F-86K (Germany)

◄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

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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

The F-86K is a good aircraft at its rank, but not the best. The F-86K has very 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 it's 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.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - at 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	???	1,111		??.?	27.0	??.?	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	+	-
0	350	620	620	370	~8	~4

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

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Empty mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
General Electric J47-GE-17B		1	6,430 kg		292 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		6,952 kg	7,227 kg	7,620 kg	8,248 kg	9,530 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition	100%	WEP	13m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	46m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	2,294 kgf	4,467 kgf	0.64	0.62	0.59	0.54	0.47
Optimal	2,294 kgf (0 km/h)	4,467 kgf (0 km/h)	0.64	0.62	0.59	0.54	0.47

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Survivability and armour

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 38mm of bulletproof glass that helps against incoming small caliber rounds. All the while the pilot's seat is made of 12.7mm of steel which protects his back of any incoming small caliber rounds and shrapnel.

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°

Armaments

Offensive armament

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

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

Suspended armament

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

• Without load
• 2 x AIM-9B missiles

Usage in battles

The F-86K should be used mainly as a support fighter, due to its sub-par manoeuvrability compared to other aircraft at its rank such as the MiG-17 at low speeds. In a 1 vs 1 dogfight, the F-86K outclassed when pitted against a MiG-17 unless you fight in a vertical, which this aircraft should do most of the time. When it comes to bomber hunting, this aircraft has four M24A1s, however these are also fantastic to use during a head-on attack. However, don't commit to head ons, instead fire a burst from maybe .8 km out then pull out. This is to decrease the chances of both of you crashing and increasing your chance of surviving. Your opponents will mainly be slightly lower-ranked aircraft like the MiG-15 Bis or F-86 A5 Sabre which you can easily out climb or outrun. However, sometimes you will get up-tiered to a higher rank and unfortunately, any thrust advantage is nullified when facing F-100s which are supersonic aircraft. There is a potential to be matched up against Hunter F6's which can be armed with the devastating SRAAM missiles.

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Compressor		Offensive 20 mm
II	New boosters		Airframe		AIM-9B
III	Wings repair	Engine		New 20 mm cannons
IV	G-suit		Cover

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good top speed
• Good roll rate at low/medium speed (<800 kph)
• 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 kph), 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

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Media

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See also

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• reference to the series of the aircraft;
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External links

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