F-5E II capable to fire IRIS-T?

[Fri13]

Just came up the wikipedia article about German designed IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRIS-T

 

And that article says in the start interesting claim:

Any aircraft capable of firing the Sidewinder is also capable of launching the IRIS-T.

 

So, in theory, could F-5E II be able to carry and launch a IRIS-T just as "Swap-On-Swap-Off" missile in the wingtip rails?

 

Just speculating about future possible updates in DCS that F-5E II would get a modern missile capability if this missile is ever being added to DCS? As I think that this missile would alone make F-5E II with its current modeling, a far more worthy multi-role fighter without HUD and BVR capability.

 

Personally I find this speculated capability to launch IRIS-T far more interesting than any other wishful change to get a upgraded F-5 with capability carry 4 missiles or anything else.

[qqQ]

Whats the purpose of mounting a state-of-art missile that competes for the crown of the best Dogfight-Missile currently available to an outdated 3rd generation fighter that cant use its advanced features and thus cant make use of its potential if it can fire it at all (The IRIS-T can emulate some variant of the AIM9, but I dont know if this one is available to our F5 or if it even fits in the launch rails)?

 

And what do you mean with "worthy"? Competitiviness? Its already pretty equal to the Mig21, the only other 3rd generation fighter. Against 4th generation fighters you are pretty chanceless anyways, espicially if they then logically also get upgraded to 21st century equipment.

 

The missile is ridiculously out of timeframe (Introduction 2005, the FC3 4th gen fighters dont have latest gen IR-Missiles, and they currently set the deadline for A2A-Weapons), would be unrealistic (name one airforce that even thought about adding that missile to the F5) and completely overthrow any kind of balance in the 3rd gen scenario that currently exists.

 

Also I dont think it fits with Belsimteks current implementation of the F5 as an 70s low-cost multirole fighter (which I hope it stays, its really fun to fly).

Just accept it as such and adapt to the fact that you should stay away from Su27s or Mig29s,because you arent made to fight those, but fighters of your genration like the Fishbed.

[Zaz0]

Maybe it's compatible, same as Pyhton or AIM-9X, but not cleared for that payload, for sure ;)

[QuiGon]

I would guess, that this also applies to the AIM-9X, but putting either on of this missles on the F-5 would just be wrong. Pls don't.

[probad]

grifo and iff would make a bigger impact on f5 capabilities and brazilian forum activity than irist

 

but no thats not what we fly the f-5e for.

[Darkbrotherhood7]

Nope, that's would be unrealistic. I'm happy with the F-5E, there's no need to upgraded variants, etc. :)

[Fri13]

So people say that IRIS-T would be impossible to be mounted and launched today on F-5E II without heavy upgrading of the aircraft?

 

I didn't ask about upgrading the module at all. Just simple question that if the mission in DCS would be 2016 and country would be using old F-5E II aircrafts and having IRIS-T missiles in warehouse, would it be technically possible to attach those missiles and launch? In DCS it would be just a simple "mod" worth of change (like many modder like to make some aircraft carry and launch missiles they shouldn't be able) and that way being 100% realistic.

 

Sure you don't get 100% of the benefits of the new missile, but there is many advantages like longer range, far better agility, better flare resistance etc. Even when the missile is limited to boresight locking etc, it would just be an upgrade.

[tom1502]

In theory, then, it could be fitted to the F-86...bring it on! Haha!

[mattebubben]

I doubt it would be possible without significant modifications done to the aircraft (in the way or pylons / wiring etc).

 

Since the F-5E (we have) is not even capable of carrying the Aim-9L/M Let alone the Aim-9X so i doubt it could carry the IRIS-T.

 

And the Iris-T is not just plug and play with any aircraft that can use the Aim-9.

 

It can be made to be carried by most Aim-9 capable aircraft (especially those that can carry the later Aim-9M/Aim-9X generations of Aim-9)

but it cant carry them out of the box.

 

Any new weapon type will usually need changes.

 

In hardware in software or in both.

 

So while it would probably not be impossible to arm a F-5E with the IRST it would certainly be ALOT more work then simply mounting it on the pylons and off you go.

[IvanK]

Navy F5EN specifically discuss carriage of AIM9L/M

[Pikey]

There's missile mods available for F5, if that's your thing no one is stopping you, you don't need consensus to do your own thing in single player or run a server that does not have integrity checks.

Personally it makes no sense to me and I woudlnt want to be on servers operating that configuration.

[SUI - Mustang]

The Swiss Tiger is carrying the Aim-9P and it has an analoge cable that connects it to the plane. All newer variants like the M and X are connected via a digital cable I think. So you would have to change the whole plane's internal computer and guiding system to host this digital information.