Yes, but actually there I’m not 100% sure as there were different intermediate upgrade stages before the final one we got in form of the Squadron Mk.58.
What also is completely beyond my understandig is the Tiger: Why model it after the upgrade done '86-'90, give it the vastly superior APG-69 radar the Swiss never had abd was only installed into the aircraft the US Navy purchased from us from 2002 onwards, and again give it the armament of '75-'85?!?
The Hornet I can forgive: Would be more accurate with AIM-9P-5’s fpr the early variant, but adding AMRAAM’s to it would shift it to a BR not suitable as Premium (yet).
the first F.58 were essentially F.6, but they later got some more Hunters based on the FGA9. This is the new F.58A (early). It also shouldn’t have the RWR.
The Squadron Hunter is a F.58A (late), so based on the FGA9 with upgrades such as the RWR, Flares etc. Of course named wrong by Gaijn as the F.58
F.58 and F.58A are practically the same, F.58s former RAF F.6s while the F.58As are new built FGA9, which is really just the export name for the F.6 though it had a few minor modifications. If I remember correctly though the Swiss F.6s were brought to the same standards as the FGA.9s when they were sold. They just kept separate names for some reason.
I’ve still seen no proof of it, and all the people of the air force (Tiger pilots, ground crew) I asked about it all very adamantly insisted our Tigers never got a radar upgrade to the APG-69. Also the pilot manual from 1996 explicitly mentions only the AN/APQ-159.
The sets are very similar so it’s possible the modification just slipped under the… radar. Manuals are also not always kept up-to-date with every modification, at least that’s what I’ve found.
It also makes no sense to me why they USN would bother putting in a decades old radar that was almost certainly no longer being produced when they received the F-5Es.
Key Aero is a published magazine, so they do accept them as a source, and there are other sources out there saying similar things so it’s possible that’s the reason they used the APG-69.
they twizzle out and explode past 700 meters in any launch bar a direct dive, in which case they may reach up to about 900 meters.
They are a useless missile and two aim9E’s is substantially better at a lower BR, while also having a CCIP for bombs, and and RWR whilst retaining all the same flight charactaristics.
hell i actually think its engines better as RN the stock F58A 1971, puts out the same thrust as the spaded F6.