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Harrier GR.1

2022-01-24T15:52:24Z

U77486748: spelling changes

{{About
| about = British strike aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Harrier (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=harrier_gr1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} British strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "New Power"]]. Like all members of the [[Harrier (Family)|Harrier family]], the Harrier GR.1 is a [[VTOL]] aircraft with thrust vectoring nozzles, which allow it to take off and land vertically.

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

The Harrier GR.1 has an impressive climb rate, though it is put down by Soviet jets that it may face, like the [[MiG-19PT]], [[Su-7B]], and [[Su-7BKL]]. The Harrier's climb rate also suffers the more armament it carries; even just 4 [[SRAAM]]s drops the climb rate from 80 m/s to 68.2 m/s. Equipping 4 x 1,000 lb [[G.P. Mk.I (1,000 lb)|G.P. Mk.I]] bombs cuts the climb rate by more than half. Because the Pegasus engine loses thrust at higher altitudes, the climb rate decreases with it.

The Pegasus engine has amazing low-altitude acceleration, but continues to suffer more at higher altitudes. In the early game, the [[Harrier (Family)]] planes will usually be seen pulling ahead of planes with afterburner (From the airfield, air spawns start the planes with a higher top speed at a higher start speed), but the subsonic status makes the planes with a higher speed catch up after a bit.

The turn rate of the GR.1 is mediocre compared to other planes it may face, especially planes from the [[F-86 (Family)]] and the previously mentioned Soviet planes. The rate of turn suffers the higher it climbs, as with the climb rate. Takeoff flaps, with their very high limit, can be utilized to turn sharper, as well as using the [[VTOL]] function correctly.

'''''Controls tend to lock up at altitudes over 7,000 m (23,000 feet), because of the massive lost of thrust in the Pegasus engine.'''''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)
! 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
| 1,124 || 1,118 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.5 || 33.9 || 63.0 || 61.5 || rowspan="2" | 550
|-
! Upgraded
| 1,143 || 1,133 || 31.5 || 32.0 || 98.5 || 80.0
|-
|}

==== 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 || 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 || 829 || 556 || ~14 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 648 || < 950 || < 790 || 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, engine oil, and full water tank; but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk.101 || 1
| colspan="2" | 5,868 kg || colspan="3" | 439 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 || 34m fuel
|-
| 1,640 kg || colspan="2" | Vectored-thrust low-bypass turbofan
| 6,542 kg || 7,216 kg || 7,890 kg || 8,160 kg || 12,679 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 || 34m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 8,708 kgf || 9,240 kgf
| 1.41 || 1.28 || 1.17 || 1.13 || 0.73
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 8,708 kgf (0 km/h) || 9,240 kgf (0 km/h)
| 1.41 || 1.28 || 1.17 || 1.13 || 0.73
|-
|}
{{Notice|The Pegasus engine loses a significant amount of thrust as your speed increases}}

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


The Harrier GR.1 has no armour. The engine and all fuel tanks are packed in a tight cluster in the centre of the fuselage. However, a Harrier with critical damage, even losing both wings, can often still make it back to the airfield. This has to be done at VTOL speeds, meaning under 300 km/h, making you a big target.

=== 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}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
|}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|ADEN Mk.4 (30 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 30 mm ADEN Mk.4 cannons, belly-mounted (130 rpg = 260 total)

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

{{main|H.E. M.C. Mk.II (500 lb)|G.P. Mk.I (1,000 lb)|SRAAM|SNEB type 23}}

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

* Without load
* 5 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (2,500 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 3 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 4 x SRAAM missiles
* 4 x SRAAM missiles + 3 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (1,500 lb total)
* 4 x SRAAM missiles + 3 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 4 x SRAAM missiles + 72 x SNEB type 23 rockets

== Usage in battles ==


Despite having a weaker engine than other members of the [[Harrier (Family)|Harrier family]], the Harrier GR.1 still possesses exceptional acceleration and rate of climb. Coupled with a decent selection of load-outs (including the extremely powerful [[SRAAM]] missiles), and VTOL capability; this makes the Harrier GR.1 a very potent aircraft for both air-to-air combat and ground attack.

Generally a good way to start the game in the Harrier GR.1, when you are are facing aircraft around your BR or lower, is to takeoff and use your incredible acceleration and climb rate to get up and above the enemy aircraft. Climb slightly to the side of the battle and once you have sufficient altitude begin to swoop down on enemy aircraft below you, dispensing of them with your SRAAMs, or ADEN cannons. When climbing it is best to keep the throttle at only 90-95%, and to not use WEP; even at 90% throttle the mighty Pegasus engine is still capable of giving the Harrier a very impressive climb rate. This is advisable as the Harrier only has about 90 seconds of total WEP time, and there are better uses for it than climbing; in addition the Pegasus engine is not designed to be run a full power for extended periods of time and will overheat if left on 100% throttle for too long. As the battle goes on you can drop down to lower altitude to engage your enemies; you should generally avoid turn fighting, instead opting to make high speed attacks from the side of enemies. How much fuel you take is up to you: the minimum load of 10 minutes gives you an incredible thrust to weight ratio and can be enough for short battles, however it is not enough to last longer battles without refuelling.

When facing enemy aircraft which are mostly above your BR (i.e. top tier jets) you need to be much more cautious when taking the climbing approach. Against top tier jets the Harrier's climb rate is less impressive, and being at high altitude leaves you vulnerable to attack from long range [[Air-to-air_missiles#Semi-Active_Radar_Homing_.28SARH.29_missiles|semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile]], an issue exacerbated by the Harrier GR.1's lack of a radar warning receiver. In such battles it is better to stay low and fast, picking off top tier jets with fast approaches from the side, or by forcing an overshoot (thrust vectoring helps with this).
[[File:Harrier SRAAM Kill.mp4|thumb|400px|right|Getting a side-attack kill with an SRAAM. When launched in this way the SRAAMs are extremely hard to dodge.]]
The primary air-to-air weapon of the Harrier GR.1 are its four incredibly powerful [[SRAAM]] missiles. The SRAAMs are missiles of extremes, outside of 1.0-1.2 km they are near useless, however once you get to within 1.2 km of your target they transform into one of the hardest missiles in the game to dodge. The thrust vectoring nature of SRAAMs make them extremely manoeuvrable and hard to dodge, but mean the missiles cannot manoeuvre at all after the motor burns out, significantly limiting their range. To get the most out of SRAAMs you need to play to their advantages, the SRAAMs' poor range means that firing them from directly behind a target while chasing them is not the best idea unless you are very close, have a speed advantage, or the target is manoeuvring. Instead, the optimal way to use SRAAMs is to approach perpendicular to the target and attempt to obtain a lock from as far out as possible. With a lock obtained you should close on the target from the side; as you approach the 1.2 km mark you should turn into the target and "lead" the missile like you would your guns. Fire the missile within 1 km of the target and there is little they will be able to do about it; the SRAAM's extreme manoeuvrability allows them to follow the target through most evasive manoeuvres. A video of this method can be seen to the right. A key weakness of the SRAAMs (other than their limited range) is that they are highly susceptible to flares. You should either pick targets not equipped with flares, or if a target is equipped with flares try to attack when they are distracted or approach from an angle where you will hopefully not be noticed until it is too late.

While the addition of SRAAMs makes the Harrier GR.1 a potent fighter, it was designed as a ground attack aircraft, and it is very capable at filling this role in-game. The Harrier GR.1 has a good selection of bombs or rockets, coupled with a [[Ballistic Computer|ballistic computer]] providing CCIP this makes the Harrier a powerful ground attacker in both air and ground battles. In air battles the two ADEN cannons are very effective at killing ground targets up to medium tanks and light pillboxes (a task made easier with the ballistic computer), and have a plentiful ammo supply. The ability to reliably kill ground targets is useful for both opportunistic attacks for extra RP and for winning matches (if it comes to it).

The defining feature of the Harrier GR.1 is of course its [[VTOL]] (Vertical Take Off and Landing) capability; while this might at first seem like a "party trick" with limited utility there are situations where it can be surprisingly useful. Obviously VTOL allows for short/vertical takeoffs, and while conventional takeoffs are usually the better option (you typically get up to speed quicker) there are occasions where such capability is desirable (e.g. getting out of the way of players strafing the airfield). A more useful feature of VTOL on takeoff is that it allows the Harrier to take-off from aircraft carriers. Taking off from carriers allows you approach the battle from a different angle, sometimes this an be tactically useful depending on how you want to play the match. Where carriers particularly come in useful is if you need to rearm, but suspect the enemy is waiting for you at your main airfield. Some maps allow you to chose from multiple aircraft carriers to spawn on. These will be one of the [[wt:en/news/6925-development-new-ai-aircraft-carriers-en|three modern carriers]]; there is little to choose from between USS Forrestal and HMS Ark Royal (the Forrestal is a bit larger), however Baku is a little more interesting. If you go with USS Forrestal and HMS Ark Royal you get a speed boost on conventional takeoff (simulating a catapult launch); on Baku you get no such boost, requiring you to use your VTOL capability, but the Baku does have significantly better anti-air protection than the other carriers. Regardless of which aircraft carrier you land on the Harrier has no tail hook or drogue chute, so you will need to make use of your VTOL capability when landing.

Where the Harrier's VTOL capability makes the aircraft unique is in the ability to vector the exhaust nozzles to any angle you want during forward flight, at any speed. Vectoring the nozzles will typically lead to very rapid speed loss and therefore should only be done in certain situations. The most basic use of thrust vectoring is for forcing an overshoot, with the air brake deployed and nozzles fully vectored (so pointing slightly in reverse) the Harrier will slow down quite a bit faster than other aircraft; you can use this to make the aircraft on your tail overshoot then hit them with an SRAAM as they fly past. This technique should only be used as a last resort in one-on-one battles though, as you will lose all of your energy and leave you vulnerable to any other enemy aircraft in the area. A more advanced use is to vector the nozzles during turns to enhance turning performance; while deflecting the nozzles will make you lose speed quicker and thus hurt sustained turning performance it can sometimes give you the little bit extra instantaneous turning performance you need to get guns on target, or dodge an enemy attack. You will need to practice and find for yourself the correct balance between turning performance and speed loss in different situations. A more obscure situation in which thrust vectoring can help is when pulling out of a dive, if you have left it too late then pointing the nozzles downwards can sometimes give you enough lift to avoid hitting the ground.

In Ground RB, usually planes have to fly back to their airfield to rearm/repair. In the Harrier, the VTOL capability can be used to land on helicopter pads which are closer to the battlefield, saving precious time, but with the downside of exposing the aircraft to hostile CAS and helicopters.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Exceptional thrust to weight ratio; high altitude climb is achieved with ease
* Extremely good acceleration
* Thrust vectoring VTOL aircraft: in Ground RB, it can rearm on helicopter pads and nozzles can be deflected in-flight for improved manoeuvring
* Four powerful [[SRAAM]] missiles; four confirmed frags if used correctly.
* Has a Ballistic Computer for all types of armament available
* Has a [[HUD#410SUM1|Head-Up Display]] in the cockpit which provides flight information and weapon aiming functionality
* Able to spawn from aircraft carriers and land/take off from anywhere.

'''Cons:'''

* Limited WEP duration of ~90 seconds because of rapid engine overheating
* Although deflecting nozzles in flight can help with manoeuvrability, doing so bleeds a lot of speed
* Weaker engine than other later [[Harrier (Family)|Harriers]]; engine performance declines as the altitude increases
* Countering the [[SRAAM]] is possible with flares and by outrunning their ~1.5 km effective range.
* Has no radar nor RWR; the player won't easily notice incoming planes
* No countermeasures; evading IR and SARH missiles requires skills and anticipation

== History ==

The Harrier GR.1 was the first operational version of the Harrier Jump Jet, an iconic family of vertical / short takeoff & landing (V/STOL) fighters developed by the UK in the 1960s. Developed from the P.1127, a prototype aircraft demonstrating vertical takeoff & landing capabilities, the Harrier was the first V/STOL aircraft to enter service in the world. The GR.1 was the initial production version of the Harrier, totalling sixty aircraft: the aircraft was highly successful, and heavily-modified variants of the Harrier remain in service today.

=== Initial development - the P.1127 and Hawker Kestrel ===
Following the end of the Korean War, several nations began investigating the possibility of jets capable of vertical takeoff & landing. Jet aircraft required long concrete runways to take off, which was considered a major weakness; at the time, most airfields and runways would've been destroyed early during a conflict, rendering most combat jets useless as they would not be able to take off. The VTOL jet fighter was thought of as the solution to these problems, as the aircraft could take off vertically from fields, roads, or even from the rooftops of buildings; because the aircraft could take off vertically, they would be combat-ready even if the country's airfields were destroyed by initial strikes.

In 1957, the Bristol Engine Company began developing a new directed-fan engine based on their existing Olympus and Orpheus engines. The new engine, soon to be named Pegasus, featured two "cold" jets that expelled non-combusted air from the jet engine compressor, and two "hot" jets that expelled combusted air from the combustion chamber. At the same time, the Hawker design firm was developing the P.1121, a advanced jet fighter to replace the Hawker Hunter; following the cancellation of the P.1121, Hawker began development of a new jet using the Pegasus engine, designated P.1127.

The aircraft was designed to use a single Pegasus engine with four nozzles, each nozzle being capable of swivelling between vertical and forward positions. As well, the Hawker firm began developing a new reaction control system for the aircraft, as traditional control surfaces would have no airflow (and thus, no control) during hover. Much of this development was done with the assistance of the United States, due to the low military spending of the UK during the time. Finally, in 1959, the Hawker firm authorized full funding for the P.1127 program; soon after, the British government ordered the production of two flight-ready prototypes.
[[File:Hawker Siddeley XV-6A Kestrel USAF.jpg|thumb|One of the nine Hawker Kestral FGA.1s with USAF markings.]]
In July of 1931, the first P.1127 prototype, designated XP831, was rolled out for engine testing; after various ground tests, the aircraft first hovered on November 19th, 1960. The first three P.1127 aircraft all crashed, including XP831 which crashed at the 1963 Farnborough Airshow; the pilot survived. At this point, the aircraft had proven itself to the point where Britain, the United States and Germany agreed to a collaboration on the P.1127 project. The three countries collectively funded the first nine pre-production P.1127s, now designated Kestrel FGA. 1.

=== Development of the P.1154 and production of the Harrier ===
In 1961, while the P.1127 performed flight testing, NATO issued a new requirement for a supersonic VTOL fighter. As the P.1127 was subsonic, Hawker pursued the design of two new aircraft, the P.1150 and P.1154. The P.1150 was essentially a supersonic version of the P.1127 while the P.1154 was a heavily-modified design capable of Mach 2.0 at altitude. The P.1154 was declared the winner of the NATO competition, causing France (with its Mirage IIIV) to back out of the procurement project. As a result, in 1965, the P.1154 was cancelled.

At that point, the RAF began to study a simple derivative of the P.1127 as a production strike aircraft, and in late 1965, orders were placed for six pre-production P.1127 airframes. The first P.1127 (RAF) would fly on August 31st, 1966; orders were placed for 60 aircraft, soon to be designated Harrier GR.1. The aircraft were named after a small bird of prey: the Harrier name had initially been planned for the cancelled P.1154. The Harrier GR.1 first flew in December of 1967 and soon entered service with the RAF.

=== Operational history ===
Three Harrier squadrons would be operational by 1970: the No. 1 squadron at RAF Wittering and two squadrons at RAF Wildenrath, in West Germany. The Harrier was used primarily as a close air support aircraft and remained stationed in West Germany for long periods of time, as a deterrent to a potential Soviet invasion. The Harrier GR.1 would also be used to test the SRAAM, an innovative air-to-air missile utilizing thrust-vector control for manoeuvring. The missile failed to reach production but became the basis for the later ASRAAM, which is used on British fighter aircraft today. While the GR.1 would not see combat service abroad, [[Harrier GR.3|GR.3 Harriers]] were used during the Falklands war, along with the Sea Harrier.

The Harrier was also marketed extensively for export. The Spanish Navy and Thai navy both operated first-generation Harriers while Argentina, Australia, China and Switzerland had considered the purchase of Harriers for their respective air forces. Additionally, the Indian navy would procure the Sea Harrier, a derivative of the Harrier, for their aircraft carriers. In total, 61 Harrier GR.1s were produced along with 17 GR.1As, which were GR.1 airframes with uprated engines. 62 of these Harrier GR.1s and GR.1As would be converted to the GR.3 standard later in their operational life.

=== [[wt:en/news/6918-development-jump-jets-arrive-in-war-thunder-meet-the-harrier-en|Devblog]] ===
In the late 1950's, the Bristol company was conducting work on developing an engine featuring innovative thrust vectoring technology. Hawker, impressed with the new engine, began closely working with Bristol to develop an aircraft which could successfully harness the full potential of the Pegasus thrust vectoring engine. The basic idea was to design an aircraft with V/STOL capabilities. From that point, the project became known as the P.1127.

In the early 1960's, a growing interest for V/STOL strike aircraft could be observed among most NATO member states. This resulted in an agreement between the US, Great Britain and West Germany in 1961 to order nine modified versions of the P.1127 - the first versions of which were test flown in the previous year - as evaluators. At the same time, the British evaluation aircraft received the designation Kestrel FGA.1.

Despite suffering setbacks with the P.1154 - a supersonic version of the aircraft developed by Hawker in parallel - evaluations of the Kestrel continued as planned during the early 1960's and concluded in November of 1965. After the P.1154 was ultimately cancelled, the RAF, pleased with the evaluation results of the Kestrel, put up a requirement to modify the Kestrel and placed an order for six pre-production aircraft, designated P.1127 (RAF). Following its maiden flight in August of 1966, the RAF extended the purchase order to 60 production aircraft, now receiving the official designation Harrier GR.1.

The Harrier GR.1 undertook its maiden flight in December 1967 and officially entered service with the RAF in April of 1969. Being involved early on with the aircraft's development, the US also expressed interest in procuring the Harrier. This ultimately resulted in a partnership agreement between Hawker Siddeley and McDonnell Douglas in the late 1960's for a large delivery of Harriers to the USMC in the early 1970's. In US service, the aircraft would receive the designation 'AV-8 Harrier'.

The Harrier was initially deployed with British forces in West Germany in the early 1970's. However, the Harrier saw the peak of its service career during the Falkland War in 1982, flying both ground attack as well as combat air patrol missions (modification Sea Harrier FRS.1) with great success, thus earning itself a high reputation.

Apart from British and American service, variants of the Harrier were also operated by Spain, Thailand and India. In total, around 270 Harriers were produced across all variants with the last being decommissioned from active service in the early 2000's. The original Harrier was subsequently succeeded by a further developed variant - the Harrier II - but more importantly, it had successfully proven the viability of V/STOL aircraft, thus generating a sustained interest in such designs which can still be seen today.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=harrier_gr1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Harrier GR.1 WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:Harrier GR.1 WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
File:Harrier GR.1 WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
File:Harrier GR.1 WTWallpaper 004.jpg|
File:Harrier GR.1 WTWallpaper 005.jpg|
File:Harrier GR.1 WTWallpaper 006.jpg|
</gallery>
<gallery mode="packed" heights="250">
File:Harrier GR.1A XV755.png|A Harrier GR.1A (XV755) pulling away from the burning wreck of an enemy after firing an SRAAM at close range.Note the port side missile cover missing, indicating a fired missile
File:Harriers XV755 & XZ145.png|2 Harrier GR.1s of No.1 Sqn RAF (marketplace camo) & 899 Naval Air Squadron (user skin) are seen flying in formation during a battle
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|-Z0ihOEb1tw|'''The Shooting Range #230''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==


*[[Yak-38]]
*[[Yak-38M]]
*[[Jaguar GR.1]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6918-development-jump-jets-arrive-in-war-thunder-meet-the-harrier-en|[Devblog] Jump Jets arrive in War Thunder: Meet the Harrier]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/504155-harrier-gr1/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Hawker}}
{{Britain jet aircraft}}
{{Britain premium aircraft}}

Su-22M3

2022-01-12T20:19:47Z

U77486748: /* Usage in battles */ simple word corrections

{{Specs-Card
|code=su_22m3
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a squadron rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Winged Lions"]].

== 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 11,000 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
| 2,205 || 2,190 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 27.4 || 27.5 || 148.5 || 142.0 || rowspan="2" | 850
|-
! 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" | _____ || _
| 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
|-
| ___ 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 || MTOW
|-
| ''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}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Ballistic Computer]]
|-
! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs) !! CCRP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
|}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|NR-30 (30 mm)}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** 2 x 30 mm NR-30 cannons, wing-mounted (80 rpg = 160 total)
** 2 x 30 mm NR-30 cannons (80 rpg = 160 total) + 12 x countermeasures

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

{{main|OFAB-100 (100 kg)|OFAB-250sv (250 kg)|FAB-500M-62 (500 kg)|GSh-23L (23 mm)}}
{{main|Kh-23M|Kh-25ML|Kh-29L|R-60}}
{{main|S-3K|S-8KO|S-24B|S-25L|S-25O}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x R-60 missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg = 500 total)
* 20 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 10 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (2,500 kg total)
* 8 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (4,000 kg total)
* 28 x S-3K rockets
* 80 x S-8KO rockets
* 6 x S-24B rockets
* 2 x Kh-23M missiles
* 4 x Kh-25ML missiles
* 2 x Kh-29L missiles
* 6 x R-60 missiles
* 2 x R-60 missiles + 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons
* 2 x R-60 missiles + 20 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 2 x R-60 missiles + 10 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (2,500 kg total)
* 2 x R-60 missiles + 8 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (4,000 kg total)
* 2 x R-60 missiles + 28 x S-3K rockets
* 2 x R-60 missiles + 80 x S-8KO rockets
* 2 x R-60 missiles + 6 x S-24B rockets
* 2 x R-60 missiles + 2 x Kh-23M missiles
* 2 x R-60 missiles + 4 x Kh-25ML missiles
* 2 x R-60 missiles + 2 x Kh-29L missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 18 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,800 kg total)
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 18 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs + 2 x R-60 missiles (1,800 kg total)
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 8 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 8 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs + 2 x R-60 missiles (2,000 kg total)
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 6 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (3,000 kg total)
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 6 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs + 2 x R-60 missiles (3,000 kg total)
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 40 x S-8KO rockets
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 40 x S-8KO rockets + 2 x R-60 missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 28 x S-3K rockets
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 28 x S-3K rockets + 2 x R-60 missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 4 x S-24B rockets
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 4 x S-24B rockets + 2 x R-60 missiles
* 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon + 2 x Kh-23M missiles
* 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannon + 2 x Kh-23M missiles + 2 x R-60 missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 4 x Kh-25ML missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 4 x Kh-25ML missiles + 2 x R-60 missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 2 x Kh-29L missiles
* 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 2 x Kh-29L missiles + 2 x R-60 missiles
* 2 x S-25O rockets
* 2 x S-25O rockets + 6 x R-60 missiles
* 2 x S-25O rockets + 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons
* 2 x S-25O rockets + 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 2 x R-60 missiles
* 2 x S-25L missiles
* 2 x S-25L missiles + 6 x R-60 missiles
* 2 x S-25L missiles + 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons
* 2 x S-25L missiles + 2 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons + 2 x R-60 missiles

== Usage in battles ==

In air battles, like the Su-17, the {{PAGENAME}}'s usage and capabilities are heavily dependent on how well you can use the variable sweep to your advantage. With the wings fully swept, its performance at low speeds can become extremely sluggish, making you an easy target for any fighter that finds you at slow speeds. However, with the wing unswept and with awareness of your speed, altitude, and enemy presence, you can dominate any sustained fights. It is best to start out your match by attacking bombing bases, then after all your bombs are dropped, head into direction of the enemy teams base at low altitudes and avoid head-ons. Try to drag fighters away from the group.

On 1v1s against F-4s, JA37s, and MiG-21MFs, attempt to drag them into lower speeds where you can fully unsweep your wings and use your better low speed turning against them. With fighters that are better in turns with energy such as Mirages, Drakens, and F-5s, slowly take away their energy and altitude, making them easy targets to clean up . Your upgraded engine over the Su-17 will allow you to escape from any attempts these fighters attempt to make with you. It is not recommended to turn-fight F-5s and is best to slowly drain their speed and never attempt to turn with them, as the F-5's energy retention and turn rate is higher than the Su-22 in almost all circumstances.

Always be mindful of your speed and sweep angle as many pilots will find that their plane can become either very sluggish at full sweep angles or be very slow with unswept angles. NEVER attempt to take on coordinated groups as your missiles and guns can be quickly drained (as you only get 6 R-60 at maximum and only 160 rounds for your cannons, and get you shot down quickly. It is strongly recommended to play in coordination with other players to bait enemy players into you to drastically increase your chances of survival. Going to high altitude is unadvised, as with the Su-22s low countermeasure amount, (18 large-caliber countermeasures) you will be quickly dispatched by radar guided missiles such as the AIM-7 Sparrow.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High max speed and climb rate
* Numerous weapon loadout presets
* Brilliant selection of guided weapons to hit ground targets
* Variable sweep wing
* Brilliant S-25L laser-guided missiles
* Excellent maneuverability with wings at minimum sweep
* High energy retention in swept wings and high energy bleed rate with minimum sweep wings
* Large-caliber countermeasures are more effective than standard countermeasures at luring away missiles

'''Cons:'''

* Huge target
* Somewhat sluggish at near stall speeds
* Becomes very sluggish with fully swept wings and has a very low max speed with non-swept wings
* Lacks radar
* Lacks any long range (radar-guided) air to air missiles, is limited to 6 or 2 R-60s
* Requires the near constant use of manual wing sweep in combat
* Very low countermeasure count requires sparing use

== History ==

The Su-22M3 is one of the variants of the Su-17 strike aircraft series designed for export. A distinctive feature of the project was the adaptation of the Su-17M3 airframe for the installation of the Tumansky R-29BS-300 engine, similar to the exported MiG-23’s R-29-300. It was assumed that the engine, familiar to foreign operators, would simplify the service and operation of the aircraft. Unlike the earlier simplified commercial versions, the Su-22M3 modification had avionics completely unified with the Su-17M3. The machine was produced in 1982-83 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, a total of 70 Su-22M3 units were built. These fighter-bombers were delivered to Hungary, Syria, and Iraq.

== Media ==

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

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[Su-17M2]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7487-development-squadron-vehicles-su-22m3-en|[Devblog] Squadron vehicles: Su-22M3]]

{{AirManufacturer Sukhoi}}
{{USSR jet aircraft}}
{{Squadron aircraft}}

Buccaneer S.2

2022-01-07T21:11:28Z

U77486748: petty grammatical stuff

{{About
| about = British strike aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the gift version
| link = Buccaneer S.1
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=buccaneer_s2
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|Buccaneer_Takeoff.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Hot Tracks"]].

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

Despite being the heaviest, longest and biggest jet attacker in the game, the Buccaneer has an impressive cruise speed, manoeuvrability and climb rate even when fully loaded. It should be noted that it is nowhere near on being the fastest plane at its battle rating but can become a forceful opponent when being hunted down, especially if the Buccaneer has a speed advantage. Despite having a max speed of 1,084 km/h, the aircraft is able to reach that speed even when fully loaded flying at level flight. It is able to surpass the max speed at level flight up to 1,112 km/h but any sudden turn will tear apart the wings. Overall agility of the Buccaneer is impressive for a plane of its size, capable of doing hard turns with relative ease even with payload.

'''When on take-off:'''

The Buccaneer MUST use take-off flaps in order to achieve enough air lift to lift the plane at ~270 km/h and do a safe take-off fully loaded with 16,000 lb of bombs. Not doing so may be cause of running out of airstrip before taking off and crashing into buildings or environment. When taking off from carriers, there is no need to use take-off flaps but it is recommended as it is prompt to lose altitude when leaving the deck.

'''When on landing:'''
[[File:Buccaneer Low Speed Flight.mp4|thumb|300px|right|Demonstrating the Buccaneer's ability to maintain flight at less than 170 km/h.]]
Landings should be done below 400 km/h but depending on the situation, map and place where the Buccaneer will land (aircraft carrier or airfield) this may vary. When landing on a carrier, maintain greater speeds than 360 km/h but less than 400 km/h, this is to ensure a safe pull up if the hook is missed. When landing on airfield, maintain greater speeds than 280 km/h but less than 360 km/h, this is to ensure the plane has enough strip to break and slowdown. Thanks to being a massive plane, the momentum is tremendous, meaning it will require longer distances in order to fully land. Use air-break in order to make a faster slowdown.

The Buccaneer is one of only a few aircraft in the game to have a blown flaps system, meaning that under certain conditions air from the engine's compressor is blown over the flaps / control surfaces. This means that despite the Buccaneer's massive weight it has an extremely low stall speed, and impressive low-speed responsiveness (so long as the blowing system is active). As can be seen in the video on the right, with the blowing system active the buccaneer can maintain (and even gain) altitude at speeds as low as ~170 km/h. The blowing system is activated whenever takeoff or landing flaps are selected and throttle is at greater than 30%. This means that you may wish to consider keeping your throttle above 30% while landing in some situations.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)
! 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
| 1,156 || 1,151 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.9 || 34.4 || 71.1 || 64.7 || rowspan="2" | 900
|-
! Upgraded
| 1,177 || 1,166 || 31.5 || 32.0 || 102.9 || 86.0
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 518 || 463 || 370 || ~8 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 585 || < 600 || < 548 || 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 101 || 2
| colspan="2" | 14,206 kg || colspan="3" | 425 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
|-
| 2,361 kg || colspan="2" | Low-bypass turbofan
| 15,854 kg || 17,503 kg || 19,151 kg || 19,975 kg || 25,950 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 (100%)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 35m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 5,020 kgf || N/A
| 0.63 || 0.57 || 0.52 || 0.50 || 0.39
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 5,120 kgf (1,000 km/h) || N/A
| 0.65 || 0.59 || 0.53 || 0.51 || 0.39
|-
|}

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

The Buccaneer is a large target with no armour. The fuel tanks are all mounted in the upper fuselage (above the bomb bay) and although a relatively small target the engines are exposed (mounted not far back from the air intakes). This means that enemy fire will often damage the fuel tanks, the engines, or both. The Buccaneer can fly ok with damage, but is prone to enter a flat spin if one engine is lost during low speed flight (i.e. when landing).

The Buccaneer uses drooping ailerons (the ailerons deflect downwards with the flaps); this increases the lift produced when flaps are deployed. However it means that if you go too fast and rip your flaps off the ailerons are likely to be ripped off as well (as the ailerons also act as flaps), this makes the aircraft very hard to control. If the tail is destroyed, the plane will also lose its elevator as both are connected. The Buccaneer has access to Radar Warning Receiver, meaning the pilot will realize when there is a radar who has a detected the plane (there will be a beeping sound) and a ping will be displayed on display which will activate on the HUD when there is a radar signal and when there is a radar lock there will be a continuous alert sound. This is useful when there is an aircraft with radar guided missiles and ground based radar anti air.

=== 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)
|-
| {{Cross}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
|}
=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}

{{main|H.E. M.C. Mk.II (500 lb)|G.P. Mk.I (1,000 lb)}}
{{main|AGM-12B Bullpup|AIM-9B Sidewinder|RN|RP-3}}

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

* 24 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 12 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 16 x RP-3 rockets
* 4 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 144 x RN rockets
* 144 x RN rockets + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 72 x RN rockets
* 104 x Countermeasures + 72 x RN rockets
* 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 72 x RN rockets (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs + 24 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (16,000 lb total)
* 16 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (16,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs + 16 x RP-3 rockets (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 12 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 6 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 8 x RP-3 rockets
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs + 12 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (10,000 lb total)
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs + 8 x RP-3 rockets (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles (4,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 12 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 6 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 8 x RP-3 rockets
* 104 x Countermeasures + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
* 104 x Countermeasures + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs + 12 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (10,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 10 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (10,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 8 x RP-3 rockets + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 8 x RP-3 rockets + 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 8 x RP-3 rockets (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 16 x RP-3 rockets (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 144 x RN rockets (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 72 x RN rockets (2,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles (2,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 4 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles (2,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 16 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (8,000 lb total)
* 16 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles (8,000 lb total)
* 28 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (14,000 lb total)
* 104 x Countermeasures + 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 6 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (8,000 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 12 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (14,000 lb total)
* 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 72 x RN rockets

== Usage in battles ==

The Buccaneer is a fully air-to-ground plane with very limited defensive capabilities against aircraft. It should never be used to attack enemy aircraft despite having the AIM-9B. These missiles are meant to be used in defence if there is a chance to get behind the enemy who is engaging the aircraft or against helicopters in combined battles. Using the Buccaneer as a fighter will quickly lead to death.
[[File:Buccaneer Formation Attack.png|thumb|399x399px|Buccaneer Formation Dive Bombing]]
The role of the Buccaneer is pretty straight forward when it comes to air battles: base bombing or ground/naval units bombing. It is recommended to utilize the different bomb payloads combined with flares or with the AIM-9B if the pilot wants. It is not recommended to take Bullpups AGM as bombs are more useful in the air battles environment, including in Enduring Confrontation Simulator battles. Rockets are not recommended to be taken as they are inaccurate and useless even with ballistics computer against lightly armoured vehicles. Bullpups can be an sort of effective guided weapon when engaging enemy vessels. They are not recommended to be used against destroyers, cruisers, or battleships in any sort of match. Instead, use them for pinpoint hits on enemy carriers. A well-placed Bullpup is enough to make a carrier sink, it won't be as fast as with bombs but it will use a considerably less amount of ordnance.

The Buccaneer has a wide variety of bomb payloads for all types of players, for those who want to be fast and engage bases or ground targets as quickly as possible and for those who want to carry out as much destruction as possible. The absurd amount of bomb payloads will fit all types of players and their needs. The only drawback is that the plane is not able to carry AIM-9B and flares at the same time. Flares also take up the two outer-most pylons of the plane. The recommended payload for a fair trade in speed, firepower and defensive capabilities is the "104 x Flares + 10 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs" payload. More than enough bombs to take 2 bases in maps where there are only 3 bases and airfield or 1 of the 4 respawning bases like on Ruhr which take double the payload. Only 3 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs are needed per base when there are 3 bases. When in Ruhr or similar maps, bases take the whole 10 bombs (in reality it takes ~8.5 bombs but due to the drop sequence, it is recommended to drop all 10 as you are unable to drop 9 bombs). If the player wants to play a more aggressive full bomb payload, then the "16 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs" payload should be carried. More than enough bombs to destroy the 3 bases in a 3 base map and still have enough payload for the airfield or a base and a half in maps like Ruhr. In enduring confrontation maps, any payload is recommended as EC is more forgiving payload wise as multiple strikes can be done to a base or an airfield.

=== The use of AIM-9B in the Buccaneer ===
The AIM-9B are far from being the best anti-air missiles in the game due to their speed and G-limit. They are not to be used against turning targets nor to chase supersonic targets, the use of AIM-9B is really limited but can be the main offensive line against an unaware enemy plane, specially since at that battle rating almost no aircraft has access to Missile Alert Warning. This makes the AIM-9B a reliable anti-air weapon and relatively long distances considering there is no other AA ordnance. This is specially reliable in Enduring Confrontation/Simulator battles as in other type of gamemodes, knowing the presence of the launcher and when the missile has been fired by eye contact is the main reason why AIM-9B are so easily evaded and countered. If the Buccaneer is to be used as a heavy missile fighter, this is the recommended attack flight path:

* The 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 speed to get into the target area, fire a single missile or a salvo if needed, 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 Buccaneer 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.

'''''Reliable targets for the AIM-9B:'''''

* All sorts of enemy AI attackers and bombers can be easily killed with a missile as they do not dump flares or do evasive manoeuvres like players
* Helicopters (both AI and player controlled) as long as they are not the most modern attack choppers (Ka-50/52, AH-64, EC-665 HAD/HAP/UHT, etc)

=== Flight paths and engagement paths ===
[[File:Buccaneer IRCM.png|left|thumb|413x413px|Buccaneer use of flares while doing a combat turn]]
There are multiple rules which should be followed when flying the Buccaneer in order to prevent and counter a wide variety of threats. The first and pretty straight forward rule is '''stay out of Line of Sight (LOS)'''. This is one of the most basic rules for any aircraft in the game, but specially due to the size of the Buccaneer, it is crucial as it is easier to spot a Buccaneer at distances than an F-84. The Buccaneer is far from being the easiest plane to conceal, but due to its camouflage, it can become invisible to eye sight if whoever is the threat falls in the trap. Do not rely on the camouflage to conceal you most of the time, it depends or the LOS azimuth, distance and enemy pilot's awareness. The blue colour is reliable on both sea and land environments although it is not recommended to rely on it in Realistic or Arcade battles as, once the aircraft is detected, a marker will appear on the Buccaneer revealing the position. Depending on the situation and gamemode, there are multiple environmental hiding places which can make the Buccaneer have a safe flight to target zone, this will be divided into Optical Hiding and Technological Hiding. Both of them are to be complimented by each other, the pilot must not focus on just one or the other. Both have to be done at the same time in order to achieve the best survivability in game.

'''Optical Hiding:'''

The name is pretty straight forward, hiding from eye sight. This is one of the easiest to hide from in most places and gamemodes, even better if it is a Simulator battle. This hiding spots could be doing a "grass-cutting" flight path (flying as close to the ground as possible), flying behind any sort of of environmental obstructions (mountains, inside canyons, inside river banks, etc) or a really high altitude flight. This can become a double edge sword but can make the Buccaneer have a high survivability against enemy planes, not only because the flight ceiling is the highest one in the game (15 km) but also because no aircraft is able to catch it up (at that altitude, the Buccaneer keeps a speed of ~700 km/h). This is to be used only if required in extreme cases, it is not recommended to be used in a normal basis.

'''Technological Hiding:'''
[[File:Buccaneer bomber sight 100m.png|thumb|237x237px|Buccaneer bomb sight at 100m]]
By this term, we are talking about hiding yourself against all sorts of airborne and ground based detection systems, being radar or Infrared Search and Track (IRST). Hiding against them can be tricky depending on the purpose of the aircraft. In this case, hiding from airborne radar is the easiest as cluttering is enough to cause detection issues (refer to [[Airborne radars]] for further explanation of airborne radars and the following explained terms). If the pilot is facing aircraft with airborne radars, the best way to counter is flying low or behind environmental obstructions. Flying high can be a double edge sword depending on the distance, altitude, radar scan pattern and azimuth. Flying extremely high can make the aircraft invisible to enemy radars, both ground based and airborne (ground based get a max range of 15 km detection range at most), depending on the other players, but doing a low flight path ensures key points which are vulnerabilities. Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) will be the main line of defence against all types of radars, any radio wave detected will be displayed on the HUD and the pilot will know if a change in the flight path must be made.

The story changes when there are IRST systems on the battle (only ground based at the game in the [[Stormer HVM]]), they do not trigger RWR on search nor track, making this one of the most menacing threat to the Buccaneer as there are no ways to know if there is a missile lock at you.
[[File:Buccaneer bomb sight at 1000m.png|thumb|238x238px|Buccaneer bomb sight at 1,000 m]]
'''Use of bomb sights and ballistic computer:'''

As the rest of the bombers, the bomb sights are the main aiming tool for delivering ordnance in Air Realistic battles and Simulator, and the [[Ballistic Computer]] in Ground Realistic battles. Depending on the speed of the aircraft, flight attitude and flight altitude, the bomb sight may look different (refer to pictures). Being a jet bomber makes the use of bomber sight at low altitudes trickier compared to prop bombers, mainly for the fact of speed (the greater the speed, the more horizontal parabola will the bombs get). Bomb sights are recommended to be used in altitudes greater than 500 m (see the difference of azimuth between the pictures) and ballistic computer reticle in altitudes less than 500 m. Both have their pros and cons, but the bomb sights are more Simulator-based and while the ballistic computer can be used for everything else, even bombing in Air Realistic battles. Due to being a bomber, the bomb reticle on the ground will never disappear (different from the rest of aircraft with bomb targetting ballistic computers in which the plane must be aiming to the ground at a certain angle to make the reticle display).
[[File:Buccaneer low altitude bombing run.png|left|thumb|330x330px|Low altitude bombing run]]
'''Attack runs with the Buccaneer:'''

The Buccaneer is the fastest and heaviest long range bomber in game (at low flying it can reach speeds of Mach .95 with the 16,000 lb payload) and thus, it is perfect to be used as a "Lightning Strike" bomber thanks to the speed and ballistic computer. Lighting Strikes refer to doing a grass-cutting flight at the fastest speed as possible and dropping bombs on targets as close to the ground as possible in order to ensure accuracy but still maintain high speeds. This is primarily the best engagement path when engaging ground targets (GRB preferably as in Simulator is harder due to the restricted cabin/bomb sight views but not impossible) as you counter enemy's radar, situational awareness and reaction time. By the time the enemy SPAA will engage the Buccaneer will be long gone from the combat zone due to the high speeds. When using Bullpups, engagement paths should be different. The Buccaneer must have a clear LOS not only because trees will be able to detonate the air-to-ground missile but also because they are manually guided.

=== Missile Evasion and Defensive Manoeuvres ===
This can be the most tricky and complicated part of the Buccaneer as the pilot must know their enemy, the way such plane is meant to be flown, the suspended armament it can carry and the flight performance of such plane. One of the most common threat faced in all environments are air-to-air missiles from any nation. From AIM-9Gs to R-60s, the Buccaneer is able to face them and counter them utilizing diverse methods but not all of them will apply to all missiles. The Buccaneer has no problems in doing evasive manoeuvres and "break, bank and jink" against enemy missiles. However, the best counter to this is not letting the enemy launch missiles at all. Keep your tail pointed '''away''' from enemy radars and the front of enemies. Do not stay still for prolonged periods of time without checking behind you for tell-tale white streaks or the missile markers.
[[File:Buccaneer combat turn.png|thumb|Buccaneer flare dump and break evasive manoeuvre]]
'''When facing AIM-9s:'''

Due to the way AIM-9s are meant to be used, do not try to outrun these missiles, they are meant to be used at long ranges as manoeuvres when seen from a distance mean smaller course corrections. They are often the easiest missiles to counter without the need of flares (with exception of AIM-9Ds as they have a G-limit of 20G). These missiles overall have an effective range of ~3.5 km, meaning they are easily countered when at distances closer than 2.5 km as they will not have enough agility to make flight corrections if a hard turn is made. This can be done effectively by not only doing a turn with the Buccaneer surface controls (being elevator or aileron) but also the use of the airbrake (as part of the thrust generated is partially redirected to the surface controls giving lift to them). This makes the Buccaneer able to outturn even fighters with bomb payload.

'''When facing AIM-7s, R-3Ss and Matra 530:'''

There is not much to say about radar-guided missiles besides their threatening speed and the uselessness of flares against them as they are radar locked. In order to counter this, the pilot can create radar cluttering by flying close to the ground in order to nullify the missile tracking and "break" (doing a hard turn only when the missile is closer than 2.5 km can also evade the missile). These sorts of missiles will be the easiest to spot as RWR will give a significant alert when there is a radar lock.

'''When facing R-60s:'''

R-60s are a different story as they are the opposite of AIM-7s and AIM-9s. They have an effective range of ~2.25 km, making them useless for long range combat but are able to pull 30G, meaning R-60s have to be countered the other way around. R-60s should not be tried to out-turn but to outrun with the use of flares. Due to the spread the flares have on the Buccaneer (flare pods are on the most outer pylons), doing a straight flight path and let flares to the job does not work. In order to counter R-60s flares must be dumped and the Buccaneer must turn, a hard turn is not required but it is recommended as the incoming plane can do course correction to gun strafe the Buccaneer.

'''When facing SRAAMs:'''

This event is highly unlike to happen due to the SRAAM being a British missile while the Buccaneer is a British aircraft, but in case this happens, the aircraft must do a similar procedure as with the R-60s but with much more carefulness and responsiveness. The SRAAM is a vectoring thrust missile, meaning the missile can start turning without the need of much speed as the vectoring thrust changes the direction of the thrust, making it much more agile. It can be easily countered with speed (effective range is less than 1.2 km) and with the use of flares.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Massive bomb load of up to 16,000 lb with various payload options and combinations
* Reasonably good flight performance
* Very low stall/landing speed thanks to blown flaps
* Can land on aircraft carriers
* Has countermeasures and RWR; unlike the [[Buccaneer S.1]]
* Can carry two [[AIM-9B Sidewinder]] missiles for limited air defence roles
* Has a [[Ballistic Computer|ballistics computer]] with CCIP for bombs and rockets, as well as CCRP. The CCIP works in level flight, unlike on most other aircraft.
* Has a [[HUD#Buccaneer HUD|Head-Up Display]] in the cockpit which provides flight information and weapon aiming functionality.

'''Cons:'''

* No guns; the only effective way to fight enemy aircraft are the two [[AIM-9B]] missiles
* Big target; often will be targeted by enemy aircraft
* Flares are carried in pods suspended from the outboard pylons; must sacrifice ordnance to carry them, and cannot carry AIM-9Bs while carrying flares
* The flare position and deployment pattern (out to the sides) severely limits their effectiveness
* If flaps rips off the ailerons will be ripped off as well, making the aircraft very hard to control
* Heavily loaded wings can rip in turns if not careful

== History ==


The Blackburn Buccaneer was a response to the threatening expansion the Soviet Navy was having at the time. This expansion was the main menace to ships in the Atlantic, especially merchant ships. Thus, the British MoD opted to utilize their already existing naval weaponry and not make a new fleet to counter this expansion. In 1952, the preliminary requirements were set out: a carrier based two-seat jet with maximum speed of 550 knots and combat range of 400 nautical miles, able to carry 8,000 lb of both conventional weaponry and special weaponry such as the Red Beard free-fall nuclear bomb and the Green Cheese anti-ship missile. First responses were made in 1953 and the first prototyping of the Buccaneer was made. It was codenamed BNA (Blackburn Naval Aircraft) or BANA (Blackburn Advanced Naval Aircraft) which lead to the nickname "Banana jet". The first flight of the prototype was made in 1958. This turned into a successful aircraft and was produced under the name of Buccaneer S.1 and served with the FAA in 1963. It was powered by a pair of de Havilland Gyron Junior turbojets. Despite the success of the aircraft, the thrust generated by these engines was lacklustre and failed to achieve the required lift in order to carry the aircraft with full armament and fuel load. This could be resolved by taking the required amount of fuel needed to rendezvous with an aerial refuelling aircraft. While being a solution, it was inefficient as the low thrust generated by both engines while depending on lift blow marked a serious danger.

As a long-term solution, the engines were replaced to Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engine which could generate 40% more thrust that the previous engines. This new version was named Buccaneer S.2. Blackburn, which was bought later by Hawker Siddeley, ordered production of the S.2 in 1962. The already built Buccaneer S.1s were retrofitted to S.2 standards by the end of 1966.

The Royal Navy was not the only one which asked for Blackburn Buccaneer. The RAF was looking for a replacement for the B-57 Canberra bombers. After the cancellation of the acquisition of the General Dynamics F-111K, the RAF stood in crisis. It was therefore that the RAF decided in 1968 to adopt the Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 as a replacement for the B-57 Canberra bomber. 46 units were built and delivered to the RAF for service. These specific units were renamed to Buccaneer S.2B. These had the RAF type communitcations and avionics equipment as well as their weaponry including the Martel air-to-surface missile and a bulged bomb bay which could hold an extra fuel tank. Some of these units were capable of firing the anti-ship version of the Martel. These units were renamed to Buccaneer S.2D and the remaining were renamed to S.2C, a major upgrade for the Buccaneer which included enhanced Electronic Warfare systems and AIM-9 Sidewinder capabilities. In 1979, some Buccaneers were fitted with the AN/AVQ-23 Pave Spike laser designator pod for the Paveway II laser guided bombs.

In October 1962, 16 aircraft were ordered for the South African Airforce named as Buccaneer S.50, these were retrofitted Buccaneer S.2 with Bristol Siddeley BS.605 rocket engines to provide additional take-off thrust.

===[[wt:en/news/6975-development-blackburn-buccaneer-s-2-banana-jet-en|Devblog]]===
In the early days of the Cold War, the Soviet construction program of the new Sverdlov-class cruisers caused the British military a great deal of concern. Believing the Sverdlovs would pose a similar threat as the German 'pocket battleships' in the previous war, the Admiralty decided to counter this issue not by building new ships of their own, but developing a new strike aircraft instead.

After issuing a set of requirements for a new jet-powered attack aircraft with nuclear strike capabilities, the Admiralty chose Blackburn's design as the winner of the competition in 1955. A few years later, in 1958, the first prototype of the Blackburn Buccaneer undertook its maiden flight.

The first production version of the Buccaneer, the S.1, entered service with the FAA in the early 1960's. However, the Buccaneer's early service career was plagued with issues relating to its underpowered and unreliable turbojet engines. Therefore, Blackburn almost immediately began working on an improved variant by the time the problems became apparent. Outfitting the aircraft with much more powerful and economical turbofan engines, Blackburn introduced the Buccaneer S.2 in the mid '60's, with the first aircraft joining the ranks of the FAA in March 1965.

However, after the British fleet carriers began being decommissioned in the late 1970's as part of a foreign policy agenda change, the Buccaneer S.2's were also being phased out of active service along with them. The roughly 80 produced Buccaneer S.2's largely participated in exercises and training missions under FAA service, but saw more extensive use with the RAF, after being retired by the Navy.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=buccaneer_s2 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
{{Skin-gallery
|market|ugcitem_1001023|XW544 Fulda.png|Buccaneer S.2 XW544
|live|993918|XX894 Normandy.png|Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 XX894 - TBAG, Cotswold Airport
|live|986242|XX894 Sinai.png|Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 XX894 - RAF Operation Granby, 1991
}}

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Buccaneer S.2 Devblog Images" heights="200">
File:Buccaneer S.2 WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:Buccaneer S.2 WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
File:Buccaneer S.2 WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
File:Buccaneer S.2 WTWallpaper 004.jpg|
File:Buccaneer S.2 WTWallpaper 005.jpg|
File:Buccaneer S.2 WTWallpaper 006.jpg|
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|TY-M41AUM48|'''The Shooting Range #237''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==


* [[Canberra B Mk 2]]
* [[B-57A]]
* [[S.O.4050 Vautour IIB]]
* [[Vautour IIA IDF/AF (France)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6975-development-blackburn-buccaneer-s-2-banana-jet-en|[Devblog] Blackburn Buccaneer S.2: Banana Jet]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/510283-buccaneer-s2/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Blackburn}}
{{Britain jet aircraft}}

Phantom FGR.2

2022-01-07T20:55:32Z

U77486748: small stuff

{{About
| about = jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = F-4 Phantom II (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f-4m_fgr2
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', also known as the '''F-4M''', is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.93 "Shark Attack"]]. It is a British version of the American F-4 Phantom II.

Although at first glance the F-4M appears very similar to its American counterpart the [[F-4C Phantom II]], there are a number of major visual and performance differences between the two aircraft. Phantoms produced for the RAF were redesigned to use British Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines, instead of the General Electric J79 turbojet engines found on American Phantoms. The British engines produced more thrust than the American engines, but were larger; as a result, the fuselage of British Phantoms was modified to be slightly wider than on the American models. In addition, the Phantom FGR.2 has larger air intakes than the F-4C, in order to allow for the increased airflow required by the new engines. The rear of the Fuselage is also significantly different on the Phantom FGR.2; the engines are noticeably angled downwards, and due to the different afterburner arrangement on the Spey engines the exhaust ports and the surrounding area were redesigned. Most distinctively, the Phantom FGR.2 has a squared-off tail and lacks the under-nose probe of the F-4C.

In-game these changes mean that the Phantom FGR.2 has much better low altitude acceleration and climb rate, compared to the [[F-4C]], as a result of the more powerful engines. In games you will usually see the Phantom FGR.2s get off the ground and to altitude quicker than the F-4Cs; however due to the increased drag of the redesigned fuselage, and the performance characteristics of the Spey engines, it does not perform quite as well as the F-4C at high altitude, and cannot reach the same maximum speed.

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

[[File:FGR.2 fenris 001.jpg|400px|thumb|right|]]
The Phantom FGR.2 is a large and heavy aircraft (more than twice the weight of a MiG-21), but there are times when you would hardly know it. The Phantom's two Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans are the most powerful jet engines in the game and give it an incredible thrust to weight ratio, leading to the Phantom FGR.2 being the fastest accelerating, and flat out fastest aircraft in the game at low altitude, while also being a strong contender for the fastest climbing. On take-off even stock FGR.2s will be the first aircraft to get off the ground and make it top the end of the runway (usually be a decent margin); while in terms of flat out speed a fully upgraded FGR.2 will push Mach 1.22 along the deck, a good bit faster than any other aircraft. The Phantom also climbs incredibly well, when loaded with 20m of fuel, missiles and a gun pod it can accelerate past Mach 1 in a 20° climb and even gain speed in a 50° climb (until it reaches about 2,000 m altitude); only few aircraft make it to altitude as fast as / faster than the FGR.2.

While the Phantom FGR.2 is certainly not the most maneuverable fighter in the game it can prove to be more agile than you would expect at low altitude. While you shouldn't be getting into full blown turn fights the Phantom handles very nicely when down low and can pull some maneuvers with surprisingly little speed loss (mainly thanks to the amount of engine power you have).

Where the Phantom FGR.2 suffers is at higher altitudes, the Spey engines perform worse at altitude and the structural changes to accommodate them caused increased drag; this makes it slower than the American [[F-4C]]. At high altitude the FGR.2 loses the agility it had at lower altitude, and generally does not handle as nice. While it is still flyable evasive maneuvers become harder and the turn radius is much larger.

{| 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
| 2,189 || 2,146 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.5 || 26.7 || 176.0 || 165.3 || rowspan="2" | 850
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,355 || 2,268 || 25.5 || 26.0 || 246.9 || 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 || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ 
|-
|}
[[File:FGR2 full ordnance.jpg|thumb|400x400px|Phantom FGR.2 with multi-role ordnance]]
{| 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 || 584 || 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" | 13,645 kg || colspan="3" | 396 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
| 15,397 kg || 17,124 kg || 18,863 kg || 19,485 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'' || 5,120 kgf || 9,031 kgf
| 1.17 || 1.05 || 0.96 || 0.93 || 0.71
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 5,120 kgf (0 km/h) || 10,331 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 1.34 || 1.21 || 1.10 || 1.06 || 0.81
|-
|}

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

Much like the older [[F-4C]] variant, the British {{PAGENAME}} is without any armour protection whatsoever - the weight savings allow the aircraft to take on more fuel or ordnance while utilizing speed as its best defense. This fighter packs numerous fuel tanks, while some are located in the leading edges of the wings, the majority of the fuel tanks are located within the fuselage packed around the engines and behind the cockpit. The control lines for the {{PAGENAME}} run from the cockpit down the length of the upper fuselage to the tailplane, relatively exposed to enemy gunfire.

Fighters attempting to take down a {{PAGENAME}} should try to force it to bleed its energy in a turn with missiles - a slow Phantom is a vulnerable Phantom. Autocannons and missiles will be most effective for disabling or destroying critical components, but smaller rockets such as [[M/55]], [[SNEB Type 23]] or [[FFAR Mighty Mouse]] unguided rockets fired in salvos during a head-on engagement may cause enough of a scattered grouping that a {{PAGENAME}} may not be able to avoid them all and fly into at least one.

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

The order in which modifications are unlocked on the Phantom FGR.2 will depend to some extent on how one would like to play the aircraft. The [[AIM-9D]] missiles are among the best available to top tier jets, and so most fans of missile combat will likely want to unlock them as soon as possible. If missiles are not desired then it may be wise to instead focus on unlocking the 20 mm belts and new 20 mm cannon modification, to make the spread of the gun less extreme and more usable; and if one plans to use it as a ground attacker, then the ordnance options are the obvious choice (although the FGR.2 does not excel in this role to the same extent as its American counterpart). When equipped with its 8 x 1,000 lb bombs the FGR.2 becomes highly potent bomber; using its low altitude performance to get to enemy bases incredibly quickly, it is possible to unlock the bombs and use this tactic to speed up unlocking other modifications, although the FGR.2 is a capable fighter when stock so this is not a necessity.

Even when stock the Phantom FGR.2 is just about the best-performing aircraft in the game at low altitude; with this in mind flight performance upgrades are not as much of a priority as on other aircraft, so weapons upgrades can be prioritized. When unlocking flight performance upgrades one may wish to focus on engine upgrades to further improve the FGR.2's incredible acceleration and climbing performance.

;Possible modifications to prioritise (depending on playstyle of the pilot)

* Powerful missiles: AIM-9D, AIM-9G, AIM-7E, and Skyflash modifications
* Ammunition variety: Offensive 20 mm modification
* Ground attack: 1,000 LB GP modification for larger bombs followed up with Matra SNEB modification for unguided rockets

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

{{main|}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** Without offensive armament
** 90 x countermeasures

=== 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

Like the [[F-4C]], the Phantom FGR.2 lacks any internal guns; instead relying on an M61 Vulcan rotary cannon, mounted centrally under the fuselage. The cannon is angled downwards at about 1°, coupled with the position of the gun under aircraft this makes aiming slightly more difficult than on other aircraft; the gun also has a wide bullet spread. A benefit of the rotary cannon is that it can fire all 1,200 rounds of ammo before it can overheat and jam. Unlike the F-4C the Phantom FGR.2 can only carry a single gunpod.

In terms of other suspended weaponry, the Phantom FGR.2 falls far behind the F-4C. It has a more limited choice of bombs, carries fewer rockets and cannot carry Bullpup air to ground missiles.

In terms of air to air missiles, the Phantom FGR.2 can carry up to four IR missiles (AIM-9D/G), in conjunction with four SARH missiles (AIM-7E/Skyflash). Compared to analogues such as the [[AIM-9J]], AIM-9D and G have much longer engine burn times while only slightly sacrificing flight performance characteristics. Notably, the AIM-9G can be slaved to a radar lock, and has no G-load limit when launching, allowing for a very versatile and powerful medium-range missile.

The AIM-7E Sparrow is radar-guided which means it uses semi-active radar homing to find and track the target. It can pull up to 15 G but it is recommended for longer range engagements, e.g lock a target and fire from up to around 8 km away, because the Sparrow is all-aspect and pilots without RWR (radar warning receiver) will not know it is even coming if they are not situationally aware. This means that you can launch Sparrows at people who will never even see the missile coming. Although good for medium to longer range engagements, the Sparrow is not very good at making sudden changes to its flightpath and it takes a while to start tracking opponents. This is somewhat mitigated by the improved G-overload of the Skyflash missiles, however you are better off switching to your infrared homing missiles (using the [[Weapons selector|weapon cycle function]]) if it becomes a closer-range rear-aspect engagement.

== Usage in battles ==


The thing which sets the Phantom FGR.2 apart from other jets is the sheer power of its engines (the most powerful in the game); this gives it incredible speed, acceleration and climb rate, especially at low altitude. The engines are however very fuel hungry, leading to a decision needing to be made about the fuel load you take. It may be tempting to take the 7 minute load to maximize flight performance, although this is ill advised as this will only give you a little over three minutes of flight time when using the afterburner, even if you only use the afterburner sparingly the 7 minutes fuel load will still limit your endurance quite significantly, and can often lead to you having to return to base sooner than you would want to. It is usually best to pick 20 minutes of fuel; this should give adequate endurance for the majority of games, and although the aircraft feels noticeably heavier than with 7 minutes of fuel it still performs incredibly well.

There are two main schools of thought on how to fly the Phantom FGR.2 to best make use of its advantages. One is to start the game by climbing to high altitude, and the other is to maintain low altitude throughout the game. Most games will use a mixture of both tactics i.e. starting the game by climbing high to get long range missile kills, then dropping down to low altitude to make use of your best-in-class low altitude performance.

; Start by climbing

The Phantom FGR.2 is one of the best climbing aircraft in the game; some players prefer to use this to their advantage and get to altitude at the start of the game in order to be above the vast majority of enemy aircraft. When choosing to play this way a good climbing technique is to take off on full afterburner straight into either a 20° or a 30° climb, depending on if you value speed or altitude more. A spaded Phantom FGR.2 with 20m of fuel the cannon pod and 4x [[AIM-9G]] and 4x [[Skyflash]] (the recommended load-out for most players) will accelerate to > Mach 1 in a 20° climb and reach 5,000 m about 1 minute 10 seconds after leaving the ground; by comparison in 30° climb it will reach 5,000 m in about 55 seconds after leaving the ground, albeit travelling at only Mach 0.8. The choice of which climb profile to follow (or make your own) is up to you; 30° will get you to altitude quicker and in less horizontal distance, but at the expense of speed; on larger maps you may wish to take the 20° to get to the battle area quicker, it depend on your playstyle; there are also other situations where having more speed once you get to altitude is desirable.

Everything varies depending on your playstyle and the situation in battle, but as a rough guide if you want to learn the climbing play style: it is advisable to climb to an altitude between 6,000 m and 10,000 m. At these altitudes the Phantom has a lot worse handling than it does at low level: evasive manoeuvres are harder and the turning radius is greatly increased. However, such high altitudes altitude are ideal for scoring long range kills with the Skyflash in a merge, or with the AIM-9G in a chase. The radar can help spot targets, however, continue looking for silhouettes as the radar will only pick up targets from the horizontal up to 9 degrees, and within 60 degrees left or right.

The Skyflash is a lethal SARH missile, combining the long range capabilities of the original AIM-7E Sparrow with a 25G overload compared to the previous AIM-7E's 10G. These missiles can be launched at over 15 km where the missile marker may not be visible, or within 7 km to limit the target's time to react. At high altitude, the Skyflash effectively cannot be dodged within 4 km. After launch, keep the target within the gimbal limits of the radar and the Skyflash will always hit the locked target if they do not take action in time.

Along with the Skyflash, the FGR.2's pulse doppler (PD) radar effectively grants immunity against chaff in a merge. The only way to break the FGR.2's PD lock is to 'notch' (turn perpendicular to the lock), or turn cold and run away. As mentioned above, while waiting to launch the Skyflash at dangerously close ranges is certainly risky, doing so will almost always guarantee a kill at high altitudes.

Comparing the 2 western top tier IR missiles - the AIM-9G and AIM-9J - the AIM-9G slightly falls behind in track rate, manoeuvrability, and seeker sensitivity. However, it makes up for these downsides with a 6-second rocket burn time, the removal of a G limit on launch, and a massive 30 degree acquisition envelope. This Sidewinder is effective up to 4 km at high altitudes. The greater the distance on launch, the less likely the enemy is to notice the incoming missile. In diving attacks on low-flying enemies, the best targets are those directly below and flying away in the same direction to maximize the chance of maintaining the IR lock. The AIM-9G has a tendency to lose lock when perpendicular to the heat source, which makes attacking manoeuvring targets unideal regardless of altitude. The massive engagement envelope and the lack of a G limit on launch allows the pilot to lead the AIM-9G up to 30 degrees while pulling manoeuvres that would prevent an AIM-9J from leaving its pylon.

; Staying low

[[File:R-60 Dodge Phantom PoV.mp4|thumb|right|Dodging an R-60 in the Phantom FGR.2 (Phantom player view)]]
[[File:R-60 Dodge Missile PoV.mp4|thumb|right|Dodging an R-60 in the Phantom FGR.2 (Missile view)]]
At high altitudes the Phantom becomes much less manoeuvrable, and to some extent loses its raw performance advantage compared to other top tier jets. Therefore, you may alternatively learn how to best use the Phantom at lower altitudes where controls are more responsive and its acceleration and speed dominate the competition. All missiles have a reduced effective range (by a factor of ~1/3) due to denser air and the greater probability of the target evading missiles. Skyflashes will only be effective within 3 km in head-ons only, and AIM-9Gs within 2 km in subsonic pursuits. Holding on to any energy is crucial as it keeps open the option to disengage when needed. Phantoms have a few last-ditch tricks to shake off a pursuer closing the distance, however, the manoeuvre must be timed and executed perfectly or it will result in your death. The 20 mm M61 Vulcan is the ideal weapon for these knife fights, sporting a 6,000 rpm rate of fire and a 1,050 m/s muzzle velocity. The stock Vulcan is accurate enough even for high deflection shots at 1 km, and spraying a barrage of 20 mm at the enemy's cockpit in a head-on is more likely to cripple the enemy in several components (pilot, radar, wing roots, tail, even the engines) than a laser beam. While the HEF-I rounds in the Air Targets belt is enticing, the best belt against enemy aircraft is the Ground Targets belt. API rounds tends to ignite enemy aircraft more than HEF-I, and as an added bonus, leftover ammo can be used to attack ground targets after the furball ends. The default belts may be used instead to save on Silver Lions, as both the default and Ground Targets belts perform exceptionally well against aircraft and ground targets. Even though most air-to-air kills will be achieved with missiles, it is imperative to regularly practice marksmanship with the Vulcan or you will end up in a similar situation to the early Phantoms in Vietnam.
On a side note, it is highly advisable to fight at low altitude until countermeasures have been unlocked.

In theory, the ideal playstyle for the Phantom is to combine the best of both worlds: secure air superiority at high altitude then fight downwards. Principled Phantom pilots typically climb to high altitude to use their SARH missiles and make diving attacks with Sidewinders, whereas modern pilots tend to rush in at low altitude and get into the action in the shortest time.
You will develop your own tactics, but a good place to start is by sideclimbing to ~3,000 m, then fly to the side of the combat area and flank your enemies from behind. Use missiles to engage farther targets and use the Vulcan at close range. Engage a target a high speed, then break away and gain sufficient separation before turning around for another pass. Your aircraft handles at its best below ~3,000 m at Mach ~0.9. You can hold your speed well in turns (mainly down to the incredibly powerful engines), but the Phantom is still far from the most manoeuvrable aircraft, so turning engagements should be avoided. MiGs will often try to pull you into vertical manoeuvres, your engines do have enough thrust to let you attempt to follow them if you really need to, but it is seldom recommended as you will not usually be able to get guns or missiles on the MiG and it will leave you vulnerable to attack from other aircraft. If you notice your target begin pulling a manoeuvre you cannot follow, lightly turn the opposite direction to maximize separation rate.

When partaking in the low altitude brawl you need to maintain good situational awareness. You can outrun any other jet in a straight line, but if you get caught up in a dogfight all it takes is one MiG-21 with [[R-60|R-60s]] slotting onto your tail to ruin your day. The MiG-21s equipped with [[R-60|R-60s]] are probably your biggest threat, but they can be managed. The R-60 will rarely hit you if it is fired from more than 2 - 2.5 km away; if one is fired at you from within 2 km then you will not always be able to dodge it depending on the situation, but there are techniques you can use to significantly increase your chances. The first technique is to turn one way when the missile is launched, then roll and pull the aircraft downwards when you see it pulling lead on you. However, this method will not work if you are flying at treetop level with no room to descend. If you do not have flares, you must stay above 1,000 m for safety. Alternatively, R-60s and many other IR missiles are easily decoyed by deploying flares with a moderate turn.

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:FGR.2 fenris 003.png |400px|thumb|right|]]

'''Pros:'''

* Very powerful Spey engines make the FGR.2 one of the best jets in top speed, acceleration, climb rate, energy retention
* [[AIM-9D]] and [[AIM-9G Sidewinder|AIM-9G]] have significantly longer range than other NATO IR missiles and have no G limit restrictions on launch
** AIM-9G has a massive 30 degree acquisition envelope
* Carries Skyflash SARH missile
* Multi-role capabilities with [[Ballistic Computer|CCIP and CCRP]] and various ground attack ordinance
* Can carry a total of 90 countermeasures
* Has radar warning receiver
* M61 in a belly-suspended gunpod sporting excellent ballistics, fire rate, and ammo capacity
* Has tail hook for carrier landings
* Has drag chute to reduce landing distance and time
* Has pulse doppler radar, granting some chaff immunity and enabling SARH missiles to be used at low altitude
* AIM-9Ds are very good for a stock missile
* Lack of Agile Eagle slats further improves energy retention (compared to the F-4E)

'''Cons:'''

* Poor turn rate even compared to other Phantoms, especially the [[F-4E]]
* M61 gunpod adds significant amount of drag, missiles-only loadout is inadequate for high aspect attacks
* Difficult to land on carriers
* Spey engines produce less thrust than J79-GE-17 engines at very high altitudes
* Has limited ground attack loadouts compared to other Phantoms

== 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 defense 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.

In 1970 Phantom FGR.2s were deployed to West Germany to serve the roles of ground attack, interdiction, and reconnaissance; while English Electric Lightnings covered bomber interception. Over the years it was determined that the increased range and weapons payload of the Phantom made it a better fit for defending the UK's airspace, than the Lightning; so from 1974 onwards Phantoms began to be withdrawn from Germany to serve in air defence roles; they were replaced in the Close Air Support role by the SEPECAT Jaguar. The Phantoms took over more and more of the air defence role from the Lightning; however the Lightning would remain in service until 1988 (retiring only a few years before the Phantoms). 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 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.

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 ==


;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|DXovE9BD1a0|'''Should You Buy the Phantom FGR.2''' - ''Sako Sniper''|03iOjLo81uU|'''British Phantom FGR.2 Gameplay review war thunder''' - ''Sgt. Vittie''|nrfff8Y8pK8|'''War thunder Phantom FGR.2''' - ''riko toho''}}

== 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 ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/468663-f-4m-phantom-fgr2/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [[Wikipedia:McDonnell_Douglas_Phantom_in_UK_service|[Wikipedia<nowiki>]</nowiki> McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service]]

===References===
'''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}}

Lightning F.6

2022-01-07T20:48:50Z

U77486748: small spelling mistakes

{{Specs-Card
|code=lightning_f6
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|Lightning Red Top Kill.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_lightning_f6.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].

The Lightning is a very distinctive aircraft, with its unique stacked engine design, highly swept wings, and large ventral fuel tank. It was designed as a high performance interceptor aircraft, to defend against Soviet bombers, sacrificing range and flexibility for raw performance. With most of the fuselage taken up by the two powerful Rolls-Royce Avon engines, fuel had to be put wherever it could fit inside the wings (including inside the flaps), and in a large ventral fuel tank fitted to the underside of the aircraft. Another factor adding to the Lightning's unique appearance is the fitment of two air-to-air missiles to the sides of the forward fuselage.

In-game, the Lightning has decent acceleration, climb rate, and top speed; and can carry two Firestreak or Red Top missiles. While its missiles are not the best in the game they are still powerful weapons, although the limited quantity does require you to chose your shots carefully.

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


The Lightning F.6 possesses good acceleration and climb performance, although arguably not as good as late model MiG-21s, and some [[F-4 Phantom II (Family)|Phantoms]]. The Lightning's two powerful Avon 302 engines do however give it the unique capability of being able to supercruise (fly supersonic without afterburner) at all altitudes, something no other aircraft in the game can do. At sea level the Lightning can supercruise at Mach 1.03, with this generally increasing with altitude (for example at 5,000 m it can supercruise at Mach 1.07). The Lightning has a lower listed wing rip speed than other top tier jets such as MiG-21s and [[F-4 Phantom II (Family)|F-4 Phantoms]], however it due to its powerful engines it is capable of reaching (and exceeding) this speed in level flight, even with a full missile armament. This means that the Lightning is actually faster than many of its competitors in a low altitude chase situation, being able to reach Mach 1.08 safely at sea level and Mach 1.10 if you want to push it (structural failure tends to occur at this speed so be careful); Mach 1.14 can be safely reached at 1,000 m. Enemy aircraft can still catch you if they are coming out of a dive, but a surprising number will not be able to keep up in a prolonged chase with a Lightning. Supercruise can be used to give the Lightning longer endurance than other top tier jets, without having to sacrifice speed.

In real life the Lightning's optimal climb profile was to accelerate to 450 knots (833 km/h) and then enter a climb, adjusting the climb angle to maintaining 450 kts / Mach 0.87 (whichever is lower)<ref name="LightningF6ODM" />, and this method works well in game however a simpler approach can just be to accelerate to a reasonably high speed (around 1,000 km/h and enter a 30 degree climb). The Lightning is not a particularly maneuverable aircraft, however it can turn fairly well when at high subsonic speed and lower altitude, turning off the afterburner can also improve turning performance in some situations. The roll rate varies with speed and altitude, but is generally nothing special (bar a few speed / altitude combinations, where it rolls surprisingly well).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 12,192 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
| 2,240 || 2,213 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.8 || 28.0 || 124.6 || 115.4 || rowspan="2" | 850
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,353 || 2,290 || 24.4 || 26.0 || 177.8 || 150.0
|-
|}

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

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

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

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="4" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="2" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.302 || 2
| colspan="2" | 14,020 kg || colspan="2" | 436 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="3" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 6m fuel || 20m fuel || 22m fuel
|-
| 1,310 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet
| 15,382 kg || 18,109 kg || 18,559 kg || 19,000 kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="4" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 6m fuel || 20m fuel || 22m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 5,616 kgf || 7,413 kgf
| 0.96 || 0.82 || 0.80 || 0.78
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 5,616 kgf (0 km/h) || 7,747 kgf (1,000 km/h)
| 1.01 || 0.86 || 0.83 || 0.82
|-
|}

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


In line with its role as a high-performance interceptor aircraft the Lightning F.6 has no armoured plating or bulletproof glass, such additions would have increased the weight of the aircraft, while offering no real benefit for it's intended role.

Most of the inside of the wings (including the flaps) consists of fuel tanks, fuel is also stored in the ventral tank. The top engine is mounted above and to the rear of the bottom engine, this leaves it exposed to enemy fire; on the flip side the bottom engine is shielded from enemy fire by the top engine and wing fuel tanks, this makes is surprisingly resilient to damage, it is not uncommon for it to even continue functioning after the aircraft has been hit by a missile (although the rest of the aircraft will be well and truly broken afterwards).

The large belly tank and high wings of the Lightning mean it is able to survive belly landings very well.

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

The Lightning is a difficult aircraft to use when stock. If you particularly dislike the stock ADEN cannons then you may wish to priorities the cannon upgrades, however generally it is advisable to focus on flight performance and missile upgrades. Once you gain the ability to unlock tier 2 modifications you should prioritize the Red Tops, they are far from the best missiles in the game, but they can be useful; after that the new boosters modification is worth getting to improve the general handling of the aircraft. For tier 3 modifications you should get the wings repair and engine upgrades (unless you really want the ADEN upgrades). After this you can research the rest of the upgrades according to personal preference.

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

{{main|ADEN (30 mm)}}

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

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

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

{{main|Firestreak|Red Top}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x Firestreak missiles
* 2 x Red Top missiles

== Usage in battles ==


In combined battles, pilots of the {{PAGENAME}} may find themselves unable to deal much damage against ground vehicles, especially without the use of rockets, anti-tank missiles, or bombs. As such, this fighter is better suited to dealing with enemy air targets such as helicopters, which are plentiful at the Lightning's battle rating.

Although it faces challenges there, air realistic battles are where the Lightning truly belongs. The F.6 is able to use its Red Top missiles to dispatch enemies from a distance. Best practice with the missiles is to fire when there is about a 1.5 km gap between the F.6 and the enemy aircraft. This gap gives the missile time to lock on its target and track the enemy. One downside to the Red Tops is that they are not particularly fast compared to other missiles at its tier and may have trouble maneuvering to catch an enemy aircraft travelling at top speed.

The {{PAGENAME}} handles well at subsonic speeds, although dogfights at those speeds are not common at this battle rating. Flying slowly leaves the pilot vulnerable to nearby enemies. Among those enemies may be the [[MiG-21 F-13]], which the Lightning can often out-dogfight and the [[F-4 Phantom II (Family)|F-4C]], which the Lightning has an extremely difficult time trying to out-dogfight. The Lightning just doesn't have the energy retention that the Phantom does.

Keeping this in mind, it is advised that pilots use this plane as part of a team, rather than as an attempted solo carry. It is recommended that they climb to higher altitude early on in the match and by gaining as much energy as possible before dumping it in dogfight maneuvers.

Enemy planes that the Lightning F.6 is well-suited to take on in a fight are the [[Mitsubishi T-2]], the [[F-100D]], and the [[MiG-19 (Family)|Mig-19s]] of all variants.

===Radars===
The Lightning F.6 is equipped with an AI.23 search and tracking radar. The radar is mounted in the nose of the aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" | AI.23 - 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)}}
|-
| 100,000 m (theoretical) || 50,000 m || ±50.0° || ±8.0°
|-
! colspan="4" | AI.23 - 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}}
|-
| 100,000 m || 300 m || ±50.0° || ±30.0°
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good climb rate and acceleration.
* Formidable Angle-Of-Attack above low speeds.
* Very powerful cannons, and good missiles.
* Surprisingly good turn rate between 800 and 1,000 km/h IAS.

'''Cons:'''

* Quite poor energy retention.
* Large target for enemy aircraft.
* Poor low-speed maneuverability.
* Inadequate under-belly cannon placement.
* Relatively low top speed (1,280 km/h IAS at sea level).
* Limited armament selection, shoehorned more into an air-to-air combat role.
* Volatile match-making: up-tiers are a struggle, struggles against other supersonic top-tier jets.
* Its status as interceptor cannot be truly exploited.

== History ==

===Background===
In February 1946 the British government cancelled the Miles M.52 programme, only a few months before the first prototype was due to fly. The M.52 was a supersonic research aircraft, designed to reach speeds in excess of 1,000 mph (1,600 km/h) and potentially become the first aircraft to achieve supersonic speeds in level flight.<ref name="LightningStrikesTwice">Bowman 2009</ref> The cancellation sent a message to the aviation industry that the British Government had little interest in the development of supersonic aircraft. This did not deter English Electric Company engineer W. E. W. Petter; from his work designing the Canberra bomber he could tell that current fighters would be incapable of intercepting such an aircraft, and so began sketching designs for a new supersonic fighter.<ref name="IconsLightningStory">Chorlton 2012</ref>

Petter lobbied the government to pursue supersonic aircraft development and in early 1947 presented his proposed design to the Ministry of Supply (MoS), to his surprise this lead to the MoS issuing specification ER.103 calling for companies to produce designs for a supersonic research aircraft capable of Mach 1.5 at 36,000 ft.<ref name="IconsLightningStory" /> English Electric set to work on their proposal, which would later be known as the P.1.

===Development===
By the middle of 1948 most of the P.1's key design features were in place, the aircraft would have two engines stacked one on top of the other (this allowed for 2x increase in thrust while only increasing frontal area by 1.5x) and highly swept wings. English Electric was given a contract to develop the design further through 1949; wind tunnel testing indicated that the tailplane should be moved from the top of the vertical stabilizer to the bottom of the fuselage, and the wing sweep increased from 40° to 60°.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft">Ransom and Fairclough 1987</ref> By the end of 1949 most of the P.1's design had been finalized.

In September 1949, the MoS released the first draft of specification F.23/49 laying out the requirements for a supersonic fighter aircraft. English Electric decided they could modify the P.1 design to meet the new F.23/49 specification. In April 1950, they received a contract to produce three prototype P.1 aircraft (two for flight testing and one for static testing).<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> Engineers at the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) doubted English Electric's design for the P.1, believing that the aircraft should have had a 50° swept wing and kept the original high-mounted tailplane; this would lead to a second contract being handed to Short Brothers to produce an aircraft known as the SB.5. The SB.5 was a low-speed research aircraft (resembling the P.1) which facilitated the wings and tail being mounted in different configurations, with the aim being to find out whether English Electric or the RAE were correct. Later during testing it would be found that 60° was the optimal wing sweep and the high tail design would prove to be unstable in flight; proving English Electric correct in their design choices.<ref name="IconsLightningStory" />

In July 1952, while English Electric was working on building the P.1 prototypes, they were notified that the government intended to order a number of prototype fighters built to the F.23/49 specification, and so detailed design on the modified P.1 began. To avoid confusion, the two original P.1 aircraft would be known as P.1 and P.1A with the new fighter version known as the P.1B.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> The official order for 3 P.1B prototypes was placed in August 1953 and was followed in February 1954 by an order for 20 P.1B development aircraft. The P.1 / P.1A were visually similar to the Lightning but had distinct differences; most notable were its use of non-afterburning Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire SA.5 engines and a significantly different cockpit and forward fuselage. The P.1 lacked the Lightning's distinctive shock cone intake, instead having a pear-shaped intake in the nose and also initially lacked the ventral fuel tank of production Lightnings. The P.1B was much closer to the production Lightning F.1 aircraft, being visually very similar, and incorporating most of the features of the production aircraft.<ref name="BurkeLightning">Burke 2016</ref>

The first P.1 was finished in May 1954 and taken to Boscombe Down, where it spent the next couple of months carrying out ground tests and fast taxi runs.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> With tests progressing well, the first flight for the P.1 was set to be the 3rd August 1954. However, as test pilot Roland Beamont climbed into the cockpit for the first flight, he accidentally triggered the engine bay fire extinguishers; with the rest of the day spent cleaning up the fire retardant the flight had to be postponed until the next day.<ref name="IconsLightningStory" /> The P.1 first flew on 4th August 1954, and shortly afterwards on its third flight it went supersonic, supercruising at Mach 1.02; in subsequent flights supercruise at Mach 1.08 in level flight would be achieved and in one flight the aircraft would eventually reach a speed of Mach 1.22.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> The second P.1 prototype, known as P.1A, flew on 18th July 1955, featuring a ventral tank, twin 30 mm ADEN cannons mounted above the intake, and redesigned flaps.<ref name="LightningMk1_6">Darling 2008</ref> While the P.1A was undergoing testing, the original P.1 prototype was modified with Sapphire SA.5R engines which produced less dry thrust than the SA.5's but featured reheat (afterburner) which gave them much greater thrust than the SA.5 when engaged. With the new engines the P.1 could reach Mach 1.56; the P.1A was never fitted with the new engines. During testing of the P.1, problems with the cockpit canopy became apparent, on one test flight in August 1955 while the aircraft was flying at Mach 0.95 the canopy broke away from the aircraft. The test pilot was able to land without further incident, and the canopy locking mechanism was adjusted; however a few weeks later the canopy broke loose again. After further modifications English Electric believed the problem was resolved; until once more the canopy came away from the aircraft, this time while the aircraft was flying at supersonic speed.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> Following this incident, English Electric decided to completely redesign the canopy locking mechanism, finally fixing the issue, luckily none of the pilots were seriously injured in any of the incidents.<ref name="LightningMk1_6" />

The P.1B first flew on the 4th April 1957 and was successfully taken to Mach 1.2 on its first flight.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> On the same day the P.1B first flew, the Government published the now infamous 1957 Defense White Paper, which cancelled most of Britain's advanced aircraft programmes under the (now known to be incorrect) belief that missile technology would make manned aircraft irrelevant; the P.1 was one of the few aircraft programmes not cancelled.<ref name="LightningStrikesTwice" /> On the 23rd of October 1958 the P.1B was officially renamed to the Lightning.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> Development of the P.1B continued with no major problems and on 25th November 1958 the P.1B became the first British aircraft to achieve Mach 2, sustaining it in level flight and with engines on the lowest of their four reheat settings.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> Development continued with the last of the 20 P.1B pre-production aircraft taking to the air in September 1959;<ref name="LightningMk1_6" /> this was followed by the first P.1B Lightnings being delivered to RAF service in December 1959.

===RAF Service===
The first production version of the Lightning to enter RAF service was the Lightning F.1, which differed only slightly from the pre-production P.1Bs, it entered service with 74 squadron at Coltishall in 1960.<ref name="BurkeLightning" /> The F.1 was powered by two Avon 200R engines each producing 11,200 lb of dry thrust or 14,400 lb of thrust with maximum reheat (afterburner).<ref name="LightningF1PilotsNotes">Pilot's Notes, Lightning F.Mk 1 & F.Mk 1A</ref><ref name="IconsLightningStory" /> In terms of armament, the F.1 had two 30 mm ADEN cannons mounted above the air intake and provision for three different interchangeable weapon packs to be fitted in the weapons bay. The most common weapons pack (and the only one most people are aware of) was the Firestreak pack; the internals of the pack contained electronic and cooling systems, while pylons protruding from either side of the pack allowed the lightning to carry two Firestreak air-to-air missiles, one on either side of the fuselage. The other two packs were less well known, one allowed the fitment of two additional 30 mm ADEN cannons (bringing the total to four), and the other allowed the cartridge of 48 x 2" unguided air-to-air rockets.<ref name="LightningF1PilotsNotes" /> During normal flight the rockets would be stored internally, when the rockets were to be fired two launchers (each containing 24 rockets) would fold outwards from the weapon pack.<ref name="LightningMk1_6" />

A total of 22 production standard Lightning F.1s were built before production was switched to the improved F.1A standard. The F.1A was only slightly different to the F.1, featuring provision for an in-flight refueling probe, some re-routed cabling from inside the engine bay to external cable ducts on the side of the fuselage, and Avon 210R engines; the engines had modifications to the reheat control system, but preformed the same as the Avon 200R engines of the F.1.<ref name="IconsLightningStory" /><ref name="EngineDatabaseHandbook">Roux 2007</ref> The F.1A entered service in December 1960 serving alongside the Lightning F.1s. The first two-seat Lightning trainers, known as T.4s were also delivered in 1960; the T.4 was based on the F.1A and featured two pilots sat side by side in the cockpit.<ref name="IconsLightningStory" /> By 1965 the F.1s and F.1As had been withdrawn from front-line service, joining the T.4s in being used for pilot training and other duties into the 1970s.<ref name="IconsLightningStory" />

The next version of the Lightning to enter service was the F.2, planned as an interim version to enter service while the more advanced F.3 was still being developed. Externally it looked almost identical to the F.1A, with the only difference being the addition of a small air scoop on the "spine" of the aircraft. Internally however there were more changes; the engines were upgraded with fully variable reheat (instead of the 4 position reheat on earlier models), a significantly lighter and more compact oxygen system for the pilot, and an improved navigation system.<ref name="LightningMk1_6" /> The F.2 entered service with two squadrons in 1961, and became the first Lighting variant to serve outside of the UK, being based at RAF bases in West Germany.<ref name="IconsLightningStory" />

After the Lightning F.2 came the Lightning F.3; which was a major upgrade over all previous models of the Lightning. The most obvious external feature of the F.3 was a new, larger, squared-off tail; this was necessary to allow the F.3 to safely carry the new Red Top missile. The Red Top was a major improvement over the Firestreak, having improved range, a more destructive warhead, and a new seeker giving the missile limited all-aspect capability. Internally, the F.3 featured a more advanced AI.23B radar, new navigation equipment, and most significantly new Avon 301R engines.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> The Avon 301s produced significantly more thrust than previous Avon engines with 12,600 lb of dry thrust and 16,300 lb of thrust each on full reheat. The Lightning F.3 entered RAF service in January 1964.<ref name="LightningStrikesTwice" />

The F.3 was followed into service by the F.3A and the T.5 (a two-seat trainer variant of the F.3) in 1965. The F.3A was an interim version which designed to address the Lightning's limited range before the planned F.6 version was ready. The F.3A significantly increased the size of the ventral fuel tank, in addition it was fitted with a new wing featuring a kinked and cambered leading edge; this wing reduced subsonic drag leading to a 20% increase in cruising range. The new wing also improved the handling characteristics of the Lightning; it did however come at the cost of reducing supersonic acceleration.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" />

The final production model of Lightning to enter RAF service was the F.6. The Lightning F.6 had been intended to fix some of the shortfalls of the F.3; it included the enlarged ventral tank and new wing design of the F.3A, and returned the cannon armament with two 30 mm ADEN cannons mounted in the front of the ventral fuel tank. The F.6 also included support for a pair of over-wing fuel tanks, further improving the aircraft's range. The F.6 entered service in December 1965, serving alongside the F.3s; the superior range of the F.6 led to them being used for long-range interception missions, while the higher performance F.3 lent itself to being used for shorter range missions.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> Although originally retaining the Avon 301 engines of the F.3 and F.3A, the F.6 would later be upgraded with Avon 302 engines; these engines provided better high altitude flight performance and reduced fuel consumption.<ref name="LightningF6ODM">Lightning F.Mk 6, Operating Data Manual</ref>

The improved range of the Lightning F.6 proved popular with the RAF and so it was decided to rebuild 31 of the Lightning F.2s stationed in Germany to near F.6 standard.<ref name="LightningStrikesTwice" /> These aircraft were known as F.2As and began entering service in 1968, they featured the enlarged ventral tank and new wings of the F.6, but retained the less powerful Avon 211 engines as well as the 30 mm cannons mounted in their original location above the intake.<ref name="LightningF2AAircrewManual">Lightning F Mk 2A, Aircrew Manual</ref> As the F.2A also lacked the updated avionics of later models it was incapable of carrying Red Top missiles, instead carrying either Firestreaks or a gun pack containing two additional ADEN cannons.<ref name="LightningF2AAircrewManual" /> The F.2A was well-liked by its pilots, the fitment of ADEN cannons above the intake allowed the entire ventral tank to be filled with fuel (instead of partly being taken up by cannons); coupled with less fuel-hungry engines this gave it the best endurance of any Lightning variant. The F.2A spent most of its service life carrying out low-level interceptions missions in Germany, where the increased endurance was greatly appreciated.<ref name="LightningBoys">Pike 2011</ref>

The English Electric Lightning was the RAF's primary front-line interceptor from its introduction in 1959 up until the mid-1970s when it began to be replaced by the Phantom FGR.2. Even so, the Lightning would continue to serve in the interceptor role with the RAF until 1988, leaving RAF service less than two years before the first Phantoms began to be retired from service. Although the Lightning was primary used to intercept Soviet bombers entering UK airspace it was also stationed outside of the UK, most notably in Germany; the Lightning did also see service at RAF Tengah in Singapore and RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.<ref name="LightningBoys" /> Despite serving in the RAF for 29 years the Lightning never once shot down a hostile aircraft. Officially the only aircraft ever shot down by a Lightning was a pilotless Harrier; the pilot had ejected however the Harrier kept flying, it was decided to shoot it down rather than risk it entering Soviet territory.

===Export Service===
As well as RAF service, the Lightning did also see some export service with the Kuwait Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force. The first Lightnings delivered to the Royal Saudi Air Force arrived in 1966; they came in the form of five Lightning F.52s and two T.54s. These aircraft were simply ex-RAF Lightning F.2s and T.4s.<ref name="DerryLightning">Derry 2016</ref> Through 1968 - 1969 the Royal Saudi Air Force took delivery of more advanced Lightning F.53s and T.55s; the Kuwait Air Force would also receive its F.53s and T.55s in the same time span.<ref name="DerryLightning" />

The Lightning F.53 was effectively a Lightning F.6 upgraded to become a multi-role fighter. The most notable change was the addition of underwing hardpoints capable of carrying 1,000 lb bombs and SNEB rocket pods. In addition, the 2" rocket pack from the Lightning F.1 was returned to carry air-to-air or air-to-ground rockets, and a new photo-reconnaissance pack was made available, in addition to the Firestreak and Red Top weapon packs.<ref name="LightningF53PilotsNotes">Lightning F Mk. 53, Pilots Notes</ref> Various improvements were proposed for the F.53 including adapters to allow two bombs or rocket pods to be fitted to each underwing pylon, and dual rocket pods to be carried on the over-wing pylons (originally used for the fuel tanks on the F.6). While the dual underwing adapter would be approved for use on Saudi Lightnings the over-wing rocket pods never made it past mock-up stage.<ref name="EnglishElectricAircraft" /> The T.55 was a T.5 upgraded to better reflect the Lightning F.53; it received the enlarged ventral tank and new wings of the Lightning F.6 and F.53.<ref name="DerryLightning" />

===Lightning F.6 compared to other variants===
With the Lightning F.6 being the ultimate version of the Lightning in RAF service some may find it surprising to hear that it lags behind most other Lightning models in terms of raw flight performance. With the F.6 it had chosen to sacrifice the raw performance of previous Lightnings in order to improve the aircraft's range and return the cannon armament. As an example, a Lightning F.1 could accelerate from stationary to 450 kts (833 km/h) within 36 seconds of brake release; while an F.6 would take 42 seconds to achieve the same.<ref name="LightningF1ODM">Lightning F.Mks 1,1A,2 &T.MK.4, Operating Data Manual</ref><ref name="LightningF6ODM" /> Likewise, from brake release to 36,000 ft would take 2 minutes 18 seconds in a Lightning F.1; while a Lightning F.6 would take 2 minutes 42 seconds.<ref name="LightningF1ODM" /><ref name="LightningF6ODM" /> By far the best performing Lightning variant was the F.3; it mated the much more powerful engines of the F.6 with the significantly lighter airframe of earlier Lightnings.

=== [[wt:en/news/6615-development-lightning-f-6-saddled-to-a-skyrocket-en|Devblog]] ===
Development of the Lightning began in 1947, after the Ministry of Supply issued a requirement for the development of an experimental supersonic aircraft, in order to gain insights on supersonic flight and aircraft design. By 1949 however, the requirements were changed to incorporate fighter levels of maneuverability, thus kicking off the development process which would eventually result in the Lightning.

While the first prototypes of the Lightning (P.1A) were designed to reach speeds of around Mach 1.5, in 1952, the decision was made to further develop a second batch of prototypes (P.1B), capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2. In August 1954, the P.1A prototype first took to the skies for its maiden flight, while the P.1B conducted its first flight in April 1957 and as the first British aircraft, reached speeds of Mach 2 in November.

Following a successful test phase, the Lightning was ordered into production and subsequently entered service with the RAF in 1959. The aircraft served throughout the Cold War period - until 1988 - with many variants being created which improved the Lightning's performance further, most notably increasing its originally very limited range.

With the advent of far more capable aircraft in the late stages of the Cold War, the over 330 Lightnings built were phased out of service in the late 1980s. Apart from its service with the UK, the Lightning also served with the armed forces of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the latter two being its only foreign operators.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=lightning_f6 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" caption="Lightning F.6 Devblog Images" heights="150px">
File:Lightning F.6 WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:Lightning F.6 WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
File:Lightning F.6 WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
File:Lightning F.6 WTWallpaper 004.jpg|
File:Lightning F.6 WTWallpaper 005.jpg|
File:Lightning F.6 WTWallpaper 006.jpg|
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|TJNmzteLOk8|'''The Shooting Range #223''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|CDl68kOR9ig|'''The Shooting Range #191''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:56 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==


* [[Phantom FG. Mk1|Phantom FG.1]]
* [[Phantom FGR.2]]
* [[MiG-21MF (Germany)|MiG-21MF]]
* [[MiG-21SMT]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6615-development-lightning-f-6-saddled-to-a-skyrocket-en|[Devblog] Lightning F.6: Saddled to a Skyrocket!]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/479190-lightning-f6/ [Forums<nowiki>]</nowiki> Aircraft Data Sheets: Lightning F.6]

===References===

;Citations
<references />

;Bibliography

* Bowman, M. (2009). Lightning Strikes Twice: The Story of the English Electric Lightning. Stroud: Amberley Publishing.
* Burke, D. (2016). English Electric Lightning. Retrieved from [https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/history.php Thunder and Lightnings]
* Chorlton, M. (2012). The Lightning story - from P.1 to F.6. Aeroplane Icons, pp. 6-16.
* Darling, K. (2008). English Electric / British Aircraft Corporation Lightning Mks 1-6. Lulu.com.
* Derry, M. (2016). English Electric Lightning. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Aviation.
* Lightning F Mk 2A, Aircrew Manual. (1968). Warton Aerodrome, UK: English Electric Technical Services.
* Lightning F Mk. 53, Pilots Notes. (1983). Warton Aerodrome, UK: British Aircraft Corporation Ltd.
* Lightning F.Mk 6, Operating Data Manual. (1977). Warton Aerodrome, UK: English Electric Technical Services.
* Lightning F.Mks 1,1A,2 &T.MK.4, Operating Data Manual. (1975). Warton Aerodrome, UK: English Electric Technical Services.
* Pike, R. (2011). The Lightning Boys. London: Grub Street.
* Pilot's Notes, Lightning F.Mk 1 & F.Mk 1A. (1962). Warton Aerodrome, UK: English Electric Technical Services.
* Ransom, S., & Fairclough, R. (1987). English Electric Aircraft and their Predecessors. London: Putnam.
* Roux, E. (2007). Turbofan and Turbojet Engines Database Handbook. Lulu.com.

{{AirManufacturer EEC}}
{{Britain jet aircraft}}