Strike/interdictor loadout question

Pellson · June 12, 2021, 01:23:00 AM

Maybe a somewhat daft question, in particular as the whole idea of having a common interface on weapon pylons is to be able to attach whatever you need for that particular mission - BUT..

I can't decide on loadout for a project. Most off it I decided and glued on (see below) but the final touch is missing and I can't decide between options.

I am building this RAF "instead-of-Tornado" strike interdictor. In my scenario, it's pictured (built?) as when flying in for a long range, rear echelon strike/recce mission, tasked primarily to find, photograph and bomb larger armour gatherings moving up towards the front line. Like transport hubs, river crossings, rail yards and similar. Main mission equipment is an EMI recce pod (improved, God knows that was needed) and the Hunting IBL755 to ruin someone's day more immediately. Also, she's carrying two fuel jugs and the Sky Shadow/BOZ 107 ECM set to hide a bit.
However, she's a big, fat and powerful girl, so there's two smaller weapon stations left, suitable for lighter missiles such as the AIM-9 or similar.

Time frame is late Cold War/WW3, Northern European theatre, and what I can't decide on is whether to add ALARMs or AIM-9's. So could I please ask you to provide some input? I might not follow advice, but I'm really interested in hearing thoughts and ideas on whether you would go for AAMs or ARMs, and why. What do you think?

(Entirely unrelated pic just for fun)

Gondor · June 12, 2021, 01:55:54 AM

Your load out sounds good. "Armed Resonance" would be a better term for what your describing with the BL755's for targets of opportunity as you would not want to go back to somewhere you had flown over that was rather hostile to your being there.
As for the two remaining places for ordinance, how about a chaff/flare launcher on one pylon, unless you have similar things already fitted to the airframe already, with a Sidewinder for limited self defence on the other.

Gondor

Dizzyfugu · June 12, 2021, 02:55:14 AM

My vote would go to some Sidewinders or something similar for aerial defence. I would not distract too much from the core mission. An ECM pod would be another choice, but that has already been settled, as well as a chaff dispenser.

Old Wombat · June 12, 2021, 03:03:02 AM

I'd suggest both be AIM-9 stations for self-defence.

No point gathering intel if you can't deliver it.

You may be able to outrun most pursuit, from astern, but interceptors can be vectored in from other quarters, too.

Hobbes · June 12, 2021, 03:23:55 AM

ALARM is large and heavy. Sidewinder or ASRAAM would be a better fit for the outer pylons.

Pellson · June 12, 2021, 03:48:26 AM

Quote from: Hobbes on June 12, 2021, 03:23:55 AM
ALARM is large and heavy. Sidewinder or ASRAAM would be a better fit for the outer pylons.

These are mid-wing, like on the Harrier GR.9 or Tornado.

rickshaw · June 12, 2021, 04:44:57 AM

Sidewinders. You can never go wrong with a couple of Sidewinders...

Pellson · June 12, 2021, 04:51:33 AM

Thanks all.

I went with Sidewinders after all. And it does look good, so it must be right.

Now if I just could decide on loadout for it's French sister, then I could actually write the project presentation.

Dizzyfugu · June 12, 2021, 05:16:21 AM

How about some rocket-assisted Durandal anti-runway bombs (would probably have to be scrathced, but their shape is simple), Matra Magic AAMs and French ECM pods (e.g. the Remora), plus a Phimat chaff dispenser?

PR19_Kit · June 12, 2021, 05:20:16 AM

What's wrong with the EMI recce pod then?

Ah, perhaps you're using the older Matchbox version, rather than the almost perfect Airfix one?

NARSES2 · June 12, 2021, 05:45:55 AM

Quote from: Pellson on June 12, 2021, 04:51:33 AM

Now if I just could decide on loadout for it's French sister, then I could actually write the project presentation.

Ah the "Entente Cordiale"

Pellson · June 12, 2021, 06:18:02 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on June 12, 2021, 05:20:16 AM
What's wrong with the EMI recce pod then?

Ah, perhaps you're using the older Matchbox version, rather than the almost perfect Airfix one?

I'm actually using the more recent one, IRL fielded under the Jaaaaaag, not the really troublesome version flown under the Phantom. However, I was under the impression that also the newer EMI pod could have been better, and since it definitely is big enough, I suppose it rather easily could be updated with more modern and better sensors and recorders. Happy to be corrected, though.

PR19_Kit · June 12, 2021, 06:31:20 AM

The EMI pod was rectangular in section, with a couple of small cooling intakes in the lower forward corners, but I thought the Jag pod was made by Vinten, and it's circular and pointed at both ends.

Gondor · June 12, 2021, 06:45:40 AM

If you want some Durandal's I should have a load of them from my Hasegawa F-111 kits.

Gondor

Pellson · June 12, 2021, 06:57:35 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on June 12, 2021, 06:31:20 AM
The EMI pod was rectangular in section, with a couple of small cooling intakes in the lower forward corners, but I thought the Jag pod was made by Vinten, and it's circular and pointed at both ends.

I was under the impression that Vinten built the later and much smaller Jag recce pod, whereas the big one, featured in the Italeri Jaguar GR1 kit f.i, was an EMI design. The Spyflight site says so, at least, but again - I'm rather humble about this.

https://spyflight.co.uk/recce_pods/#Jaguar_EMI