I really hope Gaijin doesn’t make us wait for the production F-2A as our first F-2.
Looking back on the old forums where Smin said the XF-2 “has not a lot of solid information”. Which is almost laughable considering they added the AJ and there was a lot of info on the old forums and here. Also, the AJ devblog only mentioning the F-2A makes me worry a bit.
I hope my worry is misplaced…
In either situation we’re waiting for ~13.0.
AESA radar strong, and it’s in the XF-2 as well.
Hopefully the ARH maturity gives us a better indication on where next gen technologies will show up in BRs.
The XF-2, to my knowledge, was initially planning to use the AN/APG-68 until the J/APG-1 was built. However, its iffy at best if the APG-68 was ever installed or just considered.
I don’t really see that as a huge issue though as Gaijin very frequently Frankensteins vehicles together and it seems the AESA is the biggest thing holding this back. I think I and many others would be fine with an XF-2 without the AESA if it meant getting it in game quicker. It could also easily be limited to 9Ls and 7Ms, making it essentially it a slower, more agile F-16C with 2 more missiles.
Obviously the APG-68 is better than what we have in game now, but it would still help get the XF-2 in game faster. Assuming Gaijin is even considering it which is also a bit questionable.
The J/APG-1 was tested on the C-1FTB in 1991, and I believe it was installed at the time of the XF-2 rollout in 1995.
I believe you are correct, but I remember the old forums had a document showing that the AN/APG-68 was suggested/considered if the J/APG-1 wasn’t ready by the time the prototypes were ready.
I will keep searching for the document not that it will change much, I’m really just looking for anything that may bring the XF-2 to the game quicker.
APG-68 is mentioned in this unclassified report of the first 1995 prototype
Also interesting thing i found in the report
Any info on HMD [Helmet Mounted Display/Sight]?
I’m not aware if the F-2 uses HMD. F-15J has it but i don’t think the F-2 has it.
From Lockheed Martin website:
In 2015, the F-2 became the eighth aircraft platform to be equipped with Lockheed Martin’s Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod.
Article about the pod on their website:
Found this video of the F-15J + F-2.
Nothing really informative about it, but its probably the highest quality video I’ve seen.
So with the Block 50 coming, XF-2, even the F-2 is more of a possibility now right?
I’m hoping we’ll see something soon as the Block 50 looks to have a limited loadout compared to IRL, which is what we’d oringally proposed for XF-2… im a little out the loop on where we currently are with it
In my opinion, Gaijin’s excuses about not adding the XF-2A instead of the F-16J were a bunch of BS.
I think they didn’t add it because it is unique and requires it’s own modeling and FM. For this reason I expect the F-15J before the F-2.
XF 2 has just been passed to the devs
Yeah, I helped fireraid find info for the suggestion.
I took a break after the F-16AJ Gear door debate, so I was more curious where we were with XF-2, as the arguement of it being too advanced is slowly closing with the Block 50 coming, and that it could be revisited with the limited armament like the block 50 seems to have in the devblog video
I’ve submitted FOIA for a number of XF-2 documents, hoping to hear back from them about these soon.
Nice to see you are back.
Wiggles your back hey!
The differences between Block 50 & XF-2 are too massive.
Block 60 & XF-2? Closer.
In-fact, both might come out at similar times.
I think we’re within a year of F-2 tho. We’ll have plenty of F-15J time until then.
I wouldn’t say the differences are massive and I’m curious where you are getting that impression? This just feels like all the doom saying back when people were asking for the Type 10 and everyone said it would be the best tank in the game impossible to pen with 700mm+ armor, etc.
Last time the XF-2 was brought up it was purely the difference in engine power that would make the flight performance too good on the XF-2 compared to F-16As, but with the F-16C using the same engine, those arguments are not relevant anymore.
The only unknown is AESA radar, but it’s only unknown in how it will be modeled. It’s combat effectiveness in war thunder is going to be irrelevant, if there is a difference at all. There are many things war thunder simplifies for the sake of gameplay and AESA will just be one of those things. On top of all that, we can limit X/F-2 to IR only missiles and balance it that way as worst case.
