! {{Annotation|Max Azimuth Scan Angle|How far to each side the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
! {{Annotation|Max Elevation Scan Angle|How far up and down the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
|-
| 370,000 m (theoretical) || 40,000 m || ±50.0° || -8.15°/+4.15°
|-
! colspan="4" | AN/APQ-50 - Target Tracking Radar
|-
! {{Annotation|Maximum Tracking Range|The maximum range at which a target can be tracked}}
! {{Annotation|Minimum Tracking Range|The range below which targets cannot be tracked by the radar}}
! {{Annotation|Azimuth Tracking Angle|How far to each side the radar can track a target}}
! {{Annotation|Elevation Tracking Angle|How far up and down the radar can track a target}}
|-
| 92,500 m || 200 m || ±58.0° || ±58.0°
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Cannons could fire separately to save ammo
* Cannons can deal serious damage, with 4 guns even a short burst is enough to destroy an enemy aircraft.
* Four AIM-9Ds, good when engaging enemies at about 3 km
* Excellent flight performance
* Superb acceleration, even compared to top tier jets
* Very stable, even at high speed
* Very good sustained turn rate
* Landing flaps provide a lot of lift thanks to the variable wing design
* Extendable rocket pod which fires 16 Mighty Mouses at once
* Good radar with an identification friend or foe feature

'''Cons:'''

* Fragile wings, can easily rip at high speeds and hard turns.
* Very likely to set on fire because of the fuel tank placement
* Lacks RWR

== 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/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=jet_fighter&vehicle=f8u-2 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
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</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}}

F8U-2

2021-03-15T03:07:05Z

U67360494: /* Usage in battles */

F8U-2

2021-03-15T02:50:29Z

U67360494: /* Pros and cons */