Vautour IIA (Israel)
| This page is about the jet bomber Vautour IIA (Israel). For other versions, see Vautour (Family). |
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Contents
Description
The Vautour IIA was a jet-powered attack aircraft designed by France during the 1950s. It was operated by Israel alongside the IIN variant. Armed with cannons and rockets, it was used in aerial reconnaissance duties but had the capabilities to perform Close Air Support missions thanks to its large amount of anti-ground ordnance.
Introduced in Update "Winged Lions", the Vautour IIA has very good flight performance compared to most bombers. The engines of the Vautour can beat most subsonic jets, both in top speed and acceleration. The aircraft has decent manoeuvrability for a bomber, and since it lacks any way to guide bombs precisely to its destination it's better used in low level attacks, flying close to the ground and dropping the bombs close to the target. These can be dangerous but is the most effective way to destroy enemy bases and ground units.
General info
Flight performance
| 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 | 1,093 | 1,091 | 15000 | 32.6 | 33.2 | 43.0 | 41.1 | 900 |
| Upgraded | 1,106 | 1,100 | 31.4 | 32.0 | 62.7 | 52.0 | ||
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 | + | - | ||
| 1,166 | 425 | 584 | 564 | 463 | ~7 | ~3 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 480 | < 620 | < 590 | N/A |
Engine performance
| Engine | Aircraft mass | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine name | Number | Empty mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | |||
| SNECMA Atar 101E3 | 2 | 11,000 kg | 316 kg/m2 | |||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | ||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 8m fuel | 20m fuel | 27m fuel | ||
| 950 kg | Axial-flow turbojet | 11,974 kg | 13,388 kg | 14,213 kg | 21,000 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%) | |||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 8m fuel | 20m fuel | 27m fuel | MTOW |
| Stationary | 3,293 kgf | N/A | 0.55 | 0.49 | 0.46 | 0.31 |
| Optimal | 3,595 kgf (1,100 km/h) |
N/A | 0.60 | 0.54 | 0.51 | 0.34 |
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, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
Offensive armament
The Vautour IIA (Israel) is armed with:
- 4 x 30 mm DEFA 551 cannons, nose-mounted (100 rpg = 400 total)
Suspended armament
The Vautour IIA (Israel) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100/50 kg G.P. bombs | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | |
| 250/50 kg G.P. bombs | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | |
| 360/50 kg G.P. bombs | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | |
| 500/50 kg G.P. bombs | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| SNEB type 23 rockets | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | ||
| T10 140 rockets | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| T10 151 rockets | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Shafrir missiles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Default weapon presets | |
|---|---|
| |
Usage in battles
Air Arcade Battles
In Air Arcade, the Vautour may face more advanced radar and IR missiles. In this case, the best option is to use it as a bomber, climbing to more than 9,000 m and bombing bases or ground targets using the bomb reticle. It can also be used to attack distracted players as a support aircraft thanks to the 4 missiles and relatively good handling of the plane.
Air Realistic Battles
The Vautour IIA can be used in 2 ways in air RB with ease: as an interceptor and as a bomber. In bomb runs, the plane is vulnerable to enemy interceptors like MiG-21s, MiG-19s, and F-104s since these are the fastest and carry air-to-air missiles. In this scenario, pilots should try to stick with their team, to allow them to cover while returning to the airfield. The best ordnance combination in order to retain some air-to-air capabilities and destroy a full base is a loadout of 6 x 360/50 kg G.P. bombs, 2 x 500/50 kg G.P. bombs, and 2 Shafrir missiles. Once the bombs are released, turn back to the safety of your team and use the missiles to kill any distracted enemies, assist teammates, or kill any AI planes.
When used as an interceptor, stay back and behind your team. Once the fight starts and enemies are slow and distracted, launch missiles at the most dangerous targets, mainly fast planes without flares like MiG-21s, MiG-19s. Missiles have the best performance at high altitudes, where they will travel further and retain speed more easily thanks to the thinner air. The Vautour also has reasonable manoeuvrability for its size, though it will quickly lose its energy in a sustained turnfight: this can be used to intrude on dogfights, briefly get the four powerful DEFA cannons on target and fire off a short burst, and then zoom away from danger.
Simulator Battles
In Simulator, the Vautour IIA suffers from a lack of radar, radar warning receiver, countermeasures, and bomb sight, meaning that the SPAA from bases and other planes will typically have an easy time fighting you, in this cases, the best players can do is attack concentrations of ground targets with cover from allied planes.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Effective DEFA cannons with excellent damage
- Wide variety of bomb and rocket payloads for ground targets
- Has Shafrir missiles for possible self-defence against air targets
- Decent manoeuvrability and energy retention for a bomber
Cons:
- Shafrir missiles are not very manoeuvrable against fighter targets
- Has no bomber sight or ballistic computer
- High compression at speeds above 1,050 km/h
- Guns are quite inaccurate without upgrades installed
History
The Vautour IIA was a jet bomber ordered by the French Army as a jet bomber with low level attack and the ability to operate in all weather. France and Israel worked together on defense, such as on nuclear, aviation, and research for armaments. Israel was motivated to buy the Vautour to counteract the Egyptian IL-28, purchased from the Soviet Union. A total of 30 IIAs were produced, with 25 going to Israel.[1]
The IIA was a single-seat, long-range attack aircraft armed with cannons and bombs. It was operated by the "Knights of the Heart" squadron out of Ramat David Airbase. The Vautour was used as aerial reconnaissance during the Six-Day War, as well as later in the 1960s. They were replaced by the A-4 Skyhawk and the F4-E Phantom II. The Vautour was retired in 1972, with the "Knights of the Heart" division replacing them with the Skyhawk.
Media
- Skins
See also
- Related development
External links
References
- ↑ "Sud-Ouest S.O. 4050 Vautour." IAF Aircraft Inventory. Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed September 27, 2022. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/sud-ouest-s-o-4050-vautour.
| SNCA SO (Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques du sud-ouest) | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | S.O.8000 Narval |
| Jet Fighters | S.O.4050 Vautour IIN (late) |
| Jet Bombers | S.O.4050 Vautour IIA · S.O.4050 Vautour IIB · S.O.4050 Vautour IIN |
| Export | Vautour IIA IDF/AF · Vautour IIA · Vautour IIN |
| Israel jet aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Kfir Canard · Kfir C.2 · Kfir C.7 · Nesher | |
| Britain | |
| Meteor | Meteor NF.13 · Meteor F.8 |
| France | |
| Vautour | Vautour IIA · Vautour IIN |
| Super Mystere | Sambad · Sa'ar |
| Mirage III | Shahak |
| Other | M.D.450B Ouragan · Mystere IVA |
| USA | |
| F-84 | F-84F |
| A-4 | A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · A-4E · Ayit |
| F-4 | Kurnass · Kurnass 2000 |
| F-15 | Baz · Baz Meshupar · F-15I Ra’am |
| F-16 | Netz · F-16C Barak II · F-16D Barak II |
