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
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
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
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
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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