Requesting Input: Weapons Modifications

2017-03-25

2006 Jul 06 – Requesting Input: Weapons Modifications

We are currently working on improvements to the Jane’s F/A-18 weapons database. These changes include some work similar to WarfareFix, but the intent is to allow them to be integrated into the “mainstream” Jane’s F/A-18 version (like TSHv1, TSHv2, TSHv3, etc.) instead of a branching install (like WarfareFix).

One of the main reasons WarfareFix requires this branched install is because of the modifications to the weapons table. So, this time around we intend to modify this table so that it continues to be a part of the “mainstream” version of the sim. This means that instead of adding weapons, we must replace weapons. As a result, some weapons must go. This post is your chance to speak up and say “hey, I use that weapon all the time! Please don’t get rid of it.” The intent is to replace unused, innefective, and/or redundant weapons with more of the munitions used on the modern battlefield today.

We propose to remove the following weapons:

Mk-82R high-drag 500 lb. bomb
Mk-20 cluster munition
330g fuel tank
Mk-65 mine
LAU-61HE rocket pods
LAU-10 rocket pods
CBU-59 cluster munition
Mk-77 FAE

Justification:

Mk-82R: This weapon is not carried on the real Superhornet. The Mk-82SE (snakeye) fulfills the role of a small, high-drag, GP bomb.
Mk-20: largely ineffective in-game, especially with the bug that cluster munitions do not damage static aircraft objects. A GP bomb does just as much damage in JF-18. (note: We would love to “fix” the cluster munition behavior, but it’s probably not possible).
330g fuel tank: The 330g tank is not suitable for carriage on a Superhornet.
Mk-65: There are two mine types in game and they behave identically. We will release new versions of all missions with Mk-65 weapon area goals, replacing them with Mk-60 weapon area goals.
Rockets: The CCIP pipper is broken. Fast movers do not use rockets in modern combat. AI employ rockets unrealistically.
CBU-59 & Mk-77: I can’t say that I’ve ever carried these weapons other than to decide they weren’t effective. They suffer the same problems the Mk-20 does.

We propose to replace the 8 weapons listed above with the following weapons:

500 lb., GP warhead, GPS guidance
500 lb., penetrating warhead, GPS guidance
1000 lb., penetrating warhead, GPS guidance
500 lb., penetrating warhead, laser guidance
1000lb., penetrating warhead, laser guidance
500 lb., penetrating warheadm unguided
1000 lb., penetrating warhead, unguided
2000 lb., penetrating warhead, unguided

What this will accomplish is that it will provide a full suite of bomb choices in Jane’s F/A-18; any bomb weight (500, 1000, 2000 lb.), guidance type (unguided, GPS guided, laser guided) and warhead type (GP, penetrating).

Please let us know any thoughts you have.