| F-4F Phantom | F-4F ICE | F-4F Peace Rhine |
The F-4F ICE (Improved Combat Efficiency) is a prototype air superiority fighter for the West German nation that appears in Wargame: AirLand Battle.
History
The F-4F ICE (Improved Combat Efficiency) or KWS (Kampfwertsteigerung) in its native German, is an upgraded F-4F flown by the West German Air Force. The upgrade program, initiated in 1983 and completed in 1992, saw improvements made to the avionics, radar, and weapon systems of the baseline F-4F Phantom II. The F-4F ICE features the APG-65 radar, new radar warning receiver, and compatibility with the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. F-4F ICE upgrade program was created due to development issues of Panavia Tornado ADV and Eurofighter Typhoon. These F-4F were replaced by Eurofighter Typhoon in 2013.
Overview
AirLand Battle
The F-4F ICE is a significantly improved air superiority fighter compared to the baseline F-4F, but is also more expensive. It carries two fire-and-forget medium range AIM-120 AMRAAMs, four of the more accurate AIM-9L Sidewinders (10 accuracy rating compared to 7 for the AIM-9F), and retains the 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon of the baseline model. Significantly, the F-4F ICE's ECM has been improved to a "Good" ranking, increasing the aircraft's survivability against long-range radar guided SAMs and AAMs, while the AMRAAM's active homing allows the ICE to fire and break away from its target, leaving it less exposed to return fire.
While the F-4F ICE provides West German decks with a true Air Superiority fighter, thanks to its medium range weapon compliment, the main drawback of the F-4F is that it only carries two AMRAAMs, rather than four, and so cannot sustain long ranged combat as well as some other fighters (e.g. F-15, Su-27). Still, the long-range, accurate, fire-and-forget punch offered by those missiles makes the F-4F ICE a significant threat to any enemy aircraft.
The F-4F ICE is also ideal for helicopter hunting. Its four AIM-9L Sidewinders allow the F-4 to take numerous shots at helicopters, and its Vulcan cannon can be used to finish off a damaged helo. The Vulcan also provides the F-4F ICE with tactical flexibility, allowing for strafing runs against ground targets, or a level of defense against enemy fighters if its missile compliments have been exhausted.
Red Dragon: F-4F KWS
The F-4F ICE in Wargame: Red Dragon is called the F-4F KWS for "Kampfwertsteigerung" - ICE is simply the English translation. The F-4F KWS has seen few changes in Red Dragon, though its cost has been increased to 150 points per aircraft. Its ECM is slightly better (40%), and it carries one more AMRAAM, increasing the loadout to three. This provides the F-4F KWS with improved long-range fighting endurance and better survivability against long range SAMs and AAMs. The KWS is still considered a prototype in Red Dragon, and is only available to West German, Dutch-German Corps or EUROCORPs decks. Its strengths and weaknesses are largely the same as in AirLand Battle.
Weapons
AirLand Battle
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Autocannon | AAM | AAM |
| Name | M61A1 Vulcan | AIM-9L Sidewinder | AIM-120 AMRAAM |
| Caliber | 20mm, AoE | Infrared AoE, F&F | Radar AoE, F&F |
| Ammo | x 564 | x 4 | x 2 |
| Range | Ground = 2100 m Helicopters = 1400 m  Airplanes = 2800 m
|
Ground = N/A m Helicopters = 1750 m Airplanes = 3150 m
|
Ground = N/A m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = 6300 m
|
| Accuracy | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| AP Power | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HE Power | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Suppression | 92 | 160 | 200 |
| Rate of fire | 4028 r/min | 30 r/min | 30 r/min |
Red Dragon
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Autocannon | AAM | AAM |
| Name | M61A1 Vulcan | AIM-9L Sidewinder | AIM-120 AMRAAM |
| Caliber | 20mm, AoE | Infrared AoE, F&F | Radar AoE, F&F |
| Ammo | x 752 | x 4 | x 3 |
| Range | Ground = 2100 m Helicopters = 1575 m Airplanes = 2800 m
|
Ground = N/A m Helicopters = 2100 m Airplanes = 3850 m
|
Ground = N/A m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = 7700 m
|
| Accuracy | 40% | 50% | 60% |
| Stabilizer | 40% | 50% | 60% |
| AP Power | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| HE Power | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Suppression | 92 | 160 | 200 |
| Rate of fire | 4028 r/min | 2 s r/min | 2 s r/min |
Gallery
See also
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