Python 3 - Revision history

U22067555: Added Baz Meshupar

2024-10-28T00:12:59Z

Added Baz Meshupar

U4656018: Revising PL-8/9 part at the 2nd paragraph

2024-08-16T17:58:19Z

Revising PL-8/9 part at the 2nd paragraph

U17577377: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */

2024-03-15T10:56:13Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon

U28580205: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */ Standardized with in-game code template

2023-12-18T05:56:43Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon: Standardized with in-game code template

U137259550: The addition of the F-15A Baz

2023-12-17T19:42:25Z

The addition of the F-15A Baz

U137259550: /* Vehicles equipped with this weapon */

2023-12-17T19:39:49Z

‎Vehicles equipped with this weapon

U44629479: Edits

2023-09-22T13:45:29Z

Edits

U101628627: added AIM-9M to the Comparison

2023-09-21T22:57:47Z

added AIM-9M to the Comparison

U44629479: Edits

2023-09-01T15:24:43Z

Edits

U4656018: Adding general info (from PL-8 due to their sameness) and updated usage and history

2023-08-28T07:12:55Z

Adding general info (from PL-8 due to their sameness) and updated usage and history

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 * {{Specs-Link|f_16a_block_10_iaf}}
 * {{Specs-Link|f_15a_iaf}}
 == General info ==

@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 As the production of Israeli domestic AAM has gone smoothly after the production of Shafrir-1/2 in the 1970s, they have been proved very effective against enemy jets, especially when IAF shot down 89 jets with the Shafrir-2. However, the ongoing conflicts with surrounding Arabic countries and introduction of more advanced jets for these countries also called for a new IR AAM that can achieve head-on attacks - USAF by the time already has AIM-9L in 1977 while Soviet was still working on the R-60M variant (introduced in 1982). The development of the Python 3 started in 1978 where Rafael ditched Hebrew names for the missile family and opted for an English name instead. As soon as Israel started to be involved in the Lebanese War in 1982, the IAF launched the Operation Mole Cricket 19 where it achieved no losses against around 82 (up to 86 vary by sources) Lebanese/Syrian jets and destroying their SAM systems for further air superiority. During the "Bekaa Valley Turkey Shoot", the IAF also introduced their head-on IR AAMs including US-built AIM-9Ls and their latest Python 3 in operation, where the latter scored around 50 victories among the 82 victories. Although being a missile from 1982, the Python 3 is now still used by IAF alongside with its more advanced cousins, Python 4 and 5.<ref>https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39648/israeli-f-15s-were-armed-with-old-missiles-during-b-52-escort</ref>
-Soon after the "Turkey Shoot", Chinese military officials and engineers also deemed Python 3 as a good bargain to upgrade the PLAAF fleet with more advanced Western missiles before domestic alternatives were commissioned. The deal which included the production line and 1,500 missiles was set in 1983 under the name Project No.8 (八号工程), later renamed PL-8 as the project was finalized and the new missile entered service in 1986. The technologies used on Python 3 also set the foundation of future Chinese domestic missiles i.e. export-only PL-9 whose seeker was developed from the PL-8.
+Soon after the "Turkey Shoot", Chinese military officials and engineers also deemed Python 3 as a good bargain to upgrade the PLAAF fleet with more advanced Western missiles before domestic alternatives were commissioned. The deal which included the production line and 1,500 missiles was set in 1983 under the name Project No.8 (八号工程), later renamed PL-8 as the project was finalized and the new missile entered service in 1986. The technologies used on Python 3 also set the foundation of future Chinese domestic missiles i.e. export-only PL-9, which has many similarities with Python 3 except having a more conventional tail like those on PL-5 series for evading the export restrictions under the Sino-Israeli contract; meanwhile, PLAAF also developed an IRCCM variant, PL-8B as the main IR AAM for the air force by 21st century.
 == Media ==

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 <!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
 * {{Specs-Link|kfir_c2}}
 * {{Specs-Link|kfir_c7}}

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 * {{Specs-Link|f-4e_kurnass_2000}}
 * {{Specs-Link|f_16a_block_10_iaf}}
-* [[Baz]]
+* {{Specs-Link|f_15a_iaf}}
 == General info ==

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 * {{Specs-Link|f-4e_kurnass_2000}}
 * {{Specs-Link|f_16a_block_10_iaf}}
-* Baz
+* [[Baz]]
 == General info ==

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 * {{Specs-Link|f-4e_kurnass_2000}}
 * {{Specs-Link|f_16a_block_10_iaf}}
 == General info ==
@@ Line 22: / Line 23: @@
 === Comparison with analogues ===
 <!-- ''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
 * [[AIM-9L Sidewinder|AIM-9L]] - US/NATO standard IR AAM with very long guidance time; while having lesser overload, head-on range and explosive content.
 * [[AIM-9M Sidewinder|AIM-9M]] - Missile based on the AIM-9L equipped with an advanced heat seeker which has IRCCM capabilities and a low/reduced smoke motor.
@@ Line 57: / Line 59: @@
 == 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 article about the variant of the weapon;''
 * ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
@@ Line 62: / Line 65: @@
 == External links ==
 ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 * ''topic on the official game forum;''
 * ''other literature.''
@@ Line 68: / Line 72: @@
 [[Category:Suspended armaments]]

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 <!-- ''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
 * [[AIM-9L Sidewinder|AIM-9L]] - US/NATO standard IR AAM with very long guidance time; while having lesser overload, head-on range and explosive content.
-* [[AIM-9M Sidewinder|AIM-9M]] - AIM-9L based Missile equipped with an advanced heat seeker which has IRCCM capabilities and a Low/reduced smoke motor.
+* [[AIM-9M Sidewinder|AIM-9M]] - Missile based on the AIM-9L equipped with an advanced heat seeker which has IRCCM capabilities and a low/reduced smoke motor.
 * [[R-73]] - Soviet IR AAM with identical overload; while having lesser explosive content and a shorter combat radius.
 * [[Matra R550 Magic 2|Magic-2]] - French standard IR AAM with higher explosive content, slightly more guidance time and a faster flight speed; while having slightly less overload but identical head-on range.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 === Effective damage ===
-Python 3 with 5 kg of HBX filler has around 8 kg TNTe will produce both explosion and shrapnel damage to enemy aircrafts, penetrating airframes or blowing off parts off the aircraft.
+<!-- ''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of missile (high explosive, splash damage, etc)'' -->
 === Comparison with analogues ===
-[[AIM-9L Sidewinder|AIM-9L]] - US/NATO standard IR AAM with very long guidance time; while having lesser overload, head-on range and explosive content.
+<!-- ''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
+* [[AIM-9L Sidewinder|AIM-9L]] - US/NATO standard IR AAM with very long guidance time; while having lesser overload, head-on range and explosive content.
-[[R-73]] - Soviet IR AAM with identical overload; while having lesser explosive content and shorter combat radius.
+* [[R-73]] - Soviet IR AAM with identical overload; while having lesser explosive content and a shorter combat radius.
+* [[Matra R550 Magic 2|Magic-2]] - French standard IR AAM with higher explosive content, slightly more guidance time and a faster flight speed; while having slightly less overload but identical head-on range.
 == Usage in battles ==
-As one of the most advanced IR AAM of its era, Python excels at its velocity, overload and damage. The overall combat radius is also long enough for strikes even at 3 km and above, there are cases that Python 3 could hit enemy targets at higher altitude and long distance (thanks to lesser air density and its powerful rocket engine); the speed and damage of the missile at Mach 3.5 also helps it deliver fatal blow to careless enemies or sitting ducks which depleted their energy for an evade. Although carriers of Python 3 currently lacks HMD unlike its Chinese cousin, up to 6 Python 3 on F-16A Netz can still be an ultimate nightmare to enemy jets; just be sure not to fire them within 1.2 km radius when head-on as these missiles doesn't have thrust vectoring for very tight maneuvers, wasting a chance to take down enemies.
+<!-- ''Describe situations when you would utilise this missile in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)'' -->
 === Pros and cons ===
@@ Line 37: / Line 38: @@
 * High velocity on par with Soviet SARH-based missiles at Mach 3.5
 * Long combat radius
-* Loaded with high explosive contents for sure kills
+* Loaded high explosive payload
 '''Cons:'''
@@ Line 45: / Line 46: @@
 == History ==
-As the production of Israeli domestic AAM has gone smoothly after the production of Shafrir-1/2 by 1970s, they have been proved very effective against enemy jets, especially when IAF shot down 89 jets with the Shafrir-2. However, the ongoing conflicts with surrounding Arabic countries and introduction of more advanced jets for these countries also called for a new IR AAM that can achieve head-on attacks - USAF by the time already has AIM-9L in 1977 while Soviet was still working on the R-60M variant (introduced in 1982). The development on Python 3 started in 1978 where Rafael ditched Hebrew names for the missile family and opted for an English name instead; as soon as Israel started to be involved in the Lebanese War in 1982, IAF launched the Operation Mole Cricket 19 where the IAF achieved no losses against around 82 (up to 86 vary by sources) Lebanese/Syrian jets and destroying their SAM systems for further air superiority. During the "Bekaa Valley Turkey Shoot", IAF also introduced their head-on IR AAMs including US-built AIM-9L and their latest Python 3 in operation, where the latter scored around 50 victories among the 82 victories. Although being a missile from 1982, Python 3 is now still used by IAF alongside with its more advanced cousins, Python 4 and 5.<ref>https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39648/israeli-f-15s-were-armed-with-old-missiles-during-b-52-escort</ref>
+<!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' -->
-Soon after the "Turkey Shot", Chinese military officials and engineers also deemed Python 3 as a good bargain to upgrade PLAAF fleet with more advanced western missiles before domestic alternatives commissioned; the deal which included the production line and 1500 missiles was set in 1983 under the name Project No.8 (八号工程), later renamed PL-8 as the project finalized and new missile entered service in 1986; the technologies used on Python 3 also set the foundation of future Chinese domestic missiles i.e. export-only PL-9 which cooperated with the seeker from PL-8.
+Soon after the "Turkey Shoot", Chinese military officials and engineers also deemed Python 3 as a good bargain to upgrade the PLAAF fleet with more advanced Western missiles before domestic alternatives were commissioned. The deal which included the production line and 1,500 missiles was set in 1983 under the name Project No.8 (八号工程), later renamed PL-8 as the project was finalized and the new missile entered service in 1986. The technologies used on Python 3 also set the foundation of future Chinese domestic missiles i.e. export-only PL-9 whose seeker was developed from the PL-8.
 == Media ==
@@ Line 54: / Line 56: @@
 == 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 article about the variant of the weapon;''
 * ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
@@ Line 60: / Line 61: @@
 == External links ==
 ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 * ''topic on the official game forum;''
 * ''other literature.''