F-86K (France)

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

▄F-86K

S.O.4050 Vautour IIN (late)

Alpha Jet E

▄F-86K

S.O.4050 Vautour IIN (late)

Alpha Jet E

France

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.0	9.0	9.3

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:160 000

Purchase:450 000

Show in game

Description

The original F-86D was developed as a 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, Italy approached North American Aviation 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. France operated a total of 62 F-86Ks, built between 1956 and 1957 by Fiat, working as all-weather interceptors while the Mirage III was being developed.

It was introduced in Update 1.89 "Imperial Navy". Developed as an interceptor, the F-86K is a relatively sluggish aircraft. It has a good top speed and climb rate for its BR thanks to the new engine, which features an afterburner. However this comes at the cost of manoeuvrability and acceleration, so, the F-86K is not a classic dogfighter like the other Sabres, instead it is more useful at combat in high altitude, intercepting enemy bombers and using its AIM-9Bs against slow enemies from above. In simulator battles, it is especially useful, as it features a powerful radar and a powerful engine, useful for detecting aircraft at very high altitudes like bombers and other interceptors. Unfortunately, its radar lacks BVR or ACM mode, so it is impossible to lock onto other aircraft.

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 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 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.

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 309 → 4 437

RB9 442 → 12 661

SB9 967 → 13 365

Total cost of modifications143 200

225 000

Talisman cost2 400

Crew training130 000

Experts450 000

Aces2 200

Research Aces890 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 380 / 600 %

214 / 214 / 214 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 9 400 Cost: 15 000 280 Compressor Research: 9 400 Cost: 15 000 280 New boosters Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 330 Wings repair Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 360 Engine Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 360 G-suit Research: 23 000 Cost: 36 000 690	Airframe Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 330 Cover Research: 23 000 Cost: 36 000 690	t_160_belt_pack Research: 9 400 Cost: 15 000 280 AIM-9B Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 330 t_160_new_gun Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 360

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 20 mm M24A1 cannon

Ammunition528 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

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

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

Usage in battles

The F-86K should be used mainly as a support fighter, due to its sub-par maneuverability compared to other aircraft at its rank such as the MiG-17 at low speeds. In a 1 vs 1 dogfight, the F-86K is 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 around .8 km away, then pull out. This is to decrease the chances of both of you crashing into the enemy and increasing your chance of survival. 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 F.6s which can be armed with the devastating SRAAM missiles.

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
• High battlerating placement

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 Italian Air Force, the F-86K also served with many other operators worldwide including France, West Germany, 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

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

Media

Skins

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

Images

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Videos

The Sabre That Isn't Really A Sabre - Spit_flyer

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