Avionics upgrade in the future?

[Mnemonic]

Dear Heatblur, is there any chance you thought to make "modernized" Phantom in the future?

Hellenic Air force has F-4E's with HUD and MFDs, JASDF had EJ model with upgraded avionics, I believe Türkiye has upgraded avionics of their Phantoms as well.

Just asking if you considered making any of those as an option in the future, thanks.

null

 

P.S. Here is one of the upgraded Hellenic F-4Es phlying phootage:

 

Edited June 29, 2024 by Mnemonic

[Zabuzard]

Never say never. But its not planned at the moment, no :)

[Kalasnkova74]

On 6/29/2024 at 3:20 PM, Mnemonic said:

Dear Heatblur, is there any chance you thought to make "modernized" Phantom in the future?

Hellenic Air force has F-4E's with HUD and MFDs, JASDF had EJ model with upgraded avionics, I believe Türkiye has upgraded avionics of their Phantoms as well.

Just asking if you considered making any of those as an option in the future, thanks.

null

 

P.S. Here is one of the upgraded Hellenic F-4Es phlying phootage:

 

 

It may not look it on the surface, but these advanced variants may as well be totally different aircraft from a DCS development perspective. Perhaps HB will look at these Phantom II variants after higher priority projects like the Typhoon and A-6 are published. 

[=475FG= Dawger]

Yuck.

[r4y30n]

Ha! My thoughts, exactly. Every time an old plane gets released there’s an ask for one with more modern systems. I get it, these planes are tricky to fly and take time to learn, wouldn’t it nice if I just had all the tools the Hornet has?

Personally, though, I like flying in historically correct (or at least plausible) scenarios. The Phantom we have now performs well against adversaries from its time period. A modernized Phantom should realistically go up against anything in the catalog and anything 4th gen will have a massive performance advantage, a massive BVR advantage and far better SA with datalinks and such. Combat in DCS is tough enough when on equal footing, in my perspective. I’m not enough of a masochist to go all Dark Souls by challenging proper modern aircraft in something 50 years old, modernized or not.

[primus_TR]

I love the mid coldwar analog gear much better. Mfds etc., we have the 16 and the 18 if you want those 

Edited July 4, 2024 by primus_TR
typo

[Kalasnkova74]

On 7/1/2024 at 9:38 PM, r4y30n said:

Ha! My thoughts, exactly. Every time an old plane gets released there’s an ask for one with more modern systems. I get it, these planes are tricky to fly and take time to learn, wouldn’t it nice if I just had all the tools the Hornet has?
 

IMO, I think down the road adding modernized F-4E variants is a good idea. By then there will be greater aircraft variety in DCS, and an F-4E that can drop modern PGMs and launch AMRAAMs would add variety to the missile v missile duels (since an F-4E does still offer Mach 2 speed in a clean configuration). 
 

In the short term though? Learn your bombing tables kids.

[Czar66]

The more the merrier, but I rather fully embrace the analog gods and go back in time with the variants instead of forwards. Digital MFDs feels... distant.

But early cold war, man... is an entirely different kind of flying....altogether!

Cool footage and material from OP, though. I won't kid myself, it would be nice to have those too, regardless.

[Mnemonic]

I love HB F-4E as it is, and I have no problem with analog steam gauges flying, but I love F-4 so much I'd like to see other variants as well

It's not because it's "too difficult" or "too easy", it's because I'd like to try them all

[Viper33]

The F-4F ICE would be an option since HB's SME's flew it and the differences in the cockpit are minimal. It's mostly just an APG65 and respective panels in the back - radar scope is the same. I'd be willing to pay full price for that. A 3rd gen with a good radar and 120B's woulod be quite unique.

Edited July 4, 2024 by Viper33