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File Name: F-4 Phantom II in Royal New Zealand Air Force service ('What If') File Submitter: dtmdragon File Submitted: 11 September 2015 File Category: What If Hangar F-4 Phantom II in Royal New Zealand Air Force service ('What If') Background (factual): In mid 1964 Operational Requirement No. 5/Air called for a tactical combat aircraft to replace the Canberra. Specifically a long range aircraft with the primary role of counter-air/interdiction and secondary roles of close air support and air defense. In June 1965 The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Morrison was quoted as wanting 18 F-111 aircraft for the RNZAF at a cost of £1.5 million per aircraft. The public and media supported the idea but the Chief of Defense Staff (who was a Naval Officer) and the acting Prime Minister publicly opposed the purchase. In August 1965 the Chiefs of Staff Committee rejected the idea of acquiring long-range interdiction aircraft and in September agreed that close air support should be the primary role of the new combat aircraft. In December came Air Staff Requirement No. 12 with the following requirements of the new combat aircraft: - Ability to provide effective air support to ground forces. - Highly reliable and robust - Self defense capability to evade or counter supersonic interceptors and surface-to-air missiles. - Long range. - Ability to operate closely with American and Australian forces. By May 1966 the RNZAF had finished evaluating six candidate aircraft: - F-4C Phantom II - A-7A Corsair II - Mirage IIIO - F-5A Freedom Fighter - F-104G Starfighter - A-4E Skyhawk In August 1966 the RNZAF officially asked the government to purchase 16 F-4 Phantoms at a total cost of £19 million. Now remember AVM Morrison making it known he wanted the F-111? He would later go on to admit he never wanted the F-111 he had wanted the F-4 all along but given the cost of the F-4 he wanted to make it look more attractive (cost wise) by putting it next to the F-111. The minister of Defense then announced the final stage of the evaluation had been reached and a decision was a few weeks away. The purchase of the F-4 seemed to be all but done... BUT the Treasury department now intervened and recommended purchasing the F-5! The RNZAF High Command was furious! But ultimately powerless to halt the path to purchasing the A-4 Skyhwak that had just begun. Over the next year the RNZAF, Cabinet Defense Committee, Treasury, the Finance Minister and the Chief of Defense wrangled over purchasing the F-4 or an alternative (F-5 or A-4). Then at the end of 1967 the New Zealand Currency was devalued and a squadron of F-4 Phantoms was now instantly out of New Zealand’s price range. It was either 11 Phantoms or 16 Skyhawks. So the Skyhawk it was. So if the Treasury Department hadn't intervened in the procurement process towards the end of 1966 it seems entirely likely that New Zealand would have placed and order for the F-4 Phantom II at the end of that year! And so I give you the F-4D Phantom II in RNZAF Service 1969 to 2002. I chose the F-4D as when the order would have likely been placed in late 1966/ early 1967 the F-4D was the current USAF production model as the first of the F-4E models were only just being built as part of the USAF F-4D contract. The RNZAF F-4D models are built to the same standard as the last USAF F-4D coming off the production line in the late 60's. However like the A-4K in real life they are 'fitted for but not with' ECM/ RHAW equipment. This means the wiring, sensors and cockpit RHAW display are installed but the actual 'black box' control units are not. The reason for this (as in real life with the A-4K) was not an economy measure as most references state (including the Third Wire manual) but because the equipment was in such demand by US forces for use in Vietnam. So the aircraft were delivered without them but with the intention of fitting them at a latter date. However that day simply never came and this is possibly where the additional cost of purchasing/ installing them played a part in it not happening. The Kiwi F-4D Phantoms are capable of caring the full range of the USAF Phantom arsenal including first generation smart weapons. However only the Mk 82/83/84 series bombs and unguided rockets are used by the RNZAF. For the air-to-air role the SUU-23/A gunpod, AIM-7E and AIM-9E are chosen with the AIM-4 Falcons performance in Vietnam causing the RNZAF to steer well clear of it. Four separate Aircraft: F-4D Phantom II RNZAF - Initial aircraft delivered in 1969 fitted for but not with ECM/ RHAW equipment. F-4D Phantom II (72) RNZAF - By 1973 the redundant RHAW display has been removed from the cockpit as well as the empty IRST pod under the nose that was to house the RHAW gear. F-4D Phantom II (78) RNZAF - Second hand attrition aircraft from USAF stocks delivered in 1985 in preparation for the project Kahu upgrade of the fleet. F-4D Phantom II (88) Kahu RNZAF - In 1986 a comprehensive $140 million upgrade program is undertaken. Known as project 'Kahu' the heart of the upgrade is replacing the old AN/APG-109 radar with the modern AN/APG-66(NZ) multi-mode radar. The cockpit is modernized with glass displays, HOTAS and a Ferranti wide-angle HUD. Survivability in increased with the ALR-66 RWR and ALE-40 countermeasure dispensers. The MIL-STD 1553B databus and Litton Industries LN-93 inertial navigation system are also installed. The airframes and engines are completely stripped down and given a life extension with almost all of the aircraft wiring replaced. A smoke abatement system is added along with low voltage formation lights. The aircraft also receive armament upgrades including the capability to fire AIM-9L, AIM-7M, AGM-65B/G and GBU-10 Paveway II laser-guided bombs. The old F-4 Phantom external center drop tanks are also replaced by the F-15 600 gallon HPC tanks as on USAF Phantoms. By the end of 1991 all New Zealand and ex USAF Phantoms have been upgraded to the 'Kahu' standard. More sceen shots and the full 'what if' story here: http://combatace.com/topic/86994-f-4-phantom-ii-in-royal-new-zealand-air-force-service/ Requirments: you will need one of the SF2 games with the F-4D as well the Third Wire DLC A-4K Skyhawk for the decals. Bonus: Included in a separate folder is a RNZAF F-4D for use with the SF2V Air & Ground War Expansion Pack. This is the Kiwi F-4D fitted with the required ECM and stores for operations in the Vietnam War. Credits: - comrad - Sundowner - Dave - eburger68 - Malibu43 - ravenclaw_007 - Bunyap - Chaser617 Released under CombatAce Fair-Use terms. Enjoy! Dan (dtmdragon) Click here to download this file

File Name: New Zealand F-16C/D Block 52+ Fictional Order File Submitter: dtmdragon File Submitted: 27 March 2014 File Category: What If Hangar What If, Royal New Zealand Air Force F-16C/D Block 52 Plus. - No. 75 Squadron, RNZAF Base Ohakea 2014 - 148th Fighter Squadron Arizona ANG 162d Fighter Wing, Tucson ANG Base 2012 You will need the The F-16C Block 50/52 by The Viper Team for the sounds and effects etc http://combatace.com/topic/72842-f-16c-block-5052-by-the-viper-team/ Instillation: As usual simply drop into your mods folder and allow it to override when prompted. Dec 17/2013: Final Delivery. The Royal New Zealand Air force (RNZAF) celebrates the arrival of its first Lockheed Martin F-16C/D aircraft. The first Block 52+ F-16s to be based in New Zealand were received by Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General of New Zealand and Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Defense Force. March 4/2012: First Delivery. Lockheed Martin holds a ceremony at its Fort Worth, TX facility to deliver the first F-16 aircraft to the RNZAF. This F-16D was accepted by the U.S. government (as the agent for New Zealand in the FMS process) on Feb 19/12, three month ahead of schedule. The first single-seat F-16C version will fly in March 2012, and be accepted in April 2012. These 2 aircraft and all subsequent deliveries will head to Tucson ANG Base on attachment to the ANG 148th FS for up to two years to train the initial squadron of RNZAF pilots. Jan 2010: F-16 order. The New Zealand Minister of Defence signs an agreement with the U.S. government to purchase 24 Advanced Block 52 F-16s in the ‘Peace Star’ Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The agreement includes 16 single-seat F-16Cs and 8 two-seat F-16Ds, associated equipment and services, weapons, initial pilot and aircraft technician training. The RNZAF also announced the re-activation of No. 75 Squadron in anticipation of the order. Aug 2009: The US DSCA announces New Zealand’s formal request for 24 F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.7 billion. Funds will be provided under the Foreign Military Financing Program with repayments spread over 10 years. The proposed sale includes: 24 F-16C/D Block 52 Plus aircraft with F100-PW-229 Engines, and APG-68v9 radars; 24 Conformal Fuel Tanks (pairs); 30 AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (CMDS); 30 AN/ALR-93 Radar Warning Receivers (RWR); 28 AN/ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS); 26 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems; 16 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATP; 5 TERMA Modular Reconnaissance Pod (MRP) 24 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) radios with HAVE QUICK I/II; 24 Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT); 24 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/ Inertial Navigation Systems (INS); 24 AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems; 30 AN/AVS-9 night vision goggles. ENJJPT (Advanced flight training and F-16 operational conversion) for up to 50 initial RNZAF F-16C/D pilots; 30 AIM-120-C7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to Air Missiles (AMRAAM); 60 AIM-9X SIDEWINDER Missiles; 20 AGM-88C HARM Missiles; 50 AGM-65G MAVERICK Missiles; 50 AGM-119A Mk III Penguin ASM Missiles; 30 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) 2,000 lb bombs; 30 GBU-10, PAVEWAY II 2,000 lb. bombs; 60 Enhanced GBU-12 PAVEWAY II bombs, with dual-mode GPS/laser guidance; 8 AGM-65G Maverick training missiles; 16 Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) pods; Note on loadouts: Attack/ CAS loadouts are set for engaging large amounts of armour. However you can select a GBU-49 CAS loadout with the mission editor, along with a few other unique loadout options. Credits: The Viper Team for their stunning viper packs Ravenclaw_007 for his new weapon packs Enjoy, Dan. Click here to download this file

View File [Fictional] McDonnell Douglas Phantom RNZAF McDonnell Douglas Phantom F-4M_89 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2 This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire Phantom FGR.2 (F-4M_75) to give a fictional 'Kiwi' Phantom with markings for No.2 squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force as they might have appeared during the 1990's. It goes without saying that you will need to have the F-4M_75 from SF2:Europe. BACKSTORY During the build up to Operation Corporate (the UK's military operation to retake the Falkland Islands) the UK Government were overwhelmed at the support given by the countries of the Commonwealth and, in particular, the response of the Australian and New Zealand Governments who provided ships to maintain the UK's NATO commitments and thus allow the Royal Navy to maximise the number of ships it could send to the South Atlantic. In the following years there were many reciprocal deals made and favours given to the Commonwealth nations (and even Chile!) and one such 'favour' was the transfer of 18 ex-RAF Phantom FGR.2's in 1988. The 18 FGR.2's, only recently withdrawn from RAF service, were ferried out to New Zealand (most still in their dirty grey camo scheme) during Operation Saddleback before arriving at Ohakea for refurbishment by a joint McDonnell Douglas/RNZAF team that saw the aircraft eventually emerge in a new 'Forest' style camo scheme and with digital INAS, upgraded RWR and new outer wing panels. Entering service with No.2 squadron in early 1989 (supposedly as the Karearea but they were always simply called Phantoms) the aircraft gave good service to the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the 1990's until finally being retired in December 2001 when, indeed, all 'Air Combat Force' aircraft were sadly withdrawn from service. INSTRUCTIONS 1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-4M_89 folder into your Aircraft folder. 2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-4M_89 folder into your Decals folder. 3. From the WEAPONS folder drag and drop the SUU-23G folder into your Weapons folder. That's it! CREDITS As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim. And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community. Regards Spinners Version 2 - February 18th, 2024. Submitter Spinners Submitted 01/15/2010 Category What If Hangar  

View File [Fictional] Hawker Hunter FGA.9 'Kiwi' (RNZAF) Hawker Hunter FGA.9 'Kiwi' for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2 This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire Hunter FGA.9 to give a fictional 'Kiwi' Hunter with markings for No.14 and No.75 Squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force as they might have appeared during the 1960's. INSTRUCTIONS 1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the HunterFGA9nz folder into your Aircraft folder. 2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the HunterFGA9nz folder into your Decals folder. That's it! CREDITS As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim. And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community. Regards Spinners Version 2 - January 9th, 2024 Submitter Spinners Submitted 01/09/2010 Category What If Hangar