War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Yak-141

2024-11-10T09:50:12Z

U93443582: /* Usage in battles */ has been greatly revamped to keep up to date with new changes.

{{Specs-Card
|code=yak_141
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The Yakolev Yak-141 (also known as the "Yak-41", NATO codename "Freestyle") was a prototype Soviet VTOL supersonic fighter designed as a successor to the [[Yak-38]]. While the subsonic "Forger" with limited payload and poor handling was more of a proof of concept than a serious combat aircraft for its time, the heavily evolved Yak-141 was a far more capable one. It was a much larger aircraft with refined aerodynamics and a monstrously powerful Tumansky R-79 turbofan primary engine. With modern avionics and long-range missiles at its disposal, the Yak-141 was poised to be a world-leading supersonic VTOL fighter and a strong asset for the Soviet Navy — however, the collapse and political issues of the USSR prevented the Yak-141 from entering serial production and operational service in real combat situations and operations.

Introduced in [[Update "Sky Guardians"]], this plane is a fearsome predator despite its slightly awkward appearance. It is in fact a full-featured 4th generation fighter on the same technological level as the [[MiG-29]], its counterpart in the VVS. It does not have the Mach 2+ top speed of contemporary fighters, but its agility is surprisingly good and its acceleration is phenomenal. Carrying R-27ERs and boasting a radar range of 70 km, the Yak-141 is a terrifying opponent with fantastic avionics and sensors able to sling the best missiles of its BR at all ranges.

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

This jet is shockingly agile, particularly at very high speeds. In addition, being a VTOL jet, it is able to accelerate much more quickly than other aircraft. It is usually the first to reach the end of the runway, only initially outpaced by Harriers. It can bring enough fuel to afterburn to the middle of the largest of locations, strategically deploy its missiles, usually still afterburning, and return home with fuel to spare. It also has the ability to afterburn while thrust vectoring, which, combined with its manoeuvrability, powerful engines, and hovering potential, make it quite versatile at close ranges, able to outperform and elude the most nimble of conventional fighters. The only downside of this aircraft is its roll rate, which can impair its reactivity at close ranges.

The R-79V-300 is currently the most powerful aircraft engine in War Thunder by a large margin. It yields 45% more thrust than the [[F-14B]]'s General Electric F110 under optimal conditions and allows the Yak to achieve a commendable thrust-to-weight ratio in forward flight despite being a VTOL jet with the associated dead weight.

{| 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
| 1,822 ||1,822|| rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 25.6 || 25.7 || 264.6 || 253.9 || rowspan="2" | 550
|-
! Upgraded
| 1,905 || 1,847 || 24.4 || 25.0 || 359.0 || 310.0
|-
|}

==== 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 1,450  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 750 || 648 || 500 || ~11 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 650 || < 850 || < 920 || -
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="5" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Tumansky R79V-300 (main) || 1
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" | 10,930 kg || colspan="3" rowspan="2" | 483 kg/m2
|-
| colspan="2" | Saturn RD-41 (lift jets) || 2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Max Gross Weight|Mass of the fully equipped aircraft with heaviest weapons load}}
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 35m fuel
|-
| 1,750 kg (main) || colspan="2" | Afterburning vectored-thrust low-bypass turbofan
| rowspan="2" | 12,250 kg || rowspan="2" | 13,381 kg || rowspan="2" | 14,606 kg || rowspan="2" | 15,330 kg || rowspan="2" | 17,362 kg
|-
| 290 kg (lift jet) || colspan="2" | Axial-flow turbojet
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum main 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 in forward flight @ 0 m (WEP / 100%)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 35m fuel || MGW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 11,179 kgf || 15,582 kgf
| 1.27 || 1.16 || 1.07 || 1.02 || 0.90
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 11,179 kgf (0 km/h) || 19,740 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 1.61 || 1.48 || 1.35 || 1.29 || 1.14
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum lift 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 in VTOL (all 3 engines) @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
| ''Stationary'' || {{Annotation|4,105 kgf|18,277 kgf total thrust in VTOL (split over 3 engines)}} || {{Annotation|4,152 kgf|18,472 kgf total thrust in VTOL (split over 3 engines)}}
| 1.51 || 1.38 || 1.26 || 1.20 || 1.06
|-
|}

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

Most hits from a missile are fatal, as with any top tier jet, but if used properly, the Yak-141 can dodge even very advanced missiles with its combination of speed and agility. Because of its powerful engine, this aircraft can still fly and manoeuvre effectively even with extensive fuselage damage.

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

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

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

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

* 1 x 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon, belly-mounted (120 rpg)
* 60 x countermeasures

The Yak-141 boasts the same 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon as the MiG-29, albeit with a slightly smaller ammo capacity. It is accurate, fast-firing, and has a high muzzle velocity. Since the Yak-141's advanced avionics offer lead computing, it is a good backup weapon for dogfights or head-ons.

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


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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="11%" | 1 !! width="11%" | 2 !! width="11%" | 3 !! width="11%" | 4
| rowspan="18" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! [[GSh-23L (23 mm)|23 mm GSh-23L]] cannons (250 rpg)
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[OFAB-100 (100 kg)|100 kg OFAB-100]] bombs
| 4 || 4 || 4 || 4
|-
! [[FAB-250M-62 (250 kg)|250 kg FAB-250M-62]] bombs
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[OFAB-250Sh (250 kg)|250 kg OFAB-250Sh]] bombs
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[FAB-500M-62 (500 kg)|500 kg FAB-500M-62]] bombs
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[FAB-500Sh (500 kg)|500 kg FAB-500Sh]] bombs
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[ZB-500 incendiary]] bombs
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[S-5K]] rockets
| 32 || 32 || 32 || 32
|-
! [[S-8KO]] rockets
| 20 || 20 || 20 || 20
|-
! [[S-13OF]] rockets
| 5 || 5 || 5 || 5
|-
! [[S-24B]] rockets
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[R-27R]] missiles
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[R-27T]] missiles
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[R-27ER]] missiles
| || 1 || 1 ||
|-
! [[R-27ET]] missiles
| || 1 || 1 ||
|-
! [[R-60M]] missiles
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
| colspan="5" | Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 1,000 kg
|-
|}

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

* Without load
* 2 x R-60M missiles + 2 x R-27R missiles
* 4 x R-60M missiles
* 4 x R-27R missiles
* 4 x R-27T missiles
* 2 x R-27ER missiles
* 2 x R-27ET missiles
* 128 x S-5K rockets
* 80 x S-8KO rockets
* 4 x S-24B rockets
* 20 x S-13OF rockets
* 16 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (1,600 kg total)
* 4 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total)
* 4 x 250 kg OFAB-250Sh bombs (1,000 kg total)
* 4 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 4 x 500 kg FAB-500Sh bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 4 x ZB-500 incendiary bombs
* 4 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg = 1,000 total)
{{Navigation-End}}

The Yak-141 has a comparable arsenal to the [[MiG-29]], but with only four hardpoints, it is important to allocate the weapons carefully.

The main focus is on the air-to-air missiles. The stock R-60Ms are the classic tools of Soviet top-tier jets with high agility, short range, and low flare resistance. R-27 missiles with greater range can be mounted on all four pylons (the Fulcrums can only carry two) and come in four flavours: the R-27T with an IR seeker, the R-27R with a SARH seeker, and the R-27ER and R-27ET extended range variants with incredibly fast and powerful rocket motors. The R-27ERs should always be taken once unlocked because they are outstanding for long-range missile jousts, especially when paired with the Yak's excellent radar, but they are only available on the 2 inboard hardpoints. How to fill the other two is up to personal taste: R-27Rs are weaker but still viable and R-27Ts are good for medium range sneak attacks as they do not trigger any RWR warnings when cued with the Yak's IRST. R-60Ms are good for close-range knife fights, but bringing them has a significant opportunity cost on the Yak-141 and it may be better to leave dogfighting for friendly Fulcrums instead.

The remaining options are unguided bombs (100 to 500 kg) and rockets (S-5K and S-8KO HEAT rockets, S-13OF and S-24B HE rockets) for ground attack. The Yak-141 has a full-featured ballistic computer and can deliver them accurately, but using this aircraft for a strike role is suboptimal - it has a poor attack payload, no precision or standoff weapons, and no hardpoints reserved for air-to-air missiles.

== Usage in battles ==

The Yak-141 is a very versatile aircraft, supporting a variety of playstyles. It is effective in long range engagements, with a good radar and almost flawless SARH missiles, as long as an opponent does not notch and chaff your radar, their lifetime is measured in seconds. This jet also excels in close combat, its cannon and infrared R-27s making short work of opponents. For the tough cases, you can transition into relying on your VTOL ability or acceleration to bring the fight to your strengths, stall speed fighting.

'''Yak-141: The Basics'''

To understand how to play the Yak-141, one must first know the basic facts about this aircraft.

Number 1: This jet is slow compared to a ton of it's peers; it's speed, which will under normal circumstances max out at Mach 1.02, is comparable to Phantoms instead of the [[MiG-29]], or it's contemporaries. However, it has great acceleration (and some significant speed bleed when turning) and will reach it's top speed very quickly with full afterburner on. Knowing this, treating it as a delta-wing aircraft similar to the [[MiG-21bis]], or the [[JA37D]] (but with a lot of additional acceleration), may prove worthwhile.

Number 2: Your cannon is the venerable Gryazev-Shipunov [[GSh-30-1 (30 mm)|GSh-30-1]], with a lower ammo capacity of 120, compared to 150 of the MiG-29s (and that's already pretty low). Trigger discipline is required, and you do not have the fire rate the [[M61A1 (20 mm)|M61A1]] has to hold down the trigger with an already mostly well-led firing solution and score hits as enemies fly through. However, your gun will generally do good damage when rounds connect, and the rounds themselves have good velocity and will retain their velocity for a bit, so shorter bursts of precisely aimed shots are the way to go.

Number 3: You have access to a very good all-aspect Pulse-Doppler [[Radar]] , plus a second generation [[IRST]] which now also includes rangefinding, as well as relative speed and movement indicators (features not found, or more primitive versions of, on the [[MiG-23 (Family)|MiG-23 family]] of jets) in addition to a feature few jets have at this Battle Rating: Helmet Mounted Sights for both. However, your [[Radar Warning Receiver]] is the SPO-15: A middle-of-the-pack RWR that does not identify specific threats from a specific direction, but instead a number of specified scenarios (such as being tracked by Pulse-Doppler radar, or being launched at by a missile with CW guidance, such as the [[AIM-7M Sparrow]], or the [[Matra Super 530D]]. It will also tell you the rough distance of the scenario (mostly if it's far away, closer or close to you). Thus, we can conclude that your offensively-oriented sensor kit is extremely potent and among the best compared to your peers, but your defensively-oriented sensors leave more to be desired.

Number 4: You only have 60 countermeasures. While this will get you by when it comes to matches at your own BR and below, when you start facing Fox-3s such as the [[AIM-120A]] or the [[MICA-EM]], or under any circumstances where you need to repeatedly flare or chaff, you may find yourself running out of countermeasures, so take care not to pop too many at any one time.

Number 5: You only have access to 4 hardpoints to put missiles on, compared to 6 or more on many of your peers. Avoid shooting missiles if there is little chance they score hits. Speaking of missiles, what can you equip?

[[R-60M]]: These are your most basic missiles, used for when you are stock grinding. You can have up to 4 of them. They are agile off the rail, very lightweight and will pull up to 30Gs. However, they are infrared, with a seeker sharing most of the properties of the American equivalent, the [[AIM-9L]]. Unlike the Lima however, the R-60M's seeker Field of View is significantly larger, meaning it will almost never ignore flares, even from rear-aspect, at sub-1 kilometer ranges. (Exceptions being few and far between). Get rid of them as soon as you unlock the ability to put R-27R on your hardpoints.

[[R-27R]]: These are the first radar missiles you unlock, and will help you get through the stock grind. You can have up to 4 of them. They are heavy and less agile off the rail, but will start ramping up their pull quickly (up to 35G, can exceed this to about 37G in sustained turn while the motor is burning to provide acceleration). As they are radar missiles using CW Illumination as guidance (on top of a Pulse-Doppler radar set), this means it will ignore enemy chaff from the front aspect (and frequently, also from the rear aspect as well), and defeating them is much harder, as one has to both go perpendicular to your radar, and deploy chaff in sufficient numbers. This increases your kill probability significantly. However, radar missiles are vulnerable to multipathing, which starts taking effect at 60m above ground, and attempts to confuse radar missiles.

[[R-27ER]]: These are the second (and last) radar missiles you unlock, and are available at Tier 3 (the first R-27E-series missile you can get). You can only have 2 of them (and you should always have an R-27E-series missiles on your inner pylons). They share the seeker with the R-27R, but the difference is in the motor and now, sustainer. The motor has almost double the thrust , and now a sustainer roughly equal to your previous motor's thrust is added. Combined with lower drag, this missile can now easily reach 15-20km when flying near the ground, or 30km when at higher altitudes. This used to be the fastest SARH missile in the game (now only outclassed by the [[Sedjeel]]), and will win jousts against any other missiles as long as there is sufficient range for the ER to accelerate.

[[R-27T]]: The first of the infrared R-27s, this missile shares the motor and agility of the R-27R, but with a very sensitive fire-and-forget infrared seeker instead. You can have up to 4 of them. This seeker features InfraRed Counter-Counter Measures (IRCCM, and was the first missile to do so in-game), where the seeker view will decrease from what is visible pre-launch, to a significantly smaller value right after launch. Combined with this being the most sensitive infrared seeker available, it will fairly reliably ignore any flares, so long as it is able to look at the enemy's engine.

[[R-27ET]]: The second (and last) of the infrared R-27s, this missile shares the motor and agility of the R-27ER, but now also shares the seeker of the R-27T. You can have up to 2 of them just as with the ER. Due to the increased range, however, you can now launch this at aircraft that are beyond the 10km spotting distance normal for Air Realistic Battles, this section's focus. (and in general, can be launched from great distance unspotted as long as it's not Air Arcade.) This missile, unlike the R-27T, is more of a gimmick since it occupies slots usually reserved for the R-27ER, and these can be one-flared by accident at longer ranges.

'''Engaging the Enemy'''

At the start of a match, you will want to stay low: There are several aircraft at your BR or near enough your battle rating (within a BR step) that also have very potent radar missiles presenting an exceedingly high level of danger to you, such as the [[F-14A IRIAF (USA)|F-14A IRIAF]] (and the regular F-14A and F-14B to a lesser extent), the [[AV-8B Plus]], the [[Sea Harrier FA 2]], and the [[J-8F]] (which can sling Active Radar Homing missiles at you, forcing you to drop your lock and go defensive during BVR engagements, or die just to potentially trade kills with them. There is also a distinct possibility of meeting German, Hungarian, Chinese, or even other soviet aicraft (in mirror matches) which can carry the R-27ER as well. Additionally, your low amount of countermeasures means you cannot sustain defensive actions for too long. Staying low will allow you to avoid the early fighting at high altitude, and may limit the number of missiles you need to defend against at the start.

Look for targets that are not flying near the ground, and begin launching R-27ERs; Less distance to target, the more likely they are to die from it. Most launches from below 6km on someone flying too high above the ground are going to be kills. At this point, look for rear-aspect shots with the R-27Ts or continue attacking targets nearby with R-27Rs. Defend as necessary; the Yak-141 can handle itself in a dogfight remarkably well, even if it's not the best at it, and can eventually overpower all 3rd generation fighters, and even many 4th generation ones. As a last resort, usage of the Thrust Vectoring system is an option, though usually an incredible risk due to you stalling yourself out with no speed and the Yak-141 needing about 7 seconds to regain speed after.

As a side note (but one that may very rarely come up): The center of the Yak-141 is full of relatively empty space, fuel tanks, and the generally unimportant VTOL engines. As a last resort if dodging a missile is impossible, one can make an attempt to force the splash damage from shrapnel primarily into that area, potentially avoiding critical damage while retaining any amount of flight worthiness. This is, of course, not too likely to happen and is not to be relied upon unless there is absolutely no other option.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* VTOL/Thrust Vectoring
* Surprising high speed manoeuvrability, excellent acceleration
* Excellent radar range/difficult to notch/IRST
* Sufficient fuel capacity for plenty of afterburning
* Heavy-duty IR missiles with IRCCM.
* Has access to the R-27R and R-27ER missiles, which feature better seekers and are exceedingly difficult to outroll or otherwise dodge kinetically when within range.

'''Cons:'''

* Fairly low top speed for its BR, will bleed speed when exercising your manoeuverability.
* R-60M is flared off easily
* Only carries four missiles, and cannot feature more than 2 R-27E-series missiles; the other two have to be regular R-27s or R-60Ms.
* Limited strike capability

== History ==

While the [[Yak-38]] and its later modernized [[Yak-38M]] variant fulfilled the role of a fleet defence strike fighter for the Soviet navy, the aircraft were considered obsolete almost immediately due to the many shortcomings they had, such as a very poor range of less than 100 km, difficulty operating in hot weather, inability to operate at night due to lack of radar or advanced targeting systems, horrible controllability and manoeuvrability due to the heavy weight and high wing loading, and a small combat payload among other things. As early as 1973, the {{Annotation|AVMF|Soviet Naval Aviation Fleet}} and OKB-115, led by General Designer Aleksander Yakovlev, went back to the drawing board to create a new generation of VTOL fighters for the Soviet navy. The successor aircraft project outlined a set of requirements: the new aircraft had to be supersonic, incorporate an advanced fire control system and radar/sensor suite, allow for a larger range of operations, and include a larger array of weapons. At the time of the project, no aircraft like this existed in the world, and the only equivalent that came close was the french Dassault Balzac V prototype.
[[File:Yak-141 at 1992 Farnborough Airshow.jpg|thumb|Yakovlev Yak-141 (code White 141, formerly White 75) performing a vertical take-off at the 1992 Farnborough Airshow.]]
This new aircraft would be designed around the new Soyuz-Tumansky R-79V lift/cruise afterburning turbofan, starting its life as the Yak-36P heavy VTOL naval interceptor. However, after substantial changes and almost a complete redesign of the aircraft resulting from reconsideration of the project requirements, the project would be redesignated as the Yak-41. In mid 1974, the Communist Party's Central Committee and Council of Ministers would issue a directive for the development of a new Soviet VTOL fighter, officially kickstarting the project. After many years of research and development, the design was finalized and submitted for review in June of 1980<ref>Gordon, Yefim. ''Yakovlev Yak-36, Yak-38 & Yak-41: The Soviet "Jump Jets."'' Midland Publishing, 2008.</ref>. The design invoked many new technologies not yet standardized in the Soviet Union, such as composite materials and advanced radars. Many setbacks with the R-79V engine and the Phazotron S-41 radar development programs caused the development schedule of the Yak-41 to be delayed by a few years. In 1983, the first static (non-flying) prototype was completed, and static ground testing commenced until the radar, engine, and fly-by-wire/power-by-wire systems were completed. The first flying prototype was soon completed and on March 9th, 1987 performed its maiden flight. Many of the important systems such as the S-41 radar and the other important avionics were still not completed fully, and would be incorporated later into the second flyable prototype which was completed in 1989. The second prototype was a more definitive "Yak-41" prototype, this time including most of its avionics and fire control system, such as the Zhuk S-41M radar which was completed by now, and would go as far as to mount mock-up missiles and weapons for flight testing and "simulated" firing during trials. The most notable missing piece of avionics was the {{Annotation|IRST|Infra-Red Search and Track}} system, which was ready to be installed when completed as shown by the cut-out for it on top of the nose on the second flying prototype.

The Yak-41 showed great promise, and at this stage of flight testing started setting many world records. To keep its development and true identity secret, the Soviet Union registered the aircraft as the "Yak-141" instead of Yak-41 with international record keeping agencies, hence where the 141 designation comes from. The Yak-41 program was proceeding smoothly at that point, with many flight tests scheduled and performed successfully over the next few years. Most notably, by 1991 the Yak-41s had flown to Severomorsk-1 airbase and successfully performed carrier trials and testing, including both VTOL and STOL operations from the carriers ''Baku'' (later renamed ''Admiral Gorshkov)'', in anticipation of future service deployment aboard the new and upcoming Type 1143.5 carrier ''Tblisi'' (later renamed to ''Admiral Kuznetsov'') after the aircraft is accepted into service in the upcoming years.<ref>Gordon, Yefim, and Bill Gunston. "'Yakovlev's Experimental VTOLs' p.213-215." ''Soviet X-Planes'', Midland, Hinckley, 2000.</ref>
[[File:Yak-141 museum.jpg|thumb|Yak-41 "White 75" (actually White 77 but repainted) with R-73 and R-27R missiles on display at Technical Museum, Arkhangelskoye, Moscow.]]
However, as promising as the aircraft was, the program was ultimately terminated in 1992 due to lack of funding after the collapse of the USSR. The Yakovlev design bureau then started trying to find foreign investors and buyers for the aircraft. Shortly after, a very unlikely foreign investor appeared at Yakovlev's doorstep, as Lockheed Corporation started negotiations for further funding more Yak-141 prototypes. The two flying prototypes, White 75 and White 77, would both be repainted into identical "White 144" liveries, and the two static non-flying prototypes would be cannibalized for spare parts before being scrapped to ensure that public display of the Yak-41 was flawless. The first public appearance of the Yak-41 occurred famously at the 1992 Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom. However, the Yak-41s would be banned from performing vertical take-offs after a few days at the airshow due to "excessive wear to the runway", a testament to the powerful thrust from the engines in vertical flight. Shortly after, Yakovlev had announced that they had successfully reached an agreement with Lockheed for 4 million $USD in funding for two more flying prototypes, a twin-seat trainer prototype, and a single static (non-flying) testbed to test improvements in avionics. The partnership had actually begun almost immediately after the USSR had collapsed, but was not revealed publicly by Yakovlev and Lockheed until September 6th, 1992.<ref>Gordon, Yefim (1997). ''Yakovlev Aircraft since 1924''. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books.</ref> It is widely believed that many of the technological advancements from the Yak-41 program would be directly applied by Lockheed through their partnership to the upcoming X-35 prototype in the Joint-Strike Fighter program, most notably the later VTOL F-35B variant, which shares many basic features with the Yak-41.

The two flyable prototypes, now no longer flyable, would be exhibited as static ground displays at the 1993 Moscow airshow. Shortly after, the two prototypes would undergo cosmetic restoration before being placed in museums for permanent display. The first flyable prototype retained its post-soviet "White 141" livery, and is permanently displayed at the Central Air Force Museum at Monino. The second prototype was re-painted into the "White 75" livery originally used by its sister aircraft (the first prototype), and placed in the Technical Museum, Arkhangelskoye, Moscow.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=yak_141 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|GLhl4uB0QhU|'''The Shooting Range #347''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:51 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|K09goo8T4jM|'''The Shooting Range #345''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:25 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|tTfqkOz_1p8|'''Yak-141: A Basic Review''' - ''Tims Variety''}}

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/8128-development-yak-141-freestyle-on-the-deck-en|[Devblog] Yak-141: Freestyle on the Deck]]

=== References ===
<references />

{{AirManufacturer Yakovlev}}
{{USSR jet aircraft}}

MiG-29SMT

2024-01-06T11:45:26Z

U93443582: /* Suspended armament */ Vastly expanded the information on air-to-air missiles of the MiG-29SMT to function as a detailed description of them.

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

== Description ==

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

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

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

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max speed (km/h at 12,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,261 || 2,216 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.1 || 23.5 || 257.5 || 244.8 || rowspan="2" | 750
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,442 || 2,347 || 21.9 || 22.5 || 346.1 || 300.0
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| 1,575  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || - || 532 || 463 || ~10 || ~4
|-
|}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Compared to the basic MiG-29, the SMT is capable of mounting supplementary large calibre countermeasures for better self-protection.

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


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

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

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

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

The MiG-29SMT's upgraded arsenal is one of its main selling points. As such, it is worthwhile to discuss their properties, as knowing them will be key to achieving high-kill games.

'''R-73: A candidate for the best Infrared Homing short-range missile in War Thunder:'''

The R-73 will be your primary missile for short-range engagements, and it is a capable missile with a number of features that will make it stand out among every other missile at the Battle Rating.

The first of these features is the seeker of the R-73, for it is the most capable all-around short-range seeker in the game. With an above average sensitivity to planes compared to flares, greater than a 1:1 ratio, the R-73 is more likely to follow a target through their countermeasures than almost any other missile in the game, and the benefits do not end here. The seeker of the R-73 also incorporates IRCCM, which it isn't the first top tier jet missile to do (this honor goes to the R-27T), it is almost certainly the most capable IRCCM model in the game. To be specific, the missile's seeker, once launched, will shrink from around 4.5 degrees of view, to around 0.75 degrees of view. This IRCCM, called 'gatewidth' is one of the two major types of IRCCM for air-to-air missiles found in the game, the other one being 'tracking suspension' IRCCM, found on missiles like the AIM-9M. Comparing the two, gatewidth is superior against manuevering targets that are flaring at close range, as instead of suspending guidance and going inertial in the target's last known direction when it sees a flare, it attempts to not see flares in the first place.

The same gatewidth and sensitivity values are also found on missiles like the Matra R550 Magic 2, and a similar gatewidth and seeker (with a larger FOV and better sensitivity) are found on the R-27T and R-27ET, too. Thus, what separates the R-73 from it's peers is the best-in-class manueverability, combining a pull of up to 40G with thrust vectoring, making this missile pull in and score kills in situations and distances that no other missile in the game can, be it infrared or radar homing. This is all on top of a much improved rocket booster compared to it's predecessor, the R-60M, increasing the reliable range at which it can score a kill at up to 3km.

'''R-27R/R-27T: Slow, short-range, extremely fun and extremely deadly:'''

The R-27 missiles return to the MiG-29SMT, coming in 4 variants. This will look into the first two variants, the R-27R and the R-27T.

By now, these missiles should both be familiar tools to anyone who has used the predecessor of the SMT, the MiG-29 (9-13), or the Yak-141.

They are slow to accelerate to reasonable speeds, can pull up to 35G in almost all scenarios, and have a firing range similar to an AIM-7M Sparrow, or the AIM-9L, respectively. However, they are superior to both in other ways.

The R-27R has a superior seeker compared to the AIM-7M, with overall superior tracking characteristics. To add to this, the R-27R has two special features which aid in acquiring and tracking targets, the first being In-Ordnance Guidance (IOG). This feature helps the missile stay on course in the event a lock is weak for short periods of time. The second feature is Datalink (DL). This feature gives the missile the ability to resume tracking (successfully or not) a target after it already lost track of one, at any time within the Missile Guidance Time allotted, and will not explode on it's own during this time. Instead, when a lock is lost, the missile will fly to the last known radar returns of the target and fly randomly from there. Due to the lack of range (and thus, lacking BVR capabilities) on the R-27R, datalink is most used for regaining a lock and scoring a kill before the missile passes the target.

The R-27T, likewise has a superior seeker compared to most IR missiles in the game, with a FOV of 2 degrees before launch, decreased by gatewidth to 1.33 degrees after launch. It is one of the most, if not the most, sensitive IR seekers, with a sensitivity ratio of planes to flares that significantly exceeds 1:1. Unlike the R-27R, the T variant lacks any of the special features, and the missile is still entirely independent of the airframe that launched it.

'''R-27ER/R-27ET: Familiar, and better than ever:'''

Likewise, anyone who has played the MiG-29 or Yak-141 will have seen the R-27ER. This missile's seeker is identical to the R-27R, but the new rocket booster and sustainer means acceleration, maximum speed, and range are greatly increased to upwards of 10+ km when fired on the deck, and up to 30-40 km at BVR altitude. As such, manueverability may slightly suffer initially due to the great acceleration, but will continuously pull in the long run due to the excess of energy remaining.

The R-27ET, however, is likely less familiar, due to it being introduced with the MiG-29SMT and only retroactively added to the Yak-141. It is an R-27T with an identical seeker and an identical lack of special features like IOG or DL, but has the same improved rocket booster and sustainer of the R-27ER, meaning it has near-identical range to it, upwards of 10-11 km. This is excellent, as it now can reach the targets that the seeker locks on to from distances of 13-15 km without significant issue. This also means the missile is capable of reaching a target that never saw the airframe launching this missile, without an RWR to warn of it's approach.

The ground attack arsenal sees several improvements. In terms of unguided weapons, the bomb loadout remains the same but the older S-24 HE rocket has been replaced with the podded S-13OF, which has somewhat less HE power but five times the capacity per pylon. The inner pylons can now mount TV-guided munitions in the form of the Kh-29TD (functionally identical to the Kh-29T seen on other Soviet jets) and the KAB-500Kr, which are nice to have in mixed battles for standoff attacks against SPAA. However, the capacity of only two such munitions is much lower than comparable American jets like the [[F-16C]], which can not only carry three times as many air-to-ground missiles but also has a targeting pod and laser-guided bombs. Thus, while the MiG-29SMT is a useful multirole fighter, pilots shouldn't expect to be able to clear out an entire enemy team in one run.

== Usage in battles ==

'''Air Combat'''

While the MiG-29SMT has reduced manoeuvrability from the added fuel tank compared to the MiG-29 9-13 (combined with the lack of any engine upgrade over the aforementioned MiG-29), it's still extremely strong in air combat. You merely have to be mindful of the increased weight and worse performance when dogfighting, as you are unlikely to win in a pure dogfight over other airframes with more capable flight models, such as the F-16A, F-16B, F-16C, JAS39A/C Gripen, F-15A/J, and the Mirage 4000.

When it comes to BVR, the MiG-29SMT dominates with the R-27ER missile, and its powerful radar, the Zhuk-M (a radar set very familiar to those who have played the Yak-141), with good tracking properties, good notching resistance, and good range. This, along with the new SPO-150 RWR that increases situational awareness by giving information about the exact vehicle that's pinging the MiG-29SMT, makes it perfect for BVR combat. The R-27ER also makes it adept at Within-Visual-Range engagements at the deck, against someone flying above you, as this missile can easily hit targets at the 10km range of the HMD you are provided, with limited hope of evasion when the missile accelerates up to it's top speed, should they never dive down.

The MiG-29SMT is also strong in close-range engagements. It carries the R-73, which is an extremely effective heat-seeking missile with 40G overload (combined with thrust vectoring) and sufficient 3 km overall range, combined with one of the best flare resistance models in the game. You'll want to use this missile at distances less than 1.5 - 2 km and parallel to the target for the best results, as the missile, if launched correctly, can and will pull in with little difficulty, remaining near-unflareable unless flares are visible before launch.

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

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

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

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

'''Cons:'''

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

== History ==

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

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

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=mig_29smt_9_19 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|PRQujCYvU1k|'''The Shooting Range #372''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:26 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[MiG-29 (Family)]]

== External links ==


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

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

MiG-29SMT

2024-01-06T10:50:38Z

U93443582: /* Usage in battles */ Further edit to expand the section with more accurate and up-to-date information.

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

== Description ==

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

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

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

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max speed (km/h at 12,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,261 || 2,216 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.1 || 23.5 || 257.5 || 244.8 || rowspan="2" | 750
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,442 || 2,347 || 21.9 || 22.5 || 346.1 || 300.0
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| 1,575  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || - || 532 || 463 || ~10 || ~4
|-
|}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Compared to the basic MiG-29, the SMT is capable of mounting supplementary large calibre countermeasures for better self-protection.

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


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

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

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

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

The MiG-29SMT's upgraded arsenal is one of its main selling points. The obsolete R-60M has been removed and replaced with the superior R-73, which Soviet pilots may have seen earlier on the [[Su-25T]]. The R-73 has a much better seeker with IRCCM, a higher overload, better range, and a thrust vectoring system for constant manoeuvring. When combined with the MiG-29SMT's helmet-mounted display, they are a deadly option for dogfights and help compensate for the decreased manoeuvrability of the airframe.

The R-27 missiles return, this time with a new offering in the R-27ET extended-range IR-guided variant. Although the R-27ER and R-27ET are both potent, the MiG-29SMT is still limited by the capacity of only two R-27s.

The ground attack arsenal sees several improvements. In terms of unguided weapons, the bomb loadout remains the same but the older S-24 HE rocket has been replaced with the podded S-13OF, which has somewhat less HE power but five times the capacity per pylon. The inner pylons can now mount TV-guided munitions in the form of the Kh-29TD (functionally identical to the Kh-29T seen on other Soviet jets) and the KAB-500Kr, which are nice to have in mixed battles for standoff attacks against SPAA. However, the capacity of only two such munitions is much lower than comparable American jets like the [[F-16C]], which can not only carry three times as many air-to-ground missiles but also has a targeting pod and laser-guided bombs. Thus, while the MiG-29SMT is a useful multirole fighter, pilots shouldn't expect to be able to clear out an entire enemy team in one run.

== Usage in battles ==

'''Air Combat'''

While the MiG-29SMT has reduced manoeuvrability from the added fuel tank compared to the MiG-29 9-13 (combined with the lack of any engine upgrade over the aforementioned MiG-29), it's still extremely strong in air combat. You merely have to be mindful of the increased weight and worse performance when dogfighting, as you are unlikely to win in a pure dogfight over other airframes with more capable flight models, such as the F-16A, F-16B, F-16C, JAS39A/C Gripen, F-15A/J, and the Mirage 4000.

When it comes to BVR, the MiG-29SMT dominates with the R-27ER missile, and its powerful radar, the Zhuk-M (a radar set very familiar to those who have played the Yak-141), with good tracking properties, good notching resistance, and good range. This, along with the new SPO-150 RWR that increases situational awareness by giving information about the exact vehicle that's pinging the MiG-29SMT, makes it perfect for BVR combat. The R-27ER also makes it adept at Within-Visual-Range engagements at the deck, against someone flying above you, as this missile can easily hit targets at the 10km range of the HMD you are provided, with limited hope of evasion when the missile accelerates up to it's top speed, should they never dive down.

The MiG-29SMT is also strong in close-range engagements. It carries the R-73, which is an extremely effective heat-seeking missile with 40G overload (combined with thrust vectoring) and sufficient 3 km overall range, combined with one of the best flare resistance models in the game. You'll want to use this missile at distances less than 1.5 - 2 km and parallel to the target for the best results, as the missile, if launched correctly, can and will pull in with little difficulty, remaining near-unflareable unless flares are visible before launch.

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

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

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

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

'''Cons:'''

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

== History ==

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

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

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=mig_29smt_9_19 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|PRQujCYvU1k|'''The Shooting Range #372''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:26 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[MiG-29 (Family)]]

== External links ==


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

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

Merkava Mk.2B (USA)

2020-01-21T15:02:37Z

U93443582: /* Survivability and armour */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_merkava_mk_2b_late
|market=Merkava Mk.2B (USA)
}}
{{About
| about = American medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other version
| link = Merkava Mk.1 (USA)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"]] as a reward for [[wt:en/news/6521-special-operation-f-r-o-s-t-en|Operation F.R.O.S.T]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
To start off, the frontal armor on the Merkava 2B is great, and is comparable or better than tanks of similar BR, and the frontal turret especially. If somebody is hoping to have a shot penetrate through the turret when they are facing a Merkava frontally, there is a very good chance they are out of luck and it will not go through. This does not mean that the Merkava is frontally invincible, however. The lower front plates are weak, even if they are stronger than the upper ones in pure armor thickness, the effective one is way lower. However, the lower front plate is the weakness of most tanks anyways. Also, there are some parts of the front armor that are weak, such as a small part of the turret and the uppermost part of the frontal upper late, but being hit there, especially from long distance, is going to be luck for the enemy, so worrying about those spots is not necessary all the time. Where this tank shines though is how it fixes the lower frontal plate issue. This vehicle's secret ace is it's position of the engine. It is in front of the tank, covering most of the frontal lower plate and a decent part of the upper one as well. Thus, any hit there will certainly stop the shell coming at it, especially against HESH, HEAT, and sometimes HEAT-FS shells as well. It will also stop most of the shrapnel, protecting the crew even further. However, this also means increased risk of fires and being immobilized, so having the ability to repair your tank and put fires out is important and so is being able to do that as fast as possible. Oh, and stick to facing your enemies with the front. The side and rear armor are a joke, and in the rear of the tank, your ammunition is stored, so anyone able to aim there will get a clean way of a one-shot. That, or they will kill off most, if not all, of your crew, which is still a one-shot.

=== Mobility ===
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" | Game Mode
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristics
! colspan="2" | Engine power (horsepower)
! colspan="2" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
|-
! Max Speed
! {{Annotation|Weight|Vehicle Weight (Tons)}}
! {{Annotation|AoA Weight|Add-on Armour Weight (Tons)}}
! Stock
! Upgraded
! Stock
! Upgraded
|-
! Arcade
| ___ || rowspan="2" | 63.0 || rowspan="2" | N/A || ___ || ___ || __.__ || __.__
|-
! {{Annotation|Realistic|Simulator uses Realistic FMs}}
| ___ || ___ || 963 || __.__ || 15.29
|}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

{{main|Sharir (105 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Sharir (105 mm)|105 mm Sharir]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 62 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || rowspan="2" | 8.1 || rowspan="2" | __.__ || rowspan="2" | __.__ || rowspan="2" | 6.7
|-
! ''Realistic''
| __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || 40.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M111 || APFSDS || 337 || 335 || 330 || 322 || 314 || 306
|-
| M152 || HEATFS || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400
|-
| M156 || HESH || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! rowspan="2" | Normalisation at 30° from horizontal
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M111 || APFSDS || 1,455 || 3.79 || N/A || N/A || N/A || _._° || 78° || 80° || 81°
|-
| M152 || HEATFS || 1,173 || 10.5 || N/A || 0.1 || 1,271 || +0.0° || 65° || 72° || 77°
|-
| M156 || HESH || 732 || 14.85 || 0.4 || 0.1 || 4,306 || +0.0° || 73° || 77° || 80°
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity (m/s)
! Projectile Mass (kg)
! Screen radius (m)
! Screen deploy time (s)
! Screen hold time (s)
! Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
|-
| M416 || 730 || 11.4 || 20 || 5 || 25 || 50
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''62''' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __
|-
|}

==== [[Optics]] ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} Optics
|-
!
! Default magnification
! Maximum magnification
|-
! Main Gun optics
| X7.2 || X8.0
|-
! Comparable optics
| colspan="2" | ___
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|FN MAG 60-40 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount
! Capacity (Belt capacity)
! Rate of fire (shots/minute)
! Vertical guidance
! Horizontal guidance
|-
| Coaxial || 900 (200) || 576 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[FN MAG 60-40 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm FN MAG 60-40]]
|-
! Mount
! Capacity (Belt capacity)
! Rate of fire (shots/minute)
! Vertical guidance
! Horizontal guidance
|-
| Coaxial || 5,950 (200) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Commander's cupola || 1,750 (200) || 600 || -10°/+50° || ±120°
|-
| Loader's cupola || 1,750 (200) || 600 || -10°/+50° || ±120°
|-
|}

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armour is composed of multiple layers, giving it a good protection against HESH, HEAT and some ATGMs.
* Stock HEATFS round works well overall
* Has access to a thermal sight
* Good mobility once spaded. Can take the capture zones with lighter vehicles.
* Good gun with effective choices of ammo.
* Engine in the front gives some extra protection to the crew.
* Low silhouette.
* Can't be hull broken.
* Very good gun stabilization
* Three extra machine guns on the roof to deal with lightly armoured vehicles, helicopters and planes. (2 x 7.62 mm + 1 x 12.7 mm)

'''Cons:'''

* Not premium (modules must be researched)
* Almost no protection against APFSDS which is quite common at the battle rating
* Engine and a fuel tank in the front mean that fires are common
* Driver has less protection than other crew members
* All the modules being at the front means that there is no crew protection for flankers from the rear

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

== Media ==

<gallery>
File:GarageImage Merkava Mk 2B (USA) Operation FROST.jpeg|{{PAGENAME}} in the Operation F.R.O.S.T. garage
</gallery>

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

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

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

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

{{USA medium tanks}}
{{Winter Event}}