- Yes
- No
The F-89D is currently missing its fire control system, a critical part of its rocket armament and design. The F-89D used a Hughes E-6 fire control system, which would constantly calculate the launch solution for the rocket armament based on ownship movement and target movement, and in “RADAR” mode, the rockets would not fire unless the fire control system determined that the rockets would hit. Additionally, the E-6 FCS offered a manual “dumb-fire” backup mode.
(T.O. 1F-89D-1, 4-46)
(Thomas, 2008)
This system was used for making all-aspect attacks on high-flying strategic bombers without exposing the aircraft to long periods of time in the gunsights of turret gunners.
I would like to suggest that this be introduced into the game as a combination of radar gun lead and CCRP. The gun lead indicator should appear, but if the system locked on to a target, the rockets cannot fire unless the rocket boresight aligns with the center of the lead dot indicator–as if it was CCRP. Holding down the trigger should also have the same effect.
As far as I know, no simulation game on the market offers this as a feature. Its introduction would provide a novel radar function for players interested in radars and early USAF interceptor aircraft. There is a lot of fun to be had by introducing this feature, increasing the depth of play for fighter combat, and introducing a new method of accomplishing deflection shooting in dogfights or interceptions.
Along with making the F-89 more fun to play, adding this mechanic would provide an effective method for the F-86D or L, the F-94 Starfire, the F-102, the F-106, and more to aim and fire their ordnance. The AIM-4 armed interceptors could also benefit from this if they were to be added, as the AIM-4 fire control systems all used various forms of this aiming method to increase hit chance.
Sources:
T.O. 1F-89D-1
https://www.skytamer.com/Northrop_1951_N-35_F-89B.html
Wildenberg, Thomas. “A Visionary Ahead of His Time: Howard Hughes and the U.S. Air Force—Part III: The Falcon Missile and Airborne Fire Control.” Air Power History 55, no. 2 (2008): 4–13.
