It’s the Unit, that is the important bit here; the tail-code indicates it’s a member of the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which is known to have operated the F-4C (December 1965 – September 1974) & -4D( F-4D aircraft began arriving to Ubon approximately April 1967), which dates the image to being within a finite period of time and so proves the overlap.
As per This report It’s quoted as being deployed to Vietnam in 1972, which overlaps the F-4C’s service.
Also it’s already been reported (Accepted as a suggestion), based on its presence in the relevant Stores loading section. So depending on where the Early / Mid / Late cutoff is positioned (and how it interacts with the F-4D / -4E) an argument could be made.
I think it would depend on if Gaijin plans on Splitting the F-4E in to an Early & Late variant(as the Early -4E is fairly similar to the F-4D), or add the F-4G (W/ the Late -4E option leaving the door open to the Late A-7E for similar Anti- Radiation coverage) to Check the box for off a '80’s / '90s USAF configured F-4.
Yes, but as with most podded systems that the US uses, they are almost entirely focused on dealing with Ground Based Threats, Systems that deal with Aerial threats tended to be integrated into the airframe (e.g. AN/ALQ-51 or -55).
I don’t think the IR jamming pod would make any difference. You can see how well the jamming pod works for the su-39, it would be similar for the F-4C.
The jamming feature only kind of helps the su-39 because it makes the missile go for flares easier, but since the phantom doesn’t have any flares, the jamming pod as gaijin modeled it, would only make the missile twitch a bit while tracking the phantom. So only helps in slightly decreasing the range of the missile, but will get hit anyway when the missile is fired well within range.
I’ve got a source [1979] that lists for the (R)F-4C/D/E;
ALQ-71
Denies datalink / communication channels, Low Band Counterpart to ALQ-72 pod, and are often paired for complete (effectively provides Early 'Nam contemporary) band coverage.
ALQ–72
Defeats ranging circuits for X band radars(see referenced Track Breaking section of the video below), as such reduces their range. High Band Counterpart to ALQ-71 pod.
Noise & Repeater Jammer and has some counter-radar fusing systems to cause preemptive functioning of missile warheads, prior to intercept.
ALQ-101(V)-8, -9
Supports Extended bandwidth configurations that can cover additional Frequency bands, or tradeoff coverage for extended functional power output increasing range.
So all in all there is wide range of capabilities that could be provided to best meet threats, though with the way BR’s and expected threats for the US F-4’s they won’t really do all too much. Since we don’t have command guided SAMs, and SARHs aren’t quite that prevenient in the (9.0 ~11.0 range).
A depreciated compiled list of Band coverage of systems can be seen in the following topic;
The most recent version of Nuclear Thunder, with the environment created by the matchmaking and threat environment of the ground-based air defenses and the fighters the F-4C is guaranteed to face in every match, really underscores the need for some kind of defensive countermeasures pod(s) to be made available for the F-4C. I really think the AN/AAQ-8 is the solution here [for IR missile threats, at least], among other systems, if the documentation supports it.
I also think this underscores the need for other early Phantom variants equipped with countermeasure systems by default to be added to the US tech tree between BRs 10.3 and 11.7. An F-4D would fit excellent in the gap between the -4C and -4E, most likely at 10.7 or 11.0 depending on armament (and of course would have the AN/ALE-40 chaff/flare dispensers as appear on the F-4E), and an F-4B (with PROJECT SHOEHORN upgrades- namely the AN/ALE-29 chaff/flare dispensers installed as on the F-4J) would work great anywhere in that same bracket, especially if the F-8s get foldered together (which they probably could and should be). An F-4N would also be a good choice and could be foldered underneath the F-4B as a bridge between the -4B and the -4J. I do believe these aircraft have existing proposals to be added already, but Nuclear Thunder really shows the need for them, IMHO.
