Development
The F-105 Thunderchief, nicknamed the 'Thud', evolved from a 1951 project to replace the F-84F fighter-bomber. The prototype first flew in October 1955, and Republic delivered the first production aircraft to the U.S. Air Force in 1958. Republic also developed a fully combat-capable two seat trainer version, the F-105F, and 143 of them were built between 1963 and 1964.
A number of F models were converted to the F-105G antiaircraft suppression configuration and designated "Wild Weasels". Crews flying these missions were tasked with the most hazardous duty of all, attracting the attention of air-defence sites and then launching missiles to destroy the enemy's radar systems.
Systems
The F-105G was fitted with improved avionics and advanced electronic countermeasures (ECM) and radar homing and warning (RHAW) systems that allowed crews to engage enemy air defence systems with devastating effectiveness. RHAW systems for the F105-G included the AN/APR-35, AN/APR-36, AN/APR-37, and AN/ALR-31. Installation of the AN/ALR-31 required redesign of the wingtips to accommodate a pair of antennas. Additionally, the G was fitted with an Itek Radar Direction Finding and Homing system and a Bendix APS-107 target acquisition system. Most Gs were also fitted with a combat camera mounted beneath the nose just behind the radome. The F-105G was also equipped with Westinghouse AN/ALQ-105 self-protection jammers that were faired into the sides of the lower fuselage. This allowed additional ordnance to be carried on the wing pylons.
Weapons
For Wild Weasel missions, the F105G was armed with AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 Standard ARM missiles. The Shrike, a passive air-to-ground missile with a range of 12 miles, was designed to home on and destroy or suppress radiating radar transmitters directing both ground antiaircraft fire and surface-to-air missiles. The Standard ARM (anti-radiation missile) had a greater range (up to 35 miles), and improved seeker head and avionics for better target selection and increased effectiveness against enemy countermeasures. The AGM-78 also had a larger warhead than that of the AGM-45. The AGM-78 was designed to attack search, GCI, SAM, and other radar systems enabling the launching aircraft to attack from any direction and to turn away and get outside the lethal radius of enemy SAMs. Later variants of the AGM-78 could home in on a target even if the enemy radar was switched off, having stored the precise coordinates of the target in the missile's computer memory before launch. The Standard was typically carried on the inboard wing pylons or on the centreline pylon. Sometimes, both types of missile were carried simultaneously.
Can't wait to see your progress on the build.
