A lot of people have been pushing for the Aim-7P to be implemented onto the F-14B/D since the F-14D got announced. Yes I do know that in real life the Aim-7P acted like an Aim-7M on the Tomcats due to them not being able to use the Datalink feature, so it would be “unrealistic” to add the Aim-7P with the Datalink feature, hence why the Developers won’t add the Aim-7P to the Tomcats arsenal.
However, the F-14A IRIAF uses the R-27R, which uses Datalink, and gives IRIAF the ability to switch targets with its SARH missile, while still using the AWG-9 radar.
So for balance the Developers should consider to add the Aim-7P to the F-14B/D, because they allowed the IRIAF to use Datalink on the R27R, so they should let the F14B/D to use Datalink on the Aim-7P
AIM-7P had 2 versions anyway.
It had 7P block1 and block 2.
Block 2 was the one with mid cource correction with DL.
Block 1 however , wasn’t the 7M-H. It had upgraded computer from the analogue M-H had , Block 1 had digital and that means better low altitude performance and better ECM/Chaff protection.
And different proxy fuse , 7M-H had DSU-26/B with a basic active RF proximity circuit .
AIM-7P Block 1 had digital active RF DSU-34/B with DSQ-37 Target Detection Device and could hit even sea skimming targets.
Block 1 could be used by 14B and
Now Block 2 without DL mid course updates would still be superior to both since it fielded WGU-23D/B which is even faster and more accurate and ECM resistant.
7M-H to 7P block 2 without even DL involved is like… 2 generations of upgrades.
So yes , it won’t be “like shooting 7M-H” . It’s a better missile.
HOWEVER , it might not be that much different in WT CURRENTLY. But from the time ECM (which say they want to introduced and did a try with B-52 and Tu-95 ) , let’s say the difference from M-H to 7P block 2 would be VERY BIG.
However i’m figuring that 7P Block 2 had the same digital data link wave form with 120A , effectively F-15s that could use AIM-120 could use 7P block 2 if they wanted.
And that was the upgrade F-14D didn’t receive.
While the upgrades in 54C+ made it behave similar to 120A (because of the digital PSP and Strap-down INS it changed the way it operated and "see " things and calculate fligt paths etc.) and used data link for 54s, it wasn’t the same waveform . Let’s say it spoke 54, never learned to speak AMRAAM and in an extend 7P block 2. That was on the software upgrade it didn’t receive.
But in the end, even without the DL 7P block 2 is just a better missile. It’s not " like 7M-H" . It’s an upgrade to 7M-H.
And the more electronics the game will try and showcase, the bigger the difference it will be from 7M-H to 7P block 2 even without DL.
Iirc apg-65 system doc that’s in scrib it describes the missile auxiliaries illumination set tune the missile to the frequency channel of the radar transmitter and that it uses the same methods for tuning for both aim7 and aim-120 DL
Iirc the sms on the f/a-18c early also designate the aim7p as mh as well
i mean ive never seen actual primary documentation stating the F14Ds APG-71 could do data link since its a Hybrid radar with the strike eagle APG-70 until they un unclassified the documents we will never know as there still classified due to iran ofc
we know it can do data link with pheniox as it has its own station its basically a whole redesign of the AWG-9 with parts from the APG-70 and it wouldnt be impossible to see them adding the capability to use it in the redesign
in the mean time we could see AIM-7MH mode for the 7M