La-174

La-174

La-174

USSR

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
8.0	8.0	8.0

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

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Description

The La-174 is a gift rank V Soviet jet fighter with a battle rating of 8.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.39. The La-174 is a prototype variant of the La-15, possessing slight differences in statistics and a variant colour scheme, and has been occasionally available for research in the Soviet tech tree following the La-15. To research the La-174, the La-15 must too be researched, even during the rare periods the La-174 is available for research. The plane must be researched and purchased during this time, and is otherwise unavailable.

The La-174 shares many of the same attributes as the La-15, and thus shares the same general strengths and weaknesses as its brother. The La-174 is an incredibly fast aircraft for its tier but suffers from various issues.

The La-174 is unable to carry any secondary armaments, such as bombs or rockets. It is equipped with three very powerful 23 mm cannons. These carry 100 rounds of ammunition per gun, which works out a total of 300 rounds of ammunition.

Due to its incredible top speed for its battle rating, competing with the fastest at its battle rating, the La-174 should apply boom and zoom tactics. Gain altitude (and thus energy), and use this energy to execute hit-and-runs on opposing aircraft. Your powerful 23 mm NR-23 cannons will help you kill targets in minimal time. Though it is not the worst jet at turning, it suffers from the issue of having incredibly weak wings, and they will likely snap if you attempt to turn fight other jets at high speed. However, if it needs to turn, it can hold its energy for an extended period of time and come out of a turn at a higher speed than most opponents.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 3,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
1,004	976	13,500	21.8	23.1	25.4	23.6	650
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 3,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
1,040	1,026	13,50	21.2	21.5	38.7	31.7	650

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	✓	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
945	450	520	~26	~13

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 640	< 535	< 610	> 140

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
?,??? m	??? hp	?,??? hp

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The La-174 is armed with:

• 3 x NR-23 cannons, nose-mounted (100 rpg = 300 total)

Usage in battles

Due to its incredible top speed for its battle rating, competing with the fastest at its battle rating, the La-174 should be employed in boom and zoom tactics. Gain altitude (and thus energy), and use this energy to execute hit-and-runs on opposing aircraft. Your powerful 23 mm NR-23 cannons will help you kill targets in minimal time. Despite the fact it is very manoeuvrable, it suffers from the issue of having incredibly weak wings, and they will likely snap if you attempt to turn fight other jets at high speed. However, if it needs to turn, it can hold its energy for an extended period and come out of a turn at a higher speed than most opponents.

Specific enemies worth noting

F-86 Sabre/CL-13A Sabre:

The F-86 Sabre is one of the main rivals of the La-174 if up-tiered and facing allied teams. The Sabre can easily outmanoeuvre, outrun and out climb the La-174. The best way to counter the Sabre is to attack it when it is at its most vulnerable position (low on energy, or damaged) or force it into a low-speed manoeuvring fight. Do not try to engage an F-86/CL-13A Sabre in any high-speed manoeuvres or any high-speed dogfighting in general as the Sabre will come out on top. In any low-speed manoeuvers, the Sabre will lose to the La-174 in any manoeuvering engagements.

Meteor:

The Meteor is another main rival of the La-174 as the La-174 can meet the Meteor at any time from being down-tiered to up-tiered. While the La-174 can outrun and out-climb early variants of the Meteors, the later variants are far harder to outrun and out climb as they can easily catch the La-174. The best way to deal with Meteors is to apply boom and zoom tactics, but do remember a skilled Meteor pilot will have no issue avoiding a La-174 that is attacking with boom and zoom tactics. Avoid any manoeuvring fights with any variant of the Meteor as they will outmanoeuvre you with no issues at all.

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Compressor		Offensive 23 mm
II	New Boosters		Airframe
III	Wings Repair			New 23 mm Cannons
IV		Engine	Cover

It is recommended to unlock in this order: Fuselage Repair, Offensive 23 mm and Compressor.
In the second stage: Airframe then New Boosters
Third stage: Wing Repair then New 23 mm cannons
Final stage: Engine then Cover

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Cannons have a decent rate of fire and punch
• Good energy retention
• Decent acceleration
• Cockpit visibility is above average
• Decent manoeuvrability around 500-700 kph/310-435 mph
• Good roll rate
• Great top speed for its battle rating

Cons:

• Can rip its wings off in level flight (speed warning at approximately 945 kph/587 mph, wings rip at 955 kph/593 mph)
• Ineffective air brakes
• Guns have poor accuracy and very low muzzle velocity
• Recoil from guns causes the plane to pitch during firing
• Inherits the general Russian trait of very low ammo reserves, limiting the battle time
• Doesn’t take battle damage very well, especially to the wings of the aircraft

History

As a prototype of the La-15, the La-174 saw no combat experience. Only one was ever built, and it crashed during flight testing. Compared to the production version of the La-15, it was powered by a British Rolls-Royce engine, rather than the Soviet-made Klimov RD-500k which was derived from the aforementioned British turbojet engine.

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

Obtainable events

• The La-174 is only available in limited time periods in events, unlocked right after the La-15 in the main USSR tech tree.
• The La-174 was available between 11 September to 18 September 2017 to honour Lavochkin's 117th birthday.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Devblog] Cockpit for La-174