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

Machinery of War Discussion Aircraft
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1

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.

2

Well, weapons in the game are, most of the time, especially at higher BRs/ranks, provided based on the compatability and operational capability of using it. Therefore Malaysian F-18 getting 88A is not surprising, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get 88C either, I am all for getting weapons that are real and make sense, especially if they are present IRL

3

Yeah, that’s basically my point as well. I don’t think the AGM-88A itself is necessarily wrong, but if weapons are being added based on platform compatibility and operational capability rather than actual Malaysian procurement, then I don’t see why the AGM-88C should be excluded either.

Especially since the F/A-18C/D is documented with the AGM-88C, and War Thunder already gives the Finnish Legacy Hornet the C variant.

Both aircraft are also at the same BR, so I don’t really see a balance reason for one Legacy Hornet getting the AGM-88C while the other is limited to the AGM-88A.

4

The Malaysian F/A-18Ds did get SCS-29C software upgrade in 2023, they are about as advanced as Legacy Hornets get. From a quick search it seems AGM-88C was integrated with SCS-15C (correct me if I’m wrong), so the Malaysian Hornets should be able to use it compatibility wise.

But this is probably just a decision to add AGM-88A to the 14.0 Hornets, and not that Gaijin don’t believe they can use it.

5

2023 is pretty recent. Are there any other weapons they gained compatibility with besides the 88C? I know the Super Hornet got Stormbreaker compatibility in 2023, so I’m curious if a similar software update was pushed out for Legacy Hornet customers too. At the very least JSOW might be on the table.