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The Official F-15 Strike Eagle Handbook

by Richard Sheffield

OPFOR

It's very likely that you'll face a wide variety of Opposing Forces (OPFOR) weapons that range from the latest Soviet developments, to modern NATO equipment sold earlier to Iran, to Korean War-era MiG-17s. Some of this equipment is certainly better than others, but all of it can—and will—kill you if you're not prepared and knowledgeable about its capabilities.

This section will give you a quick rundown of the enemy equipment you'll face and some basic information on each system.

Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs)

Enemy SAMs (Surface-to-Air Missiles) range from almost harmless to extremely dangerous. Make sure you know which is which.

SA-2

Search radar: Poor pulse radar

Firing guidance radar type: Beam-rider pulse radar

Max altitude: 55,000 feet

Maneuverability: Very Poor

Threat posed: Mild

SA-5

Search radar: Poor pulse radar

Firing guidance radar type: Beam-rider pulse radar

Max altitude: 95,000 feet

Maneuverability: Poor

Threat posed: Mild

SA-6

Search radar: Poor pulse radar

Firing guidance radar type: Semiactive pulse radar

Max altitude: 60,000 feet

Maneuverability: Fair

Threat posed: Medium

SA-10

Search radar: Superb Doppler

Firing guidance radar type: Semiactive plus command

guidance Doppler

Max altitude: 70,000 feet

Maneuverability: Fair

Threat posed: Extreme

SA-12

Search radar: Good Doppler

Firing guidance radar type: Semiactive plus command

guidance Doppler

Max altitude: 70,000 feet

Maneuverability: Fair

Threat posed: Extreme

Hawk

Search radar: Good Doppler

Firing guidance radar type: Semiactive pulse radar

Max altitude: 52,000 feet

Maneuverability: Good

Threat posed: Medium

Tigercat

Search radar: Poor pulse radar

Firing guidance radar type: Visual

Max altitude: 12,000 feet

Maneuverability: Good

Threat posed: Mild

Seacat

Search radar: Poor pulse radar

Firing guidance radar type: Visual

Max altitude: 12,000 feet

Maneuverability: Good

Threat posed: Mild

SA-N-4

Search radar: Pulse radar

Firing guidance radar type: Semiactive pulse radar

Max altitude: 25,000 feet

Maneuverability: Good

Threat posed: Medium

Rapier

Search radar: Good pulse radar

Firing guidance radar type: Semiactive pulse radar

Max altitude: 24,000 feet

Maneuverability: Very good

Threat posed: High

Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs)

AA-2

Homing type: Infrared

Range: 14km

Maneuverability: Very good

Threat level: Mild

AA-6

Homing type: Semiactive pulse radar

Range: 50km

Maneuverability: Poor

Threat level: Medium

AA-6 (IR)

Homing type: Infrared

Range: 50km

Maneuverability: Poor

Threat level: Mild

AA-10

Homing type: Active Doppler radar

Range: 64km

Maneuverability: Good

Threat level: Extreme

Figure 11-1. Aircraft Carrying AA-10 Alamo Missiles

AA-10 (IR)

Homing type: Improved infrared

Range: 64km

Maneuverability: Good

Threat level: Medium

AIM-7 Sparrow

Homing type: Semiactive pulse radar

Range: 44km

Maneuverability: Very good

Threat level: Medium

AIM-9 Sidewinder

Homing type: Infrared

Range: 12km

Maneuverability: Excellent

Threat level: Mild

NOTE

When being tracked by an AA-6 or AA-10, make sure you check the screen to see which type of seeker is being used. Both can be either radar-guided or heat-seeking.

Enemy Aircraft: Soviet-Built

The maneuverability standard used to measure these aircraft is the excellent F-16 Falcon.

MiG-17 Fresco

Designer: Mikoyan-Gurevich, USSR

Role: Fighter

Max altitude: 52,000 feet

Air-to-air radar quality: None

Maneuverability: Fair

MiG-21 Fishbed

Designer: Mikoyan-Gurevich, USSR

Role: Fighter

Max altitude: 59,000 feet

Max speed: 1220 knots

Air-to-air radar quality: Poor

Maneuverability: Good

Figure 11-2. MiG-21 Fishbed

MiG-23 Flogger

Designer: Mikoyan-Gurevich, USSR

Role: Fighter

Max altitude: 61,000 feet

Max speed: 1190 knots

Air-to-air radar quality: Very poor

Maneuverability: Fair

Figure 11-3. MiG-23 Flogger

MiG-25 Foxbat

Designer: Mikoyan-Gurevich, USSR

Role: Interceptor

Max altitude: 80,000 feet

Max speed: 1860 Knots

Air-to-air radar quality: Medium

Maneuverability: Poor

Figure 11-4. MIG-25 Foxbat

MiG-29 Fulcrum

Designer: Mikoyan-Gurevich, USSR

Role: Fighter

Max altitude: 55,000-65,000 feet

Max speed: 1260 knots

Air-to-air radar quality: Medium

Maneuverability: Very good to excellent

Enemy Aircraft: NATO-Built

F-4 Phantom II

Designer: McDonnell Douglas, USA

Role: Fighter, strike fighter

Max altitude: 58,750 feet

Max speed: 1260 knots

Air-to-air radar quality: Fair

Maneuverability: Fair to good

F-5 Tiger II

Designer: Northrop, USA

Role: Fighter, strike fighter

Max altitude: 51,000 feet

Max speed: 950 knots

Air-to-air radar quality: Poor

Maneuverability: Fair

F-14D Tomcat

Designer: Grumman, USA

Role: Fighter, interceptor

Max altitude: 56,000 feet

Max speed: 1350 knots

Air-to-air radar quality: Excellent

Maneuverability: Good

F-l Mirage

Designer: Dassault-Breguet

Role: Fighter, strike fighter

Max altitude: 65,000 feet

Max speed: Much 2.2

Air-to-air radar quality: Poor

Maneuverability: Fair

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