Hawker Hunter FGA.9: The Ground Attack Hunter (ii)

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Introduction: The Hawker Hunter was Britain’s premier fighter aircraft for most of the 1950’s. However, by the turn of the decade, it was being outmoded by new types. However, this did not end the type’s career; in fact, it only represented the beginning of what is potentially the most important and active part of its service.

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Description: In the 1960’s, the Hunter was beginning to slip past its prime. Whilst still a great aircraft, it was beginning to be outmoded by other types, with its interceptor role being taken over by the Lightning in RAF service. However, the RAF had a need to replace older types of ground attack aircraft, such as the Meteor and Venom, and had also had previous experience converting fighter aircraft into ground attack aircraft, to great success in many cases. In fact, some of Hawker’s products were given this treatment, the Hurricane and Typhoon included. It was thus decided to convert the Hunter F.6s into strike-fighters, in order to replace the previously mentioned types in both the Far Eastern and European theatres. Work began in 1959 to convert 128 Hunter F.6s, with about 36 being upgraded to an interim standard before being upgraded to full FGA.9 standard later.

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The FGA.9 saw quite a bit of action during this time, serving in Aden and in the Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation. In Aden, Hunters were used to support SAS teams on the ground around Harib. In the Far East, the Hunters were sent to deter operations by the Indonesians, who were threatening the sovereignty of the newly created nation of Malaysia. They were sent to operate alongside Javelins and Gannets around 1964. A Hunter was involved in a dogfight with an Indonesian MiG-17. Though neither aircraft fired their weapons, the Hunter “won” by performing a rolling pullout from a high-speed dive; a move its opponent simply could not do. In 1968, one Hunter was involved in a rather intriguing incident. A disgruntled pilot flew his aircraft over the Houses of Parliament and through Tower Bridge, as well as buzzing various airbases, as a protest against defence cuts and base closures. The Hunter FGA.9 would remain in frontline service until 1971, when it was replaced by newer types such as the Phantom, Jaguar and Harrier. The FGA.9 was also an export success, being exported to numerous countries, many of which used them in combat.

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Performance:

Spoiler

Fuel and Oil Data:

Internal Fuel Capacity: 392 imperial gallons (252 gallons fuselage front & rear tanks, 140 gallons wing tanks)

Oil Capacity: 9.5 pints

Engine Data:

Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce

Designation: Avon 207 (RA.28)

Type: axial-flow turbojet

Compressor Stages: 15-stage compressor

Combustion Chamber: cannular

Turbine: 2-stage

Fuel Grade: AVTAG

Power Data:

Military Power: 10150 lbf @ 8000 RPM (10 minutes takeoff/combat combined)

Intermediate Power: ? lbf @ 7800 RPM (30 min)

Maximum Continuous Power: ? lbf @ 7600 RPM (unrestricted)

Dimensional Data:

Length: 45 ft, 10.5 in

Height: 13 ft, 2 in

Wing Span: 33 ft, 8 in

Wing Area: 349 sq. ft (32.42 sq. m)

Wing Loading: 52.46 lbs/sq. ft @ loaded combat weight

Weight Data:

Empty Weight: 14400 lbs

Fully Loaded Combat Weight: 18310lbs

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 24500 lbs

Fuel Weight: 3018 lbs (internal only)

General Performance Data:

Max Speed: 620 knots (1148 kph) @ SL

Maximum Rate of Climb @ SL: ? ft/min (? m/s)

Note: RoC at full military power is likely very close to the F.6; only a bit worse due to the slightly higher weight of the FGA.9.

Optimal Climb Speed: 0.85M (clean)

Undercarriage up, flaps up Stall Speed: 135 knots (250 kph) @ 18550 lbs

Undercarriage down, flaps down Stall Speed: 125 knots (231.5 kph) @ 18550 lbs

Takeoff Distance @ SL: 715 yards (zero wind, 18310 lbs)

Landing Distance @ SL w/ parachute extended: 740 yards (18500 lbs)

Landing Distance @ SL w/o parachute: 1040 yards (18500 lbs)

Service Ceiling: 52000 ft

G-Limitations:
Positive: +7G

Negative: -3.75G

Maximum Speeds (clean configuration, loaded combat weight):

At SL: 620 knots (1148.2 kph)

At 36000 ft: 0.95M (1173.1 kph)

Time to Altitude (intermediate power, clean aircraft, loaded combat weight):

To 10000 ft: 3 min

To 20000 ft: 4 min

To 30000 ft: 5.5 min

To 40000 ft: 7.25 min

To 50000 ft: 11.5 min

Armament:

Guns: 4x ADEN 30mm cannon (600 rounds total, 150 RPG)

Bomb/Rocket/Missile Ordnance:

  • Up to 24x 3” No.1 Mk.5 RP rockets with the following heads:
    • 60 lb head (8x)
    • 25 lb head (16-24x)
    • 18 lb head (24x)
    • 12 lb head (24x)
  • Up to 6x HVAR rockets with the following heads:
    • 35 lb head (6x)
    • 52 lb head (6x)
  • 2x SNEB rocket pods (37x 2” rockets per pack)
  • 2x 1000 lb bombs

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Conclusion: The Hunter is an icon of British aviation, and having the ultimate variant to see RAF service would be great to see. It would bring additional ground attack capability to its respective rank, as well as a potent fighter aircraft, and its honestly surprising that it is yet to be seen in the tech tree.

Sources:

Spoiler

“Hawker Hunter in British Service” by Martin Derry and Neil Robinson

Thunder & Lightnings - Hawker Hunter - History

[1.0] Hunter Development & Variants

https://www.baesystems.com/en/heritage/hawker-hunter

Hunter FGA.9

Hawker Hunter FGA.9 | This Day in Aviation

https://media.abpic.co.uk/pictures/full_size_0539/1820836-large.jpg

https://media.abpic.co.uk/pictures/full_size_0538/1818522-large.jpg

https://media.abpic.co.uk/pictures/full_size_0513/1780133-large.jpg

https://media.abpic.co.uk/pictures/full_size_0539/1820421-large.jpg

3 Likes

The FGA.9’s actually in the game already if you forgot, but it’s Rhodesian so it’s technically not this.

The statcard for it uses the British flag, but I assume that’s for political purposes because Rhodesia was not a recognized country.

This is not quite the same as the South Rhodesian FGA.9. If you payed attention to the post and compared it to the South Rhodesian FGA.9 there is one fundamental difference between the two, the loadouts in effect how it would intended to be used. British FGA.9’s lacks any AAM’s which is more in line with how the UK and most other operators used their FGA.9’s [initially], more geared towards a Ground Attack profile. Meanwhile the South Rhodesian FGA.9 has AAM’s in the form of AIM-9B’s and E’s, there’s rumors that there is a South Rhodesian FGA.9 that was modified to use V3 Kukiri AAM’s, due to South Rhodesia’s status as a unrecognized Pariah state the South Rhodesians were forced to use their Hunters in a more Multi-role profile.

Granted foreign operated FGA.9’s [not just South Rhodesian ones] were later modified to carry AAM’s but that is besides the point

Finally there is already a precedent to have multiple vehicles of the same type and even sub-variant even in the same TT with the main difference separating between the two are weapon loadouts.

I do recommend the OP to maybe rename it to the FGA.9 (Early) since reading the post it indicates that it is a Early FGA.9

5 Likes

I agree with aspandaIV, if this version is the one that does not carry the air-to-air missiles, the best thing that can be done to differentiate them is to add the name “Early”, Chile also had this version but in Chile it was armed with the Shafrir II missiles did not come with them by default.

1 Like

+1, Its surpirisng the RAF Hunter isnt already in game but would be a good ground attacker for the 9.3 area of the british tree

3 Likes

I don’t think this is right. This aircraft is the first FGA.9 and it is the British FGA.9. Personally I think it should remain that way and the Rhodesian one should have (RhAF) added on as a suffix.

3 Likes

Like Hunter FGA.9 (premium GE) from Rhodesian but not armed AIM-9 sidewinder

This is a suggestion for the standard RAF version which could not get missiles and would ideally be added to the tech tree. The Rhodie Hunter can be redesignated the FGA.9 (RhAF)

2 Likes