Heatblur shows off F-4E Phantom with ‘precision strike’ capability

2–3 minutes

A nice little Easter-weekend message from Heatblur gives us a great preview of some of the capabilities that Heatblur are ensuring are part of the DCS: F-4E Phantom. A screenshot and some follow-up comments show off the ‘precision strike’ capability of the Phantom. Let’s have a look!

Precision strike

I think the common view of the F-4 Phantom II is as a Vietnam War-era interceptor. Tangling with MiGs, firing sometimes unreliable missiles, and getting into some legendary air battles is certainly what fills my head first when someone mentions this airplane. But the F-4 is a bit more than that with many different versions of the F-4E, flown by over a dozen air forces, operating in both air defense and strike roles from the 1970s through to the mid 2015s.

So as excited as many of us are about getting a Vietnam era jet, the F-4E specifically transcends that a bit and can and will be useful in experiences that fit both Cold War era as well as the modern era.

That’s all to preface the news that Heatblur are showing off and confirming that the F-4E will launch with the ability to engage targets with precision strike capability.

Pods, AI and liveries

AN/ASQ-153 Pave Spike is pictured on the screenshot above together with some GBU-12 laser guided bombs on the wing pylons. The Pave Spike was used between 1974 and 1989 on the F-4C and F-4E Phantom fleet with the pod fitting into the left forward missile well – replacing an AIM-7 in the spot when fitted.

Heatblur confirm that the F-4E will have both the Pave Spike and the AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack. Both are electro-optical pods intended to find and designate targets for laser guided weapons. The Pave Tack differs by being a larger pod needing to be fit in the centerline position (replacing the fuel tank) – its also much bigger and heavier. The earlier Pave Knife pod is not planned.

We also know that Heatblur are bringing the F-4 out with Jester v2 AI to support the flying of the two seat aircraft. Jester v1, with the F-14, later gained the ability to scan for and target objects on the ground for that jet’s precision strike capability so its likely that Heatblur are leaning on or improving that system.

The screenshot also features a livery for the Greek Air Force. In addition to that, Heatblur have previously confirmed or shown schemes for the Luftwaffe, Japan, Israel, and British schemes. These won’t precisely correspond to those nation’s aircraft (the F-4EJ for example has different equipment) but its still a nice nod to all of those Phantom operators.

Check out Heatblur’s post here!

22 responses to “Heatblur shows off F-4E Phantom with ‘precision strike’ capability”

  1. flyingbagpipe Avatar
    flyingbagpipe

    are those long sticks clipping into the aircraft body or is there a recess for them to slot into?

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    1. harryvoyager Avatar
      harryvoyager

      The Sparrow racks are recessed. The F-14 has those too, but they are usually covered by the Phoenix racks.

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        Right! I forgot the F-14 had a similar feature.

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    2. harryvoyager Avatar
      harryvoyager

      Addendum: if you look closely at the Pave Spike, it is actually hanging off an extender mounted into the left chin Sparrow trench. You can see where the air frame scallops in to accomodate the missile.

      And I imagine all the aerodynamics engineers are looking at that mess and using some quite colorful language…

      Liked by 4 people

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      1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        No doubt! I saw a reference to “Pave Drag” from pilots on one of these pods.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. MMajanski Avatar
        MMajanski

        You are correct. There was an 50-something pound adapter for Pave Spike and ECM pods to be carried on the left forward Sparrow missile launcher (Station #4).

        A minor point on the original article: ASQ-153 was the designation of the overall Pave Spike System, while AVQ-23 was the designation of the pod itself (i.e., ASQ-153 system = AVQ-23 pod + avionics + cockpit controls).

        The reference to “Pave Drag” was for the Pave Tack pod (AVQ-26), which was too large and created too much drag to be effective on the Phantom. It also took up the centerline station, which could carry a 600-gallon fuel tank. Pave Tack was very successful on the F-111F, where it was carried on a rotary door to reduce drag, the large, flat plate sensor housing only being deployed briefly into the wind-stream during target acquisition and engagement.

        Yes, the Sparrows were semi-recessed into the fuselage, which decreased drag. However, this required fuselage-mounted missiles to be released and fall briefly before the rocket motor fired; this added another point of failure over rail-launched missiles, which either fired or didn’t (no third step). Navy and Marine Phantoms could carry a Sparrow under each wing (for a total of six) but I believe they were rail-launched; land-based Phantoms could not carry wing-mounted Sparrows.

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    3. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      The Sparrows? They are semi-recessed into the body.

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. M Majanski Avatar
        M Majanski

        HARRYVOYAGER has a good eye. There was a 50-something pound adapter for Pave Spike and ECM pods to be carried on the left forward Sparrow missile launcher (Station #4).

        A minor point on the original article: ASQ-153 was the designation of the overall Pave Spike System, while AVQ-23 was the designation of the pod itself (i.e., ASQ-153 = AVQ-23 + avionics + cockpit controls). Likewise, Spike pods could only be carried on select F-4D and E aircraft that had digital radarscopes (F-4Cs had old TV-tube type scopes that could not display pod video).

        The reference to “Pave Drag” for the Pave Tack pod (AVQ-26), which was too large and created too much drag to be effective on the Phantom. It also took up the centerline station, which could carry a 600-gallon fuel tank.

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  2. CanadaOne Avatar
    CanadaOne

    I’ve never been an F-4 Phanatic – you see what I did there 🙂 – but Heatblur makes such nice stuff I might have to get it just to have the newest bestest flightsim toys.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Heatblur makes a compelling case for any aircraft they choose to simulate. The Viggen may not have been in the consciousness of a ton of people prior to it coming out from them but it’s been propelled to near cult-like status now.

      Liked by 1 person

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  3. Splash Avatar
    Splash

    I believe that Heatblur should release a specific Vietnam version like F-4C or F-4D.

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Indeed! Something like that seems to be the plan as well.

      Heatblur indicated early on that their intent is to develop two versions of the F-4E in one pack and then an unspecified Navy variant in another.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Blue 5 Avatar
        Blue 5

        F-4J would make most sense as a late USN / USMC version. Shame we cannot have a G variant, though I reckon some of the Es were fitted out for HARMs, maybe?

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      2. M Majanski Avatar
        M Majanski

        AGM-88 HARM missiles could only be carried on the F-4G; AGM-45 Shrike missiles could be carried by all F-4C/D/E/G.

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    2. Urgent Siesta Avatar
      Urgent Siesta

      Like Shamrock said, another version has been confirmed – and as a separate purchase module. Given the vast differences across it’s loooong life-span, entirely reasonable.

      Most folks saying it’s going to be a USN variant of some sort, which makes a lot of sense given the HB line up & Forrestal CV, etc.

      As a tangentially related item, it’d be really cool to see them make the A2A interceptor version of the Viggen some year…

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. Blue 5 Avatar
        Blue 5

        USN had beautiful paint schemes and the non-cannon variants are much prettier IMHO.

        Am sure a Navy mod will be out shortly after release.

        When can I buy it, please? 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Colin Avatar
    Colin

    Excuse my ignorance on all things Phantoms, but the E version is USAF only, right? so no carrier operations with this Heatblur release? I like the idea of Vietnam era Phantom operations but would have preferred Naval operations … perhaps when we get the rumoured A-6 Intruder this might happen.

    I’ll buy this module all the same though, looks good so far.

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    1. Urgent Siesta Avatar
      Urgent Siesta

      USN version coming as a separate module sometime in the future. Most speculation seems to be around a J version.
      If it goes like the F-14B & -A went, expect it to be at least a year or two before it’s released.

      Liked by 1 person

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    2. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      The E version is a land based variant yes. Not exclusive to the USAF but in US service that was the service that flew it.

      No carrier ops with the E.

      The second F-4 project will feature a Navy variant. Confirmed by Heatblur.

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  5. Colin Avatar
    Colin

    Thanks, we’d need an appropriate map and carriers too I suppose for true Naval Vietnam sea borne operations … I can only hope I live long enough to see it all come to fruition ! So many DCS plans, its almost overwhelming … but very exciting 🙂 This with a true dynamic campaign in this area would be wonderful, flying Phantoms with Intruders in co-op or otherwise.

    PS does anyone know what ever happened to an English Electric Lightning module that was hinted at for DCS a few years back?

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      The EE Lightning was done by one of the artists at RAZBAM. Like many project they have on the go, it’ll be something that happens eventually. But it’s a long ways away.

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  6. TheSimNet Avatar
    TheSimNet

    This bird is looking beautiful, cannot wait to fly it!

    Liked by 1 person

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