Ohhhh so it’s a formatting issue haha, no worries
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Greetings Cheetah enjoyers, after a VERY GENEROUS AMOUNT OF INACTIVITY OF MY PART I’ve come to present more information in regards to our dearest feline, in this case, I’ve come to provide pictures, information, and a few insights regarding the Atlas Cheetah’s avionics, I hope the information presented will not only be useful, but also taken into consideration in the future when it comes to bug-reporting.
As always, I’ll take my sweet time properly citing every single aspect from this post, as some elements presented while true, have been provided through not properly cited means AKA someone shared it in a community or with me and forgot the source as well.
MFD Modes
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Up until now we can guarantee the existence of a radar and and DataLink display, however, I’ve come to provide some extra pictures regarding these MFD modes, of course, the pictures will be numerous, as the CRT displays are exactly that: CRT, so not everything in the screen may be shown at once.
- Tactical Situation Display
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This particular MFD mode provides the pilot information about their geographical location, heading, threats, digital moving map, DataLink and more features associated to the aircraft’s sensors.
- Fire Control Radar
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This particular MFD mode provides the pilot information about their radar, in this case the ELTA EL/M-2032 radar, such as range (in nautical miles), target position, scope, scan mode, visual indication of the radar being powered off, etc.
- Navigation Data
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This particular MFD mode provides the pilot information miscellaneous information regarding the date, time, time to point, destination waypoints, etc.
HUD Symbology
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- HOTLINE
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This HUD mode provides the pilot with a lead funnel for aircraft cannon target solutions, missile firing information, ammunition count, speed, Mach number, g-load, etc.
- Navigation
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This HUD mode provides the pilot with the basic aircraft information, heading, altitude, attitude, roll degree, Mach number, g-load, etc.
- Air-to-Ground
Helmet Mounted Display and Sight System
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Now, as the suggestion post mentioned, there is (very likely) an HMDS system onboard the Atlas Cheetah, unfortunately I am still not sure which of the ones offered by Cumulus (a Kentron subsidiary company, now part of Denel Dynamics.) or Elbit Systems could or were equipped, for now I’ve been able to find THREE notable HMDS systems for contending this role:
- ARCHER
Image extracted from Kentron’s site, no other media was found regarding the HMD symbology layout other than text descriptions of its capabilities and provided information to the pilot.
- GUARDIAN
Image extracted from Kentron’s site, notice the interesting symbology on display, which could be very useful for delivering the native South African missiles.
- DASH III
Israeli Helmet Mounted Display and Sight Helmet System provided by Elbit Computers, , the current War Thunder DASH III layout, while useful, still lacks certain pieces of information, symbology and status.
I am certainly hopeful we can find more information on the Cheetah’s specific HMD, as I would, excuse the crude language up ahead, FUCKING HATE HAVING TO BE LIMITED TO THE SHITTY RUSSIAN HMS PLACEHOLDER.
Lastly, this HMDS upgrade appears to be exclusive to the SAAF, the FAE (Spanish for “Ecuadorian Air Force”) didn’t fly the Cheetahs with any HMDS according to several found pictures and footage provided on their official social media and website.
Ecuadorian Air Force HGU-48/P fighter pilot helmets perfectly lined up before use, notice the different patches, markings, etc. Avid lookers might notice the “Alien” patch on top of the cloth cover on one of the helmets.
Ecuadorian Air Force pilot onboard their Atlas Cheetah before takeoff, aircraft registry being FAE-1359, the Ecuadorian designation often adds a “1” before the tail registry number, no HMDS present.
Ecuadorian Air Force pilot onboard their Atlas Cheetah before takeoff, another angle has been provided, no HMDS seemingly installed.
Official Ecuadorian Air Force promotional material of an Atlas Cheetah pilot onboard their aircraft, notice the seemingly obvious lack of an HMDS
Ecuadorian Air Force Pilot Diana Ruiz beside an Atlas Cheetah with her HGU-48/P helmet, no HMDS seemingly installed on her helmet.
Author’s Note: This precise pilot was the first female Atlas Cheetah and supersonic fighter pilot on the Ecuadorian Air Force, Second Lieutenant Diana Estefanía Ruiz Solís.
Ecuadorian Air Force Pilot Diana Ruiz beside onboard her Atlas Cheetah, notice her helmet does not carry an installed HMDS just like the previous pictures.
Author’s Note: In 2024, Second Lieutenant Diana Ruiz tragically passed away during an air accident, her training aircraft crashed on a busy street, at La Libertad county, Santa Elena province. Despite the tragedy of her passing, she delivered diligently in her duty as pilot and instructor, may she rest in peace.
Python 4 Missile Compatibility [FAE]
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Ecuadorian Air Force aircrew seemingly carrying and about to load a Python 4 missile onto the Atlas Cheetah’s pylons.
While looking at various promotional pieces by the Ecuadorian Air Force’s Official YouTube channel, I found this curious excerpt of a loading of a Python 4 missile, which goes to support my previous statements regarding the integration of this missile by the Ecuadorian Air Force as seen in the contracts.
Another relevant piece of information regarding the Python 4 onboard the Atlas Cheetah is the following excerpt from Revista Pucará Número 12:
“La Fuerza [Aérea Ecuatoriana] también tiene misiles Python IV, pero, si bien se han instalado en los aviones, no realizaron lanzamientos en los Cheetah, a pesar de que estaban en uso en los Kfir y Mirage F1.”
Translating to English:
“The Ecuadorian Air Force also has Python IV missiles, but, despite being installed in the aircraft, they haven’t made any launch trials with the Cheetah’s, considering they were also in use with their Kfir and Mirage F1.”
Analysis
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Taking into consideration the avionics shown we can pretty much do some safe assumptions:
- The Atlas Cheetah likely uses Elbit’s System 82 WDNS or a similar system
- The Atlas Cheetah shares the same or similar HUD symbology with the IAI Kfir C.2 / C.7
- The Altas Cheetah shares the same or similar Tactical Situation Display with the Kfir CE (Kfir C.10)
These assumptions come from the following pictures and information found regarding these similar systems:
- Elbit’s System 82:
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Elbit Computer’s Stores Management System display modes, showcasing the many stores and layouts and display on the Kfir C.7 may offer for missions, proving to be a likely compatible tool for the Cheetah due to the similarity of display modes shown, particularly on the Navigation section, font, etc.
Elbit Computer’s System 82 capabilities, unfortunately the “HOTLINE” symbology layout is not present today in-game in the Kfir family, as it is incorrectly modeled using the A-7’s HUD.
Elbit Computer’s System 82 capabilities, the many capabilities prove useful and present in the many pieces of footage found both in the Colombian Air Force’s Kfir C.7’s and by the South African Air Force in their Atlas Cheetah C’s.
- Kfir C.2 / C.7 HUD:
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Colombian Air Force Kfir C.7 HUD footage, notice the active HOTLINE symbology.
Colombian Air Force Kfir C.2 HUD Emergency footage, the HOTLINE symbology is on display.
Colombian Air Force Kfir C.7 footage, the navigation HUD mode is on display.
- Kfir CE (C.10) Tactical Situation Display
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Ecuadorian Air Force Kfir CE, notice the exact same Tactical Situation Display layout from the Atlas Cheetah present on the MFD.
Ecuadorian Air Force Kfir CE, another picture of the Kfir CE’s Tactical Situation Display, notice once more the striking resemblance between the two.
Ecuadorian Air Force Kfir 30th Anniversary video, notice the Tactical Situation Display layout shown at the top right corner, maintaining consistency with the one’s shown before as well as the resemblance with the Atlas Cheetah’s Tactical Situation Display layout.
Author’s Note: For more information regarding the Kfir family of aircraft, please direct your attention to my forum thread where these and many more mentioned capabilities will be mentioned.
Concluding Statement
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We can be certainly sure that the Kfir CE, Kfir C.2 and Atlas Cheetah share many avionics and capabilities due to their common Israeli origin and similar overhaul programs.
Due to these similarities I consider it could be possible to contribute findings and information using these alternative aircraft as source material, and which would hopefully mean that, in the near future, once the Atlas Cheetah is added, the Kfir C.2 / C.7’s HUD will be correctly implemented.
Lastly, I would like to encourage everyone to research more in regards to the HMDS’s present, specially the ones provided by Kentron, as the DASH III I’d say is already pretty well documented in the first place, and to research the Python 4 compatibility of the Atlas Cheetah.
Sources
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As mentioned before, please feel free to archive or save these images and material on your own, as it may get lost in the sands of time.
[Fuerza Aérea ec] - Los legendarios Cazadores y su herencia
- https://youtu.be/vJxXc9lLTU8?si=xFaP1N-4F9972kiB
- https://youtu.be/vJxXc9lLTU8?si=hM7LLlbJA8MnL3bJ&t=187
- https://youtu.be/vJxXc9lLTU8?si=hWpj9sy8QTO5f-gH&t=255
[Fuerza Aérea ec] - Escuadrón cazadores
- https://youtu.be/K2sYxfT0CKA?si=-E89lZdZMfJg2r7P&t=125
- https://youtu.be/K2sYxfT0CKA?si=tSjXIzX8dQZ28mUe&t=151
- https://youtu.be/K2sYxfT0CKA?si=LFFzoIiqrz9gunvw&t=157
- https://youtu.be/K2sYxfT0CKA?si=1e-fTrPGBxWuzhFM&t=171
- https://youtu.be/K2sYxfT0CKA?si=EOyTDdvYa0q2-O6i&t=173
- https://youtu.be/K2sYxfT0CKA?si=6HVDDQ2WcotjuxTG&t=195
- https://youtu.be/K2sYxfT0CKA?si=73sfE7uCJCSSDImm&t=203
- https://youtu.be/K2sYxfT0CKA?si=H7-IHlLsa7VKTSye&t=211
- https://youtu.be/K2sYxfT0CKA?si=2n8KQZwUEBb9Ixzc&t=223
Air Power Australia
Kentron Dynamics Website [Archived]
Direct Image Link:
- KENTRON Media Gallery
- Cumulus online
- https://web.archive.org/web/20030418073626im_/http://www.cumulus.co.za/Images/SfixwingPR.jpg
Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana Website [Archived]
Direct Image Link:
- https://web.archive.org/web/20191216232600im_/https://www.fae.mil.ec/wp-content/uploads/rocketlauncher/pilotos/pilt26.jpg
- https://web.archive.org/web/20191216233823im_/https://www.fae.mil.ec/wp-content/uploads/rocketlauncher/pilotos/pilt4.jpg
- https://web.archive.org/web/20191216233854im_/https://www.fae.mil.ec/wp-content/uploads/rocketlauncher/pilotos/pilt3.jpg
Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Twitter)
Revista Vistazo
Noticiero Telediario (Twitter)
[Fuerza Aérea ec] - Escuadrón cazadores
Revista Pucará Número 12 | Page 35 - 36
Elbit Computers Stores Management System (SMS) | Page 2
[Leandro Gil] - El Mundo Segun Pirry Fuerza Aerea Colombiana 85 Años (06 de Noviembre de 2004)
[John Jairo] - Emergencia Kfir
[maquinagriz] - Kfir Aniversario No 30 Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana
- https://youtu.be/r5G5cZyDFkw?si=sJ2ybDl6n-9t0uZ6&t=231
- https://youtu.be/r5G5cZyDFkw?si=rPQlkEfLUpazaESW&t=235
[Fuerza Aérea ec] - Aniversario Escuadrón K-Fir 30 Años - FAE
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Oh I forgot to also add this:
Middle UFCP is the same (or most likely of a similar series) UFCP mounted on the Atlas Cheetah, found on an El-Op (now an Elbit Systems subsidiary) company products brochure.
Source: El-Op Company Products Brochure
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