Hawker Hunter F.58/F.58A - "Swiss Air Force Knife"

[Headnaught 504]

A formation of six Hunter F.58s fly above the mountains of Switzerland sometime in the 1960s.

 

Today I would like to suggest the Hawker Hunter F.58 and its variants. The Hunter was a mainstay of Swiss air power for over three decades, making this a significant part of Switzerland's historical arsenal, and can carry a large array of ordnance for ground attack.

 

 

History

 

In the early 50's, Switzerland was investigating potential powerplants for the ill-fated FFA P-16 indigenous jet fighter and came across the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire used in the Hunter F.2 and F.5. Switzerland was looking to replace its piston-engined fighters, and so evaluated the P-16 along with the Hunter. The P-16 was passed over due to its accidents in testing, and the Swiss government ordered 100 Hunters for use in interception and ground attack. These were designated Hunter F.58, and were essentially identical to the Hunter F.6, except it was given a brake chute, Swiss radio set, and the outboard pylons were configured to carry up to 400 kg of weight. The Hunter would be used as a multirole fighter, filling in for interception duties as well as ground attack. Switzerland would also order 52 more Hunter FGA.9 ground attack fighters, designated F.58A, in the early 70's.

 

The Hunter would stay in service with the Swiss Air Force for over three decades, finally being retired in the 1990's after the F.58A airframes were found to be structurally compromised. Besides that, there was no need for the plane anymore as the Cold War, along with decades of tension, had ended. Being a neutral nation, Switzerland never deployed the Hunters in combat, but they appreciated the plane all the same. The Hunter, almost by accident, was well suited to Switzerland's mountains and valleys, and it was a low cost option for the SAF.

 

 

Modernizations

 

Over its service history, the Hunter F.58 and F.58As employed by the Swiss Air Force were modernized several times, being upgraded with new capabilities to ensure its potency.

 

Modernization timeline:

• 1963 - Swiss Hunters are modified to carry AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on the outboard pylons.
• 1971-1974 - Swiss Hunters were upgraded to carry the Saab BT-9 toss bombing sight and 230 Imp. Gal. drop tanks.
• Early 1980's - "Hunter 80" modernization program

 

Quote

Picture of a Swiss Hunter following the "Hunter 80" modernization. Note the countermeasure dispensers, located in the gun blisters, as well as the RWR system adding a bulge on each side of the nose. The inner hardpoint is capable of fitting a "star"-shaped rocket rail with four 80mm rockets attached to it.

 

The Hunter 80 modernization was a sweeping upgrade of the Hunter's ground attack capabilities. It was recognized that the Hunter would not be able to perform as an air-to-air fighter anymore, so the upgrades were entirely focused on new payloads. The radar ranging gunsight in the nose was removed, being replaced by a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR). The prominent "Sabrina" casing collection blisters were additionally fitted with a countermeasure dispenser carrying chaff and/or flares. In terms of payload, the Hunter F.58s were made capable of carrying the BL755 cluster bomb, additional rocket rails for a total of 10, and the AGM-65B Maverick air-to-ground missile.

 

 

Specifications

 

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Hunter F.58/F.58A

 

Dimensions:

• Length: 45 ft 10.5 in (13.983 m)
• Wingspan: 33 ft 8 in (10.26 m)
• Height: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
• Wing area: 349 sq ft (32.4 m²)

 

Propulsion: 1 × Rolls-Royce Avon 207 turbojet engine, 10,145 lbf (4,602 kgf) thrust

Maximum Speed:

• 623 mph (1,003 km/h) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
• 715 mph (1,151 km/h) at sea level

Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)

 

Armament: 4 x ADEN 30mm cannon (150 rpg)

External Stores: Six hardpoints capable of carrying:

• 500 and 1,000 lb bombs
• 80 mm SURA rockets (up to 32 for Hunter 80)
• two AIM-9 Sidewinders
• 230 Imp. Gal. drop tanks
• two AGM-65B Maverick air-to-ground missile (Hunter 80)
• BL755 cluster bomb (Hunter 80)

 

Avionics and Other Equipment:

• Ranging radar sight (removed on Hunter 80)
• Drag chute
• Saab BT-9 toss bombing/rocket sight
• Radar Warning Receiver (Hunter 80)
• Countermeasure dispensers (Hunter 80)

 

 

 

Sources:

• World Air Power Journal Vol. 20
• https://www.swisshunters.info/
• https://acesflyinghigh.wordpress.com/2017/07/22/swiss-air-force-centre-hunters-of-the-alps/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter_in_service_with_Swiss_Air_Force

[leroyonly 4,311]

Open for discussion. 

[CubicSquare 156]

I was thinking of making a post on this beast myself, would love to see it in game!

[CubicSquare 156]

Here are some additional photos I found of this thing:

 

Photos with mavericks:

Quote

RWR bulges on the nose:

Quote

Going for a gun-run:

Quote

Modernized variant with Graffiti camo:

Quote

There are a couple other awesome camos I've seen painted on the swiss hunters- the swiss did have style!

[Kingtiez@live 606]

+1 They’ll be interesting event vehicles or premiums for Britain if their not placed in their own tech tree.

Edited April 19, 2022 by Kingtiez@live

[DarkLordMagus 44]

In the event that Switzerland is a made a subtree...France could use the help more than Germany. Switzerland has similar ties to both nations so it could go either way.

[Milocat 4,857]

+1 for sure for a future Swiss tree.  Could be nice to see added to the British tree if we never get that but that wouldn't be my first choice.

[ponnes 473]

I hope they will add it to the Italian TT.

Italy could really need a proper CAS aircraft.

[TerikG2014 1,389]

4 hours ago, ponnes said:

I hope they will add it to the Italian TT.

Italy could really need a proper CAS aircraft.

What links do italy have to it?

[ponnes 473]

4 hours ago, TerikG2014 said:

What links do italy have to it?

Not more than to any other nation.

But Italy needs more vehicles, especially ground strikers.

[CubicSquare 156]

1 hour ago, ponnes said:

But Italy needs more vehicles, especially ground strikers.

Italy has plenty of indigenous trainers/light strike aircraft, not to mention the Av-8B II or Amx Ghibli. This would be far better placed in the British tree (Hunter origin) or even in either the German/French/American tech trees (all suppliers of equipment/upgrades used by the Swiss) than in Italy.

[ponnes 473]

35 minutes ago, CubicSquare said:

Italy has plenty of indigenous trainers/light strike aircraft, not to mention the Av-8B II or Amx Ghibli. This would be far better placed in the British tree (Hunter origin) or even in either the German/ French/American tech trees (all suppliers of equipment/upgrades used by the Swiss) than in Italy

I would rather see no swiss vehicles at all, than seeing them in the hands of filthy germans

 

 

[MERTRAL 1,685]

On 20/04/2022 at 23:04, ponnes said:

I would rather see no swiss vehicles at all, than seeing them in the hands of filthy germans

 

 

you wont decide xd

 

anyway, +1 obviously 

 

+ I have some extra photos 

Spoiler

 

aim9p5s presented and mounted

 

Spoiler

AN/ALE-39 chaff-flare dispensers (iirc 60 flares then)

source :  https://books.google.ch/books?id=unz4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA2002&lpg=PA2002&dq=mk+58+hawker+hunter+AN/ALE-39+chaff-flare+dispensers&source=bl&ots=KOHiMuaQjm&sig=ACfU3U3F8UxAR2-x3DiANJf0HprI3nF4Hw&hl=fr&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjUl96Vh7X2AhWpg_0HHesQBWsQ6AF6BAgTEAM#v=onepage&q=mk 58 hawker hunter AN%2FALE-39 chaff-flare dispensers&f=false

 

Spoiler

 

also maverick sight and rwr in cockpit

sources : https://www.huver.ch/fotos-vereinsleben-und-hunter/

 

extra photo 

[NestleKitkat 1,404]

+1

It would be most capable Hunter in the game.

[NestleKitkat 1,404]

Here it comes!

 

[MasaThePapa 16]

7 hours ago, NoBombersInJetRB said:

Here it comes!

 

Since Switzerland doesn't have their own tech tree (yet), its going to be premium/event prize?

[LePharmaLe2 35]

A new Maverick slinger for germany.

 

I really like it.

 

 

 

[gojuancamilo@psn 307]

Is this the first swiss vehicle being added to the game?

[EL337GH0ST 196]

+1 for UK of course, it's their own vehicle, just modified, after all
I'm thinking it would be a good event vehicle at 9.7, and then the Hunter Mk. 70 (?) used by Argentina (?), also modified with flares, RWR and missiles would be a good equivalent squadron vehicle.

.............Why the f is Germany getting this

Edited March 6, 2023 by EL337GH0ST

[YUi_Takamura 662]

only 2 agm65?

[Lord_Prism 1,827]

1 hour ago, Renamed67451 said:

only 2 agm65?

Either 2 Mavs or 2 Sidewinders

[leroyonly 4,311]

As the Swiss Hunter F. 58 has been implemented as per Update 2.25 Sky Guardians,

 

Moved to Implemented Suggestions.