F/A-18D Late (Malaysia) should receive the AGM-88C instead of the AGM-88A

The Malaysian F/A-18D Late currently has access to the AGM-88A HARM.

The problem is that Malaysia is not known to have purchased or operated any version of the AGM-88 in the first place. So the current AGM-88A is already not based on an actual Malaysian weapons inventory.

Because of that, it seems the missile was added based on the capability of the F/A-18D platform itself.

If that is the standard being used, then I think the AGM-88C would make more sense than limiting the aircraft to the much older AGM-88A.

The F/A-18C and F/A-18D are part of the same Legacy Hornet family. The D is the two-seat version, and official US Navy sources normally refer to them together as the F/A-18C/D when discussing weapon integration.

NAVAIR also specifically connects the F/A-18C/D with the AGM-88C. In its article about AARGM testing, it describes the newer AGM-88E as a complement to the existing AGM-88C HARM and states that it is intended for the F/A-18C/D.

Source:

NAVAIR – AARGM completes first test on Growler

The F/A-18C/D platform is also described here:

NAVAIR – F/A-18 A-D Hornet

There is also an inconsistency inside War Thunder itself.

The Finnish F/A-18C MLU 2 receives the AGM-88C, while the Malaysian F/A-18D Late is limited to the AGM-88A.

F/A-18C MLU 2 (Finland) – War Thunder Wiki

F/A-18D Late (Malaysia) – War Thunder Wiki

I am not claiming that Malaysia historically purchased the AGM-88C. They apparently did not purchase the AGM-88A either.

That is the main point of this report.

If the aircraft is supposed to follow the real Malaysian weapons inventory, then it should probably have no AGM-88 at all.

But if the AGM-88 was added because the F/A-18D platform is capable of using HARM, then there does not seem to be a good reason to restrict it specifically to the AGM-88A when the AGM-88C is documented for the F/A-18C/D family and is already used by another Legacy Hornet in War Thunder.

Suggested change

Replace the AGM-88A on the Malaysian F/A-18D Late with the AGM-88C.

The NAVAIR website appears to be region-blocked in some countries. The source is accessible through a VPN. I can also provide a mirror/archived version if required.