F-5 Needs Better Armament

[Frankthetank]

According to Wikipedia, the F-5E can carry 4 AIM-9 Sidewinders, 4 AIM-120 AMRAAMs, or 4 AGM-65 Mavericks. The simulated F-5 can only carry 2 Sidewinders and a bunch of bombs. Can we please get an update so that the simulated F-5E can carry a more realistic missile load? 4 missiles is already light armament compared to the 6 carried by the MiG-29, 8 carried by the F-15 and F-16, and 10 carried by the Su-27.

 

Thank you,

Frank

[Fri13]

Wikipedia is wrong.

[Frankthetank]

It can carry the equivalent weight in dumb and guided bombs; why not missiles?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5

[RustBelt]

The F-5S can deploy AMMRAMs it’s a much more modern version of the F-5 used only in Singapore.

 

The Aircraft in DCS is the F-5E Tiger II with the AN/APQ-159-3 which doesn’t have video pass through on the radar display. Go back to wikipedia and see what it says that can do.

 

This was the model they wanted to make. This is the one we have. You want the F/A-18 to do what you’re asking for.

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

It can carry the equivalent weight in dumb and guided bombs; why not missiles?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5

 

If the pylon isn't wired for a missile launch, then it really can't utilize them. You have to pay attention to the variant of F-5 in question. E-3s (what we have) only had their tips wired for missiles IIRC.

[RustBelt]

It can carry the equivalent weight in dumb and guided bombs; why not missiles?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5

 

Missiles require avionics compatible with them in order to work. The F-5E has no data bus to the pylons, no Illumination radar for Missile guidance, and lacks even the interface needed for modern AIM-9 communication.

[Scotch75]

I wish the cluster munitions for the F-5 could be tweaked as they seem fairly useless with a very small dispersion. Maybe add the MK20 rockeye with better dispersion and effect.

Cheers!

 

 

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[ST0RM]

I wish the cluster munitions for the F-5 could be tweaked as they seem fairly useless with a very small dispersion. Maybe add the MK20 rockeye with better dispersion and effect.

Cheers!

 

 

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

Every CBU, aside from the CBU-97, is borked. The CBU-52, Mk.20, CBU-87 and CBU-99 all have such a tiny dispersion, they're useless. This has been an issue since release of the F-5, without anything being done. Another abandon area by ED and BST.

[Fri13]

Every CBU, aside from the CBU-97, is borked. The CBU-52, Mk.20, CBU-87 and CBU-99 all have such a tiny dispersion, they're useless. This has been an issue since release of the F-5, without anything being done. Another abandon area by ED and BST.

 

I don't know about those bombs exactly, but can't you program the bombs itself to have specific altitude/dispersion value, as they after all do have the altitude sensors etc?

 

Or is it just for the weapons system task to deliver that information based various other means to the bombs?

[Silver_Dragon]

It can carry the equivalent weight in dumb and guided bombs; why not missiles?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5

 

Belsimtek build F-5E-3 F-5E (OPFOR) "aggressor" version, not a M, S or other export version. To build then, need build a license, a new module and get develop time. Has some weapons as fire bombs with can implemented into them, but need integrate them into the DCS core.

Edited March 19, 2020 by Silver_Dragon

[QuiGon]

Every CBU, aside from the CBU-97, is borked. The CBU-52, Mk.20, CBU-87 and CBU-99 all have such a tiny dispersion, they're useless. This has been an issue since release of the F-5, without anything being done. Another abandon area by ED and BST.

It has been an issue even before the release of the F-5!

[RedeyeStorm]

It has been an issue since the release of DCS period!

[Fri13]

Belsimtek build F-5E-1 F-5E (OPFOR) "aggressor" version, not a M, S or other export version. To build then, need build a license, a new module and get develop time. Has some weapons as fire bombs with can implemented into them, but need integrate them into the DCS core.

 

Is there something special in the "

" ("OPFOR is for army designation for enemy, while airforce has own) version of the F-5E?

 

What I basically know is this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5#Single-seat_versions

[Hammer1-1]

The F-5E needs GAU-13 and GPU/5A gun pods, and certain F-5E have fuel tanks slapped to the wingtips. Would love to see these modeled, but you know...if wishes were horses...

[cailean_556]

According to Wikipedia, the F-5E can carry 4 AIM-9 Sidewinders, 4 AIM-120 AMRAAMs, or 4 AGM-65 Mavericks. The simulated F-5 can only carry 2 Sidewinders and a bunch of bombs. Can we please get an update so that the simulated F-5E can carry a more realistic missile load? 4 missiles is already light armament compared to the 6 carried by the MiG-29, 8 carried by the F-15 and F-16, and 10 carried by the Su-27.

 

Thank you,

Frank

 

Simply put, for our variant of the F-5, Wikipedia is wrong. Later versions of the F-5, upgraded with modern avionics and systems, can indeed carry 4 AIM-9s, or 4 AIM-120s or 4 AGM-65s or variations of.

 

However the variant of F-5 that Belsimtek have simulated, the F-5E-3, has none of those modern systems. It's an aggressor aircraft, in USAF service, and as such it didn't require any expensive modern avionics or weapons - it's there to provide a real time aggressor aircraft for pilots to fly against in training - so the USAF didn't upgrade them.

 

Your argument would have made much more sense if you said "I wish for a new, modern, variant of the F-5" because something like the F-5EM (which can do all those things) then comes to the table. But as is mentioned above by Silver Dragon, that requires a whole new licence, a new development cycle...you'll be waiting a while even if the stars did align and all of this happened.

 

Despite the weapons and radar overmatch, the F-5 in DCS can be a handful for modern jets, if flown right. Having modern AIM-9Ms, or AIM-120Cs, is nice but that's not what makes a great pilot. This is coming from someone is who is not a great pilot, or even a good pilot, I'm just an okay pilot (simulated). If you're having trouble in the F-5 against larger, more powerful modern aircraft, either train with the F-5 in the BFM area more or maybe switch to a different aircraft?

[ST0RM]

The F-5E needs GAU-13 and GPU/5A gun pods, and certain F-5E have fuel tanks slapped to the wingtips. Would love to see these modeled, but you know...if wishes were horses...

 

I think you're thinking of the F-5A for the tip tanks. And there is a mod.

[TLTeo]

If anything, our F-5E is too capable for an aggressor. AFAIK those didn't have the RWR, which was only introduced later and on export models. It's more of a weird mix between an E and N.

[Raisuli]

I think you're thinking of the F-5A for the tip tanks. And there is a mod.

 

 

Which is cosmetic and doesn't hold any gas. I believe the guy who wrote it said there's no plumbing in the core code. They do look cool, but an AIM-9 looks even better :thumbup:

 

 

I like my F-5 just the way it is. Warts and all. Ok, an F-5 with 6 AIM-54Cs would be even better at picking up the chicks, but I think you'd have to mount them above the wings. That wouldn't look so cool.

[Mars Exulte]

OP, ''F-5'' is a generic model. Just as Ford Mustangs vary depending on year and options selected, so do aircraft. This SPECIFIC MODEL of F-5 has none of those things.

 

As for wikipedia, it's useful for broad strokes history, but it's not focusing on any specific aircraft, just general characteristics. The ''specifications'' provided, if you look more closely, are for a VERY SPECIFIC version of the aircraft that is NOT ours. If you want a SPAMRAAM may I suggest the F-18.

[Hammer1-1]

I think you're thinking of the F-5A for the tip tanks. And there is a mod.

 

Yes theres a mod...and a big hullabaloo for installing it too. Im not that interested in them...but AFAIK some F-5E models did have tip tanks. Something I found on google, but yeah I know...google is 100% reliable info.

[MrDieing]

You show me one picture of an F-5E with tip tanks and I will happily believe anything you say from now on

[Schmidtfire]

[Hammer1-1]

You show me one picture of an F-5E with tip tanks and I will happily believe anything you say from now on

 

I never said it was true......

[Frankthetank]

Taiwan flies the F-5E, which they equip with the AIM-120 and Sky Sword II (the latter has superior speed and range to the AIM-120; it would be nice to see a DCS rendition of it).

 

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/taiwan-s-modernised-f-5es-pack-a-punch-with-indigenous-hypersonic-air-to-air-missiles-sky-sword-ii-can-engage-targets-at-mach-6

 

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/the-f-5-in-singaporean-and-taiwanese-service-modernising-a-second-generation-fighter-for-the-21st-century

[mayo25]

I have still not seen any RoCAF with the new missile. Neither I have seen any F5E with a new radar in Taiwan.