At least they don’t have to stick with the AMRAAM-Phantom in ARB.
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the question is in what way the Swiss F/A-18s were unable to carry A-G ordinance. To me it more seems like the Swiss AF just didnt purchase any equipment, while the aircraft still retains the theoretical capability.
Both A-G and A-A probably run over the same wiring using the MIL-STD-1553 bus, and reprogramming the FCS to take weapons out just doesnt make economical sense, you dont save any money that way.
Kinda similar to the South African Gripen for example, which at best has Paveway II IRL, not the Paveway III nor Mavs it has ingame, or the tons of other aircraft with ahistorical loadouts
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I feel for balancing gaijin may just give the swiss f18 the finnish A2G loadout or the base US F18 loadout.
Just give it chugun.
Most likely. AFAIK there is no document indicating that the Swiss Air Force received F/A-18 without A2G capability.
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Pack your bags, everyone, party’s closed.
Kinda sad now
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Zdrada
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I have been thinking lately about how the Hornets could be implemented in-game overall, and I think I have a general idea of what may be event/TT, and what nations could get them:
Tech Tree:
US: F/A-18A and F/A-18C in Naval-fighter line, F/A-18D potentially in the Marine/Strike line (if deemed appropriate by Gaijin)
Britain: either Australian or Canadian F/A-18A
Germany: Swiss F/A-18C
Sweden: Finnish F/A-18Cs, likely multiple to represent the different upgrades
Italy: Spanish EF-18A and EF-18A+ (depending on how needed both modifications/the upgraded Hornet may be)
Japan: Malaysian F/A-18D (as part of the SEA sub tree, if deemed necessary by Gaijin)
Event Hornets:
F/A-18B (likely for US TT) and possibly a Kuwaiti F/A-18C or D at some point in the far future
How they could be implemented:
With the Hornets essentially being effectively denied for this coming update, we very likely won’t be getting them in-game until October/November at the earliest. I could see Gaijin having the Hornet be part of a huge December patch as an answer to the “when”. The “how” however is a bit more complicated.
I can see one of three paths being taken: The Hornets are added similarly to the American F-16s from Apex Predators, where both an early and a possible later version are added at the same time, albeit foldered. However, I feel that may only be done for the American ones just due to an early USN/USMC F/A-18A being deemed as rather… “lackluster” in the current meta.
For the second option, the Hornets would be added more like other 4th Gens, with an initial variant first and updated variant later.
And for the final and third option, which would probably be the most disappointing to (to me at least lol): the A models are skipped over, with Gaijin going straight into the A+/Cs, with the early models being used as event vehicles. This would make me very sad :(
There’s also what would be added for other nations during the same update that may very well change what nations do and don’t receive the Hornet, such as Eurofighter and Rafale.
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I hope and I think the Eurofighter and Rafale will be the stars of their update similar to how the Mig-29 and F-16A were in theirs so they aren’t overshadowed by other equally cool airframes.
With other nations receiving other gap fills at lower brs like in Apex Predators.
I agree with the rest of what you said though.
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F/A-18A in late 80’s ?
But I don’t know located before or after F-14B & F-14D and battle rating
I might expect F/A-18C config in mid 90’s, without JHMCS and AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM
And USN F/A-18A+ config 2004 after F/A-18C, my guess
USMC F/A-18D from 2008 ~ 2009 similar to F/A-18E Blk I, and targeting pod unlike F/A-18C/D from USN
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what’s so special about the F/A-18D? it’s just a backseater C is it not?
@oom1992 i think it best to add the early amraam F/A-18C with a F/A-18A with simple sparrows
F/A-18A with early AMRAAM and C with improved AMRAAM and AIM-9X
What’s your thoughts behind this btw? Just wondering; I don’t see how competitive an F/A-18A would be at the 13.3+ br it would be with AMRAAM’s.
Also it less fuel?
Flying with a WSO is tight
No but for real, two seaters may be useless right now, but if modeled correctly they would reduce your workload by simplifying/automating some tasks.
For example: Mouse designated radar lock for 2 seater jets
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There is the Swiss gov and the Swiss trials to replace the F/A-18 state that it has no capability to use any A2G
https://www.parlament.ch/de/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=19943203
How would it not be competitive? What kind of silly question is that?
they do not say that, that link is specific for the AGM-65, stating that the integration would be technically possible, but would incur high costs. Furthermore they mention that the weapons no longer meet the operational requirements.
They do not define what would cause the costs, if its the technical integration, buying targeting pods to actually use the missiles effectively, retraining the pilots, buying new Mavericks since the existing ones are at the end of their operational lifespan, or even at the end of the missiles lifespan itself.
Remember the existing Swiss stocks are from 1984, those are AGM-65Bs!
Not to mention that the Hornets would only arrive in 1998, which is already after the slated shelf life of 10 years for the AGM-65 (EVALUATION OF SPARING MODELS FOR A MISSILE SYSTEMS US AIR FORCE INST OF TECH)
They would not get far with their existing missiles, so integration costs seem much more likely to be connected to that (combined with the fact that they are unlikely to be used since the Swiss AF simply doesnt have enough F/A-18 for both the primary mission of air defense and CAS, which is also stated in your link)
F/A-18A never got amraam, F/A-18C defo did, the only F/A-18As to get AMRAAMs were called F/A-18A+
@Fireball_2020 F/A-18A will be DOA no matter which way you try and fit it
That’s what I’m saying?