F-86K (Germany)

This page is about the German jet fighter F-86K (Germany). For other versions, see F-86 (Family).

◄F-86K

◄CL-13B Mk.6

◄F-104G

◄F-86K

◄CL-13B Mk.6

◄F-104G

Germany

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.0	9.0	9.3

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:190 000

Purchase:520 000

Show in game

Description

The ◄F-86K Sabre is a rank VI German jet fighter with a battle rating of 9.0 (AB/RB) and 9.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update "Starfighters".

The original F-86D was developed as bomber interceptor and was outfitted with a retractable ventral rocket-rack which housed 24 x 2.75 in (70 mm) Mighty Mouse folding-fin aerial rockets. Lacking cannons or air-to-air missiles, the F-86D was limited in role strictly as a bomber hunter. In 1953 the Italians approached North American in an attempt to modify the existing F-86D into a fighter-interceptor, however, the proposed changes proved too costly. This cost overage required scaling back the requirements and from this was produced the F-86K, a fighter-interceptor aircraft which was outfitted with 4 x 20 mm cannons and two AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles. Originally this aircraft was produced for the U.S., however, later the Italian manufacturer Fiat was licensed to also manufacture and produce this version of the fighter.

Fun Fact: The Sabre Dog was initially to be designated F-95, but had its name changed to F-86D instead, in order to make it seem like a variant of the existing Sabre and not an entirely new aircraft. In reality, however, the F-86D was only about 25% similar to the original F-86 and the name change was only done to secure further support for the project. —  War Thunder Dev Blog

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 0 m1 111 km/h

Turn time27 s

Max altitude15 500 m

EngineGeneral Electric J47-GE-17B

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight10 t

The F-86K is a decent aircraft at its BR. Unfortunately it rarely fights at its BR. When uptiered, which is most of the time, it is abysmal, being both slower and less manoeuvrable then the opposition. The F-86K has good low-end acceleration due to its afterburner, however, this aircraft is still only a subsonic fighter. Like every other jet, it's bad at manoeuvring at low speeds and its control surfaces compress at high speeds. However, the F-86K can handle top speed relatively well compared to other aircraft of its rank. If the F-86K can do one thing very well, it excels when going into vertical flight, which is only a factor when playing at its BR or lower, which is extremely rare.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,103	1,097	15500	27.4	28.3	42.7	37.1	1,000
Upgraded	1,121	1,111		26.6	27.0	73.1	56.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	X	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1,187	350	593	556	370	~8	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 850	< 600	< 660	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
General Electric J47-GE-17B		1	6,532 kg		286 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		13m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	46m fuel
1,150 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		7,034 kg	7,313 kg	7,703 kg	8,338 kg	9,530 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	13m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	46m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	2,294 kgf	3,158 kgf	0.45	0.43	0.41	0.38	0.33
Optimal	2,294 kgf (0 km/h)	3,861 kgf (1,200 km/h)	0.55	0.53	0.50	0.46	0.41

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear350 km/h

The plane is equipped at the front with a 6.35 mm steel plate protecting the pilot's wrist and up. The cockpit's frontal glass is made of 38 mm of bulletproof glass that helps against incoming small calibre rounds. All the while the pilot's seat is made of 12.7 mm of steel which protects his back of any incoming small calibre rounds and shrapnel.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 389 → 4 544

RB9 442 → 12 661

SB10 159 → 13 623

Total cost of modifications168 000

263 000

Talisman cost2 600

Crew training150 000

Experts520 000

Aces2 400

Research Aces950 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 380 / 600 %

220 / 220 / 220 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 290 Compressor Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 290 New boosters Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 350 Wings repair Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 370 Engine Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 370 G-suit Research: 27 000 Cost: 43 000 720	Airframe Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 350 Cover Research: 27 000 Cost: 43 000 720	t_160_belt_pack Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 290 AIM-9B Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 350 t_160_new_gun Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 370

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 20 mm M24A1 cannon

Ammunition528 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

The F-86K (Germany) is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm M24A1 cannons, nose-mounted (132 rpg = 528 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (1)

Setup 12 x AIM-9B Sidewinder air-to-air missiles

The F-86K (Germany) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles

Usage in battles

The F-86K should only be used as a support fighter, due to its sub-par manoeuvrability and relatively low top speed compared to other aircraft at its BR such as the MiG-17 at low speeds and the fact that it is most often up-tiered, in which case it is greatly outclassed. These flight performance issues mean the F-86K will not do well in 1 vs. 1 dogfight scenarios, except perhaps in downtiers when fighting against planes like the MiG-15bis and F-86A-5 that the F-86K will be able to out-climb or out-run. However, more often than not the F-86K will be flying against F-105s, AV-8s, F-4s, and the like, to which the F-86K is highly vulnerable to and pose nearly no threat as they can either outrun or out-turn the F-86K, or both. As such it is recommended to work with teammates to help divert the enemy attention while dodging any incoming enemy attacks. With the help of allies, try and get the enemies into a vulnerable state that the F-86K can destroy when the opportunity presents itself.

When it comes to bomber hunting, this aircraft has four M24A1s, one of the few things that makes this aircraft somewhat playable. With this armament, head-on attacks are a viable option. However, do not commit to head-ons, instead fire a burst from maybe .8 km out then pull out. This is to decrease the chances of both planes crashing and increasing the F-86K's chance of surviving. Be advised that early radar-guided missiles can be present and will negate the plane's head-on capability.

Radars

The F-86K is equipped with an AN/APS-21 search radar, located in the nose of the aircraft.

AN/APS-21 - Target Detection Radar
Maximum Detection Range	Guaranteed Detection Range	Max Azimuth Scan Angle	Max Elevation Scan Angle
45,000 m	28,000 m	±85°	±16°

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good top speed
• Good roll rate at low/medium speed (<800 km/h)
• Good acceleration with afterburner
• Has a search radar (can only spot bombers or large attackers)
• High velocity 20 mm cannons, highly effective in head-ons and deflection shots
• Possesses payload of two air-to-air missiles AIM-9B Sidewinders
• Brake chute

Cons:

• Subsonic
• Heavy compared to regular Sabres so less nimble, even with leading slats
• Hard compression at high speed (>900 km/h), especially in the roll axis
• Can easily rip wings with strong input
• Afterburner guzzles a lot of fuel
• Missile lock can be broken with a high-G manoeuvre
• No bombs or rockets

History

In March 1949, the North American company launched the development of a new jet interceptor, based on the existing F-86 Sabre, as part of a private venture. The new design was the first interceptor developed to be operated by a single crew member and utilized unguided rockets in combination with a complex fire control system, rather than conventional guns, in order to destroy its target. Already by April, the project had received official endorsement from high-ranking military officials and development of a production version began in parallel.

While a production contract was signed in October, the first prototype, designated YF-95, conducted its maiden flight in December 1949. In the early '50s, Soviet nuclear testing and the subsequent start of the Korean conflict led to an accelerated development of the YF-95. Despite this, problems during development caused production to be delayed, resulting in the aircraft reaching its first units only in March 1951. During the delay however, the designation of the aircraft changed to F-86D and it received its unofficial nickname "Sabre Dog".

In January 1953, North American was approached by an offer from the Italian military to develop a twin-seater version of the F-86D armed with cannons. As the cost and necessary redesign work turned out to be too great, an agreement was made to produce the aircraft in its original design, but with cannon armament and a simplified fire control system instead. This new export version of the Sabre Dog received the new designation of F-86K.

Initially, the F-86K was produced exclusively in the U.S., but would later also be manufactured under licence by the Italian Fiat company. The F-86 entered service in 1955 and apart from the West German's Air Force, the F-86K also served with many other operators worldwide including France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Honduras, Venezuela. Around 340 F-86Ks were produced out of over 2,800 Sabre Dogs built in total. Most of the F-86Ks would be decommissioned by the late '60s, while some even went on to serve into the '70s.

- From Devblog

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the F-86K (Germany) from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #159 - Metal Beasts section at 00:35 discusses the F-86K (France).

See also

Related development

• Canadair Sabre (Sabres manufactured with the designator "CL")
• North American F-86A/F
• North American F-100 Super Sabre
• North American FJ-4 Fury

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Grumman F9F Cougar
• Lavochkin La-15
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
• Hawker Hunter
• Dassault Super Mystère
• Saab J29 Tunnan

External links

• [Devblog] F-86K Sabre Dog: The Grand Tourist
• [joebaugher.com] North American F-86K Sabre
• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

North American Aviation
Fighters
P-51A	P-51 · P-51A
P-51C	P-51C-10
P-51D	P-51D-5 · P-51D-10 · P-51D-20-NA · P-51D-30
P-51H	P-51H-5-NA
Twin-engine fighters	F-82E
Jet fighters	F-86A-5 · F-86F-2 · F-86F-25 · F-86F-35 · F-100D
Strike aircraft	A-36 · PBJ-1H · PBJ-1J
	FJ-4B · FJ-4B VMF-232
Bombers	B-25J-1 · B-25J-20
Export/Licence	▂B-25J-30 · ␗B-25J-30
	▄Mustang Mk IA · F-6C-10-NA · ␗P-51C-11-NT · ␗P-51D-20 · J26 David · J26 · P-51D-20-NA · ␗P-51K
	F-86F-30 ▅ · ␗F-86F-30 · F-86F-40 ▅ · F-86F-40 JASDF▅ · ␗F-86F-40
	◄F-86K · ▄F-86K (Italy) · ▄F-86K (France)
	␗F-100A · ▄F-100D · ␗F-100F
Captured	▅P-51C-11-NT
	Canadair Limited license-built the F-86 as the CL-13 for use in Canada and export to Europe.
	Fiat license-built the F-86K for the Italian Air Force though another 120 NAA built F-86Ks were also sold to the Italians.
See Also	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · Canadair Limited · Fiat Aviation