Flogger11: И поэтому прицелы МиГов ставили помехи Фалконам.
Скажите, что имеется в виду?
Flogger11: И поэтому аляскинские Ф-15С(еще б уточнить бы-с АФАР они,или обычные) проиграли индийским Су-30.
Кстати, а есть ли где-нибудь более-менее подробные данные об этом?
Flogger11: В каком году апгрейдели Фантомы?
Вот вам куча информации о штатовских и израильских Фантомах.
Exhausted from the debilitating War of Attrition, Israel continued to modernize the Air Force. New F-4Es straight off the McDonnell Douglas production line in St. Louis were nevertheless being modified for Israeli service with wing leading edge slats, which were originally developed for the Phantoms exported to West Germany. They greatly enhanced low-speed maneuverability.
The IAF suggested many improvements in the design and operation of the F-4. According to Israeli publications over a hundred original design changes and modifica-tions were made in the Phantom. In 1971, the Israelis began to fit their Phantoms with leading-edge flaps for better maneuverability and to add new systems and weapons..
А позднее и амы сделали это для себя тоже.
The Air Force asked McDonnell to redesign the wing leading edge with the blown flaps replaced by powerful maneuvering slats that extended automatically at high angles of attack. The specific aims were to improve the lift capability at high angles of attack, to reduce buffet levels below the stall, and to increase lateral / directional stability. McDonnell Douglas designed an effective wing leading-edge slat system which eliminated the so-called nose-slice or yaw divergence tendencies of the Phantom. These devices improved the lift by 33%. This was a very significant change: the replacement of the blown leading-edge wing droops of earlier Phantoms by slats. Combat maneuverability was considerably enhanced. The outer leading edge slats were driven by a hydraulic jack and terminated in a large "dogtooth" at the inboard end where the wing folding joint had once been. Immediately downstream of the dogtooth edge was a small wing fence. The inboard wing was also fitted with powered slats which terminated about three feet from the root. The inner 3 feet of the leading edge were fixed. The use of trailing-edge flap deflections further bettered the fighter’s maneuverability. The buffet and wing-rock onsets, stall and departure were substantially delayed, higher angles of attack became possible.
The first production F-4E to be fitted with slats made its maiden flight on February 11, 1972 and it was decided to retrofit earlier F-4Es with these slats. The USAF ordered the first slat modification kits in April of 1972, and the first retrofitted F-4E (serial number 69-7524) flew on September 28, 1972. 304 earlier production block F-4Es were retrofitted with these slats, which included just about every surviving F-4E except for those serving with the Thunderbirds.
Beginning with Block 54, high-performance antenna and coaxial cables were added, and on Block 56, the AN/APR-36/37 system was replaced by the Itek AN/ALR-46 RHAWS with fast digital processing capability and a cockpit display plus automatic control of jamming assets. It had a programmable processor which could respond to new threats as they came along.
At about the same time, all F-4Es were wired to be able to take two electronic jammer pods (which were usually the Westinghouse ALQ-131) and were fitted with an AN/APX-80 IFF interrogator and were given the capability of carrying an optional removable KB-18A strike camera in the right front Sparrow slot. In the post-Vietnam era, the ECM pods introduced on F-4Es (Westinghouse ALQ-119, QRC-80-01, ALQ-131, and ALQ-184) could not be carried in the right front Sparrow well because of the longer nose gear door required by the gun fairing. F-4Es could only carry an ECM pod in the left front Sparrow well or on the inboard weapons pylons.
Blocks 53 and beyond introduced the Mk III anti-skid brake system and a KB-25/A gunsight camera (which was eventually fitted to all F-4Es). Also introduced with this Block was the capability to launch the Maverick air-to-surface missile, which was made possible by the fitting of the Digital Scan Converter Group multifunction display. Earlier F-4Es up to 67-341 had Direct View Storage Tube radar scopes which were incompatible with systems such as the AGM-65 Maverick that required digital interfaces.. This Maverick capability was eventually retrofitted to all F-4Es from Blocks 36 and later).
Block 53 also introduced the J79-GE-17C or -17E with a low-smoke combustor. Earlier Phantoms had the annoying habit of leaving a trail of black smoke behind them, making them easier to spot by enemy gunners on the ground.
The AVQ-23A/B Pave Spike laser target designator and rangefinder system was fitted to several later F-4Es and was retrofitted to some earlier F-4Es blocks 36 to 45. Also retrofitted to Block 48 aircraft was the AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack infrared/laser target designator, as well as the previously-mentioned AN/ASX-1 electro-optical target identification system. 180 F-4Es were retrofitted with the Lear Siegler AN/ARN-101(V) digital navigational/attack system starting in the autumn of 1977. Aircraft carrying this system could be distinguished by the presence of a "doghouse" antenna and blade antennae on the fuselage spine.
The AVQ-26 Pave Tack pod was the first laser designation system designed to provide the capability of autonomous delivery of laser guided bombs at night. It was originally planned to equip 180 F-4Es with this system, but because of delays and development problems the actual number equipped was substantially lower. The pod was too large to be fully compatible with the F-4E, and it had to be carried on the centerline station, replacing the 600-gallon external fuel tank and taking up valuable bomb-carriage space.
The F-4 Phantom was 18 years old in 1973. Perhaps the only aspect of its performance that was not greatly improved since it first flew was its speed.
On the eve of the 1973 Yom Kippur War the IAF had in its inventory 127 Mac-Donnell F-4E Phantom fighter-bombers that could hoist six 750-lb GP bombs under the wings plus six 500-lb frag bombs under the fuselage. These attack planes also featured the latest Head-Up Display from Elliot Automation, the Lear Siegler inertial navigation system, and the Singer General Precision stabilized platform. This gave them vastly inc-reased accuracy of ordnance delivery over the target.
Israel received a total of approximately 220 F-4E Phantoms (the exact number is uncertain) between 1969 and 1976. Israeli F-4Es have been subjected to numerous field modifications to improve their operational capability. Among these were the fitting of a non-retractable refuelling probe, provision for carrying the Shafrir and Python air-to-air missiles and the Gabriel air-to-surface missile, the replacement of the 20-mm M61A1 cannon by a pair of 30-mm DEFA cannon, and the installation of a FLIR sensor. The weapons-control system for accurate firing of missiles at targets in the air was complemented by a navigation computer and an electronic warfare system. Israeli experts would later improve these electronic systems, integrating the navigational and weapons-control systems. The Americans expressed amazement that they had not thought of this earlier
A total of 116 air-to-air combat victories have been claimed by Israeli F-4Es in various conflicts, ranging from the 1969 War of Attrition to the 1982 incursion into Lebanon. There have been at least 55 combat losses that the IDF/AF has admitted to, in addition to normal peacetime attrition. By the time of the 1982 Lebanon incursion, the F-4E had been largely supplanted in the fighter role by F-15s and F-16s, and had been relegated to attack. However, some 120 Israeli Phantoms are still in service.
Since 1980, the Israeli Air Force, together with Israel Aircraft Industries, have engaged in an upgrade program for the Phantom, resulting in the Kurnass 2000, with revised electronics,cockpit and radar upgrades, structural strengthening and more.
Kurnas 2000 was different from the original Phantom mostly in its avionics. "Although they look practically identical, the Kurnas 2000 is a completely different plane", said Lt. Col. A., commander of a Phantom squadron, who was being interviewed by the IAF Magazine. "The avionics make it a completely new aircraft. The avionics are, in effect, the heart of the plane, and the upgrading project basically amounted to a heart transplant; the Phantom's heart was replaced with a much stronger one".
The conversion plan included replacing the plane's original radar with a new one. Norden, an American company, developed the APG-76 radar specifically for this purpose - and according to the IAF's specifications. This radar, considered to be the best of its kind, uses advanced technologies that were originally developed for the US Navy's future attack plane, the A-12 Avenger II - a project that has since been cancelled.
The APG is a Synthetic Aperture Multi-Mission Radar System which constructs a repre-sentation of the terrain by sending electromagnetic waves towards it. The great advantage of this mode of operation, compared with systems that are based on optical equipment, is that the picture quality remains good, even in bad weather. The radar is currently an exclusive feature of the Kurnas 2000, but in view of its superb performance, the USAF is considering a special pod mounted version for its F-16s.
The Kurnas 2000 also boasts a Kaiser wide-angle heads-up display, considered the best in the world. The wide angle allows the system to effectively cover 60% of pilot’s forward view - twice the angle covered by other systems. The displays, located directly in front of the pilot, show vital measurements like speed, altitude, direction of flight, etc., as well as information regarding the operation of weapons systems.
The multifunction displays are one of the most important improvements in the Kurnas 2000's cockpit. The WSO, who is in charge of operating the planes avionics and weapon systems, sees the data pertaining to both systems on two color displays. A screen in the forward section of the cockpit shows the pilot the information he needs, and can be tog-gled to mirror the WSO's screen.
The multifunction displays greatly improve cockpit ergonomics, and ease much of the work burden on the two crew members - especially during combat operations.
Тhe Phantom 2000 program concentrated on 3 areas:
Airframe and mechanical refurbishment to extend the aircraft’s life by 15 years.
Rewiring with harnesses to reduce weight, volume and complexity.
Avionics improvements that included a new multimode radar of Norden Systems from Connecticut and a holographic head-up display of Kaiser Electronics from California.
The refurbishment program has shown clear improvement. The hydraulics have improved dramatically and flight controls have improved a lot.
There is no space in an F-4E for the wiring necessary to support the imp-roved electrical systems in the Phantom 2000, so an improved wiring layout was a necessity. IAI’s Mata division adapted a harness system from the Lavi with weight savings as a major goal. Older, heavier connectors were eliminated and lighter composite boxes replaced the metal ones. Rewiring reduced the number of harnesses from 500 to 300 and simplified the whole system.
An improved multimode radar from Norden was the main reason the program was funded. Israel wanted to match the performance of both the Westinghouse radar in the F-16 and the Hughes radar in the F-15E, especially the latter for the air-to-ground role. This Israeli radar was used by Norden later for the US Navy’s A-12 program and for the US Air Force’s Joint-STARS program. The system is integrated for electronic countermeasures, has fully programmable processors, a sensor-slewing avionics control and the potential for its software to be enhanced for a future standoff-weapons capability. The radar offers a multimodal lookup-lookdown, beacon mode air-to-air capability. Air-to-ground performance includes an improved ground moving target identification system with a clutter suppression interferometer designed to give a clutter-free image. In calling for the unit, Israel understood that the algorithms necessary to provide a high resolution system entailed developmental risk. But the potential payoff is that “we might have the best air-to-ground radar flying anywhere,” the squadron commander said.
“It will make the F-4 our main air-to-ground aircraft to the year 2000.
The winning HUD design was based on a Kaiser HUD developed in the late 1970s and later adapted for the F-15E. The HUD embodies the latest holographic optical technology, electronics, and software. It displays targeting data and imagery that permits targeting, using a Flir (Forward looking infrared) Lantirn-type night-targeting system.
One squadron has been the test-and-evaluation unit for the F-4-2000.
“It’s a great HUD, the next best thing to a helmut HUD,” the squadron commander said. “We had a problem with the main computer adapted from the F-16. The computer was affected by voltage spikes from the generator and it took a lot of time to understand what was happening. Filters were developed to control the power surges. The aircraft now is equipped with a videotape recorder which can follow targets and allow for damage assessment. This brings the Phantom 2000 to the level of the
F-16 in terms of debriefing”
The squadron received more than 20 aircraft at a rate of two per month from IAI’s Bedek Aviation Div. The upgraded Phantoms eventually will find their way to about half of the IAF’s squadrons. The Israelis call the Phantom 2000 the “poor man’s Strike Eagle.” The aircraft is now operational and receives high marks from the air force.
.
Specification of the F-4E Phantom:
Engines: Two General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets, 11,870 lb.s.t dry, 17,900 lb.s.t. with afterburner. Performance: Maximum speed 1430 mph at 36,000 feet (Mach 2.21), 914 mph at sea level (Mach 1.19). Cruising speed 585 mph. Landing speed 158 mph. Initial climb rate 61,400 feet per minute. Service ceiling 62,250 feet. Combat ceiling 59,600 feet. Combat range 595 miles, maximum range 1885 miles with maximum external fuel. Weights: 29,535 pounds empty, 40,562 pounds gross, 38,019 pounds combat weight, 61,651 pounds maximum takeoff weight. Dimensions: Wingspan 38 feet 5 inches, wing area 530 square feet, length 63 feet 0 inches, height 16 feet 6 inches. Fuel: Maximum internal fuel in the fuselage tanks was 1364 US gallons (up to block 40) or 1225 US gallons (block 41 and beyond). An additional 630 gallons of fuel could be carried in internal tanks inside the wings. Maximum external fuel load was 600 US gallons in a centerline tank that could be carried underneath the fuselage plus 370 US gallons in each of two tanks that could be carried underneath the outer underwing pylons, bringing total fuel load to 3334 US gallons (up to block 40) or 3195 US gallons (block 41 and beyond). Armament: Armament consisted of a single 20-mm M61A1 cannon with 639 rounds in an undernose gondola, plus four AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active radar homing air-to-air missiles in semi-recessed slots in the fuselage belly and two to four AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing air-to-air missiles carried under the wings on the inboard pylons. A total offensive load of up to 16,000 pounds could be carried on the centerline and four underwing hardpoints.