If Gaijin want 5th gen to be a bit more unique and allow a partly built prototype then the 5th gen F-X (26DMU) could be a nice addition here.
Design Mockup stage for 5th gen F-X, ending with 26DMU as the final design concept for the new fighter
26DMU was the final design before final development. This can also be seen with the fuselage section built which has the F-22 style weapons bays introduced with the 26DMU design.
It was a separate development from 6th gen F-X (now GCAP) which had different requirements and an entirely new design mockup stage.
6th gen F-X official render (before merging into GCAP)
I hope your wrong if your not I hope we trade the mrml for the because id much rather the extra hardpoint with 2 then the just 4 on one rack the mrml looks so goofy compared to amber.
I think that’s exactly why this topic is confusing. We already have multiple examples in War Thunder where prototypes or testbed configurations that never entered service were added anyway, as long as there was sufficient documentation and a gameplay purpose.
The F-16AJ is probably the clearest example of that. So it feels inconsistent when “never entered service” is used as a hard limitation in some cases but not others. At that point it seems more like a balance or pacing decision rather than a strict realism rule, which is fair, but it should probably be communicated that way instead.
The USMC went 3 years without a single accident by the way. They opened it up to new pilots with limited experience because they assumed it was easy to operate.
An engine change could also be done in the carriers hanger in like 4 hours mate.
Interesting. Couldn’t you theoretically make a report showing that Harrier has a higher IR signature despite having lower thrust than some aircraft in-game by using IR missile seeker lock-range?
