Is F-4C radar better than F-4E radar?

Machinery of War Discussion
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1

AN/APQ-120 is an improve version over AN/APQ-100 then why does:

  • 120 has less scan angle than 100? (120/7 deg and 120/12 deg)
  • They both have the same scan range, lock range and feel the same despite the 120 being an improve and better version on the 100?
    If i’m i missing anything, let me know ty
2 Likes
2

The APQ-120 is a solid state radar that is smaller than the preceding APQ-100 and -109, so it makes sense that the scan angles are smaller than that of the APQ-100/-109. For a more definitive answer id have to look into more specific details.

1 Like
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alright
i was just wondering why do they have the same exact thing, well if its smaller then fair enough but ive read through articles and some DTIC file they stated that although smaller the 120 is explicitly better than 100 because of the AIM-7E and later AIM-7F and 7M but it scan the same and sometimes lock worse so i was just wondering

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no, its not

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elaborate

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It’s an older radar and is less reliable than the F4E due to it being prone to picking up ground clutter. That said, the F4J has the second most modern radar (IIRC might be the same) of any phantom behind the F4S. And this is coming from someone who not only has every F4 for the US but also spaded the F4C.

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chatgpt ahh respond buddy

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sad F-4F ICE noises

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Looked through the files and did some tests in game, here are the differences that weren’t noted I guess:

AN/APQ-120:

  • 400 W(?) power
  • 60°/s scanrate
  • 3.75° search beamwidth
  • 60 km detection range, 120 km max

AN/APQ-100:

  • 300 W power
  • 72°/s scanrate
  • 4.1° search beamwidth
  • 55.5 km detection range, 100 km max

Lock box (when locking something from SRC mode) is slightly wider on the -120 than the -100 as well, but not super significant I guess.

The higher power, detection range and smaller beamwidth during search, makes it better for detecting targets earlier and a bit more accurately, also helps against clutter. At least I have also felt it to be a decent amount better than the -100 in-game.

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tbf it feel the same for me