IAR-81C

IAR-81C

IAR-81C

Italy

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.7	2.7	2.7

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Purchase:1 000

Description

The IAR-81C is a premium Rank II Italian fighter with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.79 "Project X". It is the first domestic-produced Romanian plane in the game, added into the Italian tree.

General info

Flight Performance

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

Survivability and 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. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The IAR-81C packs a considerable punch for its BR, including two MG151's and two 7.7mm machine guns for a total of 350 cannon rounds and 1000 machine gun rounds (needs verification). Naturally, the MG151s found on this aircraft gain access to the powerful Minengeschoß shells, making the vehicle a deadly force to be reckoned with for what it can face. The 7.7mm machine guns found on this vehicle are adequate at best, and provide best effect when used with tracer rounds to provide more effective aiming when using stealth belts for cannons.

Suspended armament

Where this vehicle really shines, however, is its access to a ground-pounding loadout of a 250kg bomb and 2x BR.21 rockets. Although created for anti-bomber use, the BR.21 rockets are capable of shredding tanks it faces at its BR or above, penetrating even a tank's side armor with a near miss in some scenarios. With powerful HE shells for its cannons to demolish open-topped vehicles, a 250kg bomb on a "catapult"-style mount like those found on the Ju87-series aircraft, and BR.21 rockets for engaging fast-moving tanks or more armored AA vehicles from a distance (namely the Crusader Mk1 AA or the AC Mk II AA), the IAR-81C provides the Italian tree a vehicle that poses a serious threat to all but the most armored vehicles or cautious anti-air.

Defensive armament

This vehicle has no defensive armament.

Usage in battles

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Pros and cons

Pros:

• Great all-around aircraft that can dive with Bf 109s of equal rank and can turn with most aircraft

Cons:

• It cannot compete with most turn fighters
• Lacks armour and survivability characteristics

History

After fulfilling several government and licence contracts, the relatively young I.A.R. (Industria Aeronautică Română) company had enough resources and technical know-how to begin developing their own fighter aircraft. Taking inspiration from previous licenced projects, I.A.R. engineers initiated a private venture by beginning working on their own fighter aircraft in late 1937, which would later be known as the I.A.R. 80. As work was progressing slowly, the first prototype wasn’t completed until spring 1939. Initial testing produced positive results, proving that the I.A.R. 80 could be considered a modern fighter despite not matching the performance of contemporary Bf 109s and Spitfires. After addressing some minor issues and upgrading the prototype’s engine, the I.A.R. 80 was tested in a head-to-head competition with the German He 112. Impressed by the aircraft’s display, the Romanian government placed an order for 100 I.A.R. 80s to be produced, while only a limited number of He 112s were ordered for production. Despite starting production almost instantly after the order was placed, I.A.R. struggled to ramp up production as shortages on the Belgian-made FN Browning 7.92mm machine guns became an increasing issue in the wake of the German invasion of the Benelux states. By April 1941 however with Romania joining the Axis, the armament shortages were temporarily addressed. Taking advantage of the opportunity, I.A.R. upgraded their fighter to the I.A.R. 80-A, increasing the number of machine guns to the initially proposed six and installing a more powerful engine, thus solving many initial concerns with the aircraft.

Even prior to Romania’s entry into WW2 in 1941, the government was keen on modernizing their stock of strike aircraft and dive bombers. The latter role was to be filled with the Ju 87 Stuka. However, as Germany initially refused to permit a licence production, I.A.R. came up with the proposal to convert some I.A.R. 80 fighters into dive bombers, creating the I.A.R. 81. These machines differed only from fighter models in the installation of a bomb rack underneath the fuselage, capable of suspending a 225 kg bomb. The I.A.R. 81-C was the final modification of this series, featuring upgraded MG 151/20 20mm cannons compared to previous versions. Around 150 examples of this modification were produced out of the approximate total of around 350 I.A.R. 80/81. By the end of the war, most of the I.A.R. 81s were not used in the dive bomber role and were instead used side by side with the I.A.R. 80 as fighters, most notably taking part in the famous defense of Ploesti against U.S. bombing raids in 1944. I.A.R. 80s continued their service with the Romanian air force after the end of WW2 and even into the early 1950s, before being replaced by more advanced Soviet counterparts.

- From Devblog

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

See also

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

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

External links

• [Devblog] I.A.R. 81-C: Supporting the Axis