Texas Naval Air Service Aircraft

[Bryan H.]

Let me know if I'm missing any necessary equipment or improvements (or am I trying to put too much in my little Scooters.)  Remembering all the possible avionics & electronics improvements is hard for me.  Please give it the once-over.  Hopefully, you look at this Evan!  

Texas Navy Scooters circa 2005...

Aircraft: TNAI/McDonnell Douglas A-4T Super Skyhawk (based on new-build A-4M airframes)
Engine: GE F414
Avionics/Electronics:
-radar- AN/APG-67
-LITENING AT
-multi-function HUD
-multi-function CRT's x3
-GPS/INS
Weapons:
-guns- DEFA 30mm cannon x2
-AAM's- AIM-9L,M,X
           AIM-120 AMRAAM
           Python
-AGM's- Maverick
           Harm
           Alarm
           Shrike
-Bombs- Mk.80 series LDGP
            Paveway series LGB
            GPS bombs
            Napalm
            Cluster bombs
-rockets- Zuni's
             Hydra's
-AShM's- Sea Eagle
             Harpoon
-ECM pods-

Let me know what you think.  There will be more aircraft to follow; customized to meet the needs of the Texas Navy.

Bryan

[Ollie]

Neat!

Will it have long horns on the nose?

 

[Scooterman]

I like!  However a few thoughts.........

Replace the Sea Eagle with Penguin.  SE and Harpoon are the same class weapon.  Might want to have a smaller AShM in stock for 'less worthy' targets.  Besides you clear Harpoon, you also get SLAM and SLAM/ER.  Probably only one on the centerline though.  I think the length when mounted on the inbds might interfer with the flaps.

Shrike-Not in inventory anymore and HARM/ALARM MUCH more capible.  Shrike was a dumb missile and easily fooled. If you want a 'light' ARM try AGM-122 SideARM.  That might not be in inventory any more either but it's a nice point and shoot type thing.  But then again, ALARM is (almost) light enough to mount on a std. AIM-9 type rail so.........

ECM pods-remember a Scooter only has 5 pylons.  Hang a jammer, lose something else.  However, since the miniaturization of electronics, put the ECM systems in the hump.  Kiwi Scooters and late USMC Mikes had a modest internal ECM system.  With mods I'm sure you can squeeze in a really good active ECM system.

All of this of course IMHO........  

[Bryan H.]

For those of you who remember the (extremely) old original threads, I had F/A-18C(D)'s.  Right now, I've taken them off the list and replaced them with the Scooters.  I'm also seriously considering Naval Jaguars IM's or Sea Gripens; perhaps in addition to the A-4's.  

The other main carrier combat aircraft types are F-14/Tomcat 21's and A-6F Intruder II's.

Bryan

[Bryan H.]

Revised per your recommendations Scooterman...

Aircraft: TNAI/McDonnell Douglas A-4T Super Skyhawk (based on new-build A-4M airframes)
Engine: GE F414
Avionics/Electronics:
-radar- AN/APG-67
-LITENING AT
-multi-function HUD
-multi-function CRT's x3
-GPS/INS
-internal ECM suite
Weapons:
-guns- DEFA 30mm cannon x2
-AAM's- AIM-9L,M,X
AIM-120 AMRAAM
Python
-AGM's- Maverick
SLAM & SLAM/ER
Harm
Alarm
-Bombs- Mk.80 series LDGP
Paveway series LGB
GPS bombs
Napalm
Cluster bombs
-rockets- Zuni's
Hydra's
-AShM's- Penguin
Harpoon

How's that look?

Bryan

[elmayerle]

Well, is this current build or something that's been in the fleet for a couple years?  If the former, you might want to make it AN/APG-67(V1) radar with AESA so you can put more capability in the same nose volume.  *G* An alternative would be an AN/APG-81(V1), the radar in the F-16E/F with an antenna sized to fit the Skyhawk's nose.

For the pod, I'd consider either the SNIPER XP as an alternative.

Beyond that, it looks good.

[Bryan H.]

Might as well go for the better radar, so AN/APG-81(V1) it is.  I'm guessing but is the Sniper XP a lightweight/smaller version of the LITENING AT?

With the F414 engine what kind of performace would guess the A-4 would have?  I imagine it'd be fast, nimble with pretty good range.  Am I off?

Bryan  

 

[elmayerle]

Sniper XP, Litening AT, and ATFLIR are all thrid generation pods in competition with each other (manufacturers are LM-Orlando, Rafael/NGC, and Raytheon respectively).  I'd set the aircraft up to be be compatible with all three and require all three to use a common interface.  Much the same idea behind the "Common Engine Bay" on the F-15C's adn alter.  That's one reason the F-15K can fit F110's with minimal problems.

[Bryan H.]

I was sort of having the same idea, make as many of the avionics/electronic components "plug & play" as much as possible.  I want the plane to be user friendly and simple to maintain.  Is it possible to internalize the Litening/Sniper components any to reduce drag or is it preferable to leave it external for better maintenance access?  With miniaturization how much can be put inside?  

Bryan  

[elmayerle]

I was sort of having the same idea, make as many of the avionics/electronic components "plug & play" as much as possible.  I want the plane to be user friendly and simple to maintain.  Is it possible to internalize the Litening/Sniper components any to reduce drag or is it preferable to leave it external for better maintenance access?  With miniaturization how much can be put inside?  

Bryan

Both Litening AT and Sniper XP are quite miniaturized already.  They likely would have to be carried externally unless you added a conformal carriage position on the aircraft somewhere (after all, the F-16 carries its pods on the inlet cheek).  I'd suggest under the nose, on one side of the nosegear and positioned so that anything the nosegear throws up won't hit it.

[Swamphen]

Hmm. Are all those missiles actually in the Texans' inventory?    Or are those just what the A-4T is certified to carry?

I'd suggest certifiying them on as wide a variety of weapons as possible, and have the pylons fitted with lugs to match as many possible configurations as possible (as with the Russians, who designed their planes to carry NATO weapons!) as you never know what you might wind up having to use at an advanced base.

Here's what I'd have:

-Guns-
DEFA 30mm cannon x2

(there are probably some 25mm with superior ballistics - Evan? - but this is Texas. Everything's bigger.     Hmm, who makes 35mm cannon?  B) )

-Air-to-Air-
Standard equipment: Python, Slammer (I still like 'Scorpion' for the AIM-120...   )

Certified to Carry: Sidewinder (all forms), AA-11/R-73 Archer, Matra Majic

-Air to Ground Missiles-
Standard equpiment: Maverick, SLAM/SLAM-ER, Alarm, Sidearm, JSOW, Hellfire?

Certified to Carry: HARM, Bullpup, Walleye, variety of Russian weapons.  ^_^

-Bombs-
Standard equpiment/Certified to Carry: Anything and everything.  B)

-Rockets-
See bombs.

-Anti-Ship Missiles-
Standard equipment: Harpoon, Penguin

Certified to Carry: Gabriel, Sea Eagle, Exocet, Sea Skua? ...Russians...

[Bryan H.]

I'd suggest certifiying them on as wide a variety of weapons as possible, and have the pylons fitted with lugs to match as many possible configurations as possible (as with the Russians, who designed their planes to carry NATO weapons!) as you never know what you might wind up having to use at an advanced base.

That's really a pretty good idea; being certified on just about everything (just in case).    B)   If it's just a matter of some software updates and a few nuts & bolts for the pylons I'm all for it.   I think that'd I'd incorporate that philosophy of diverse armament to all Texas Navy types and the TX Army Air Forces.

Bryan

BTW: The next carrier aircraft on the list are the Super Tomcat 21 & A-6 Intruder II (w/F414's instead of F404's.)  No Bug's or SuperBug's.  I think the A-4's can fill in very nicely but if I need something in the F/A-18-size/class; I'm thinking about Rafales (w/F414's), Sea Jaguars (w/engine, avionics & weapons upgrades) or Sea Gripens (w/F414's.)

[Joe C-P]

How about MiG-29s? Some were used in Western services, so they were likely converted to operate the latest missiles, and there's already a carrier version of them.

JoeP

[elmayerle]

On the guns, without going to a pair of revolver cannon that fire the same rather large round as the A-10's GAU-8, how about a using a pair of the Oerlikon KCA 30mm cannon from the JA-37?

[Bryan H.]

Are the Oerlikon KCA 30mm cannon superior to the DEFA 30mm cannon?  I'm mostly looking for a 30mm cannon that can be worked into other cannon armed aircraft in my air services.  I'm fairly pragmatic about equipment, if one works better than another I'll go for the better equipment; especially, if there's not much price difference, weight/size penalties or other nagative factors.

For commonality sake, I'm trying to limit my aerial guns to one 30mm cannon type, the 20mm Vulcan and the Browning .50 cal. MG.  The only exception will be the GAU-8 30mm in my A-10's  

If you were equipping you own new Scooters what would you do; in regards to engines, avionics/electronics, weapons options, even airframe modifications?

Thanks for all the great input and   Bryan