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About this mod
A model mod that converts the F-35C into a low observable, dedicated stealth fighter.
- Permissions and credits
- Donations
SUMMARY
The F-35C Lightning II is a 5th generation multirole stealth fighter, equipped with an internal weapon bay for mounting its special weapons (SPW), and reducing its visibility on radar. During the previous wars, the Lightning II operated with low observable configuration to accomplish its missions with a high degree of survivability thanks to its low radar-cross section (RCS). However, a conflict of interest between full-stealth and heavy firepower between various military customers around the world has forced the original manufacturer of F-35C to reluctantly side in favor with the latter option. Naturally, it would mean more revenue with the purchase of additional aerial ordnances. Consequentially, the F-35C has lost its full-stealth capability starting with the late production model.
Three known changes to the weapon configurations have been reviewed. The first is replacing the standard-issue 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon inside the port side of the fuselage with the new 25 mm GAU-22 Equalizer cannon. It is considered a "trivial matter", as the 25 mm gun pod is constructed with reduced radar signature in mind. The second is relocation of the AIM-9 Sidewinder Joint Strike Missile (MSL) from the internal weapon bay to a pair of external weapon pylons under the wing. This severely reduced the stealth capability of the F-35C as it now has a pair of missiles exposed outside. The last one is substitution of two internally-mounted AGM-84 Harpoon Long-range Anti-Ship Missile (LASM) for twelve externally-mounted AGM-179 JAGM 8-Target Air-to-Ground Missile (8AGM). This decision is made due to the likelihood of more engagement against numerous ground forces in the future as opposed to naval forces, necessitating the "Beast Mode" configuration for this special weapon loadout, which is a fancy term for carrying as many weapons as it can under its wings externally, eliminating its low radar observability completely.
As a result, third party manufacturers began building aftermarket modification kits, and accepting offers from any customers who would like to acquire the latest version of the venerable Lighting II without a loss of stealth performance. The F-35C Stealth™ Modification Kit is a quick and affordable solution to convert any F-35C into a dedicated stealth fighter. The Modification Kit can also reprogram the aircraft with different special weapon options for various types of strike missions while maintaining a low degree of observability that can compete against even the most advanced of contemporary stealth fighters.
FEATURES
• Full-stealth
F-35C is now a dedicated stealth fighter that fully exploits its internal weapon bay for tactical airstrikes.
• ASRAAM MSL
In order to feasibly reinstall MSL inside the internal weapon bay, a factory-standard AIM-9 Sidewinder will not be able to accomplish this task. Therefore, a replacement has been chosen for this modification: The AIM-132 ASRAAM. This modified Short-range Aerial Suppression Missile (SASM) is retrofitted to function identically to that of existing MSL in the market by having a joint air-to-air / air-to-ground (A2A/A2G) missile homing guidance.
• StormBreaker XSDB
Some military customers, especially within the Air Force branch, heavily criticized the multi-lock stack system of 8AGM, arguing that it is "a massive waste of time and ammo". To provide an alternative weapon system of respectable efficiency and accuracy, the GBU-53 StormBreaker Advanced Small Diameter Bomb (XSDB) has been carefully evaluated and selected to replace 8AGM. Up to 8 individual bombs can be carried simultaneously inside the internal weapon bay. As an (admittedly accidental) added stealth factor, XSDB is undetectable against Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), gaining secondary effectiveness against naval adversaries due to the current lack of availability of LASM SPW conversion kit in the market.
• JSOW LACM
The disappointing track record of AGM-154 JSOW armed with Stand-Off Dispenser (SOD) warhead has been a cause of concern for the both the plane and its original manufacturer for a long time, even driving away some of the potential customers. Its design as a glide bomb doesn't help convincing the justification for purchasing the F-35C either. Going forward, any existing stockpile of JSOW will be powered with a turbojet engine, and rearmed with tandem high explosive warhead, effectively deriving into a new variant known as the AGM-154 JSOW-ER Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM).
• Luneburg Lens Radar Reflector
Radar reflector serves a purpose to conceal the F-35C's actual radar cross signature. But it also decreases its overall stealth factor due to the aircraft deliberately exposing itself to the radar. Two alternative kits are available to either install or uninstall 4 units of radar reflectors.
AVAILABLE VERSION
• F-35C Block 1
------------------------------------------------------------
BODY : Luneburg Lens Radar Reflector
MSL : AIM-132 ASRAAM
SPW1 : AGM-154 JSOW-ER (LACM)
SPW2 : AIM-120 AMRAAM (4AAM)
SPW3 : GBU-53 StormBreaker (XSDB)
STEALTH : Level 6 / 76% RCS
HP : 130
------------------------------------------------------------
• F-35C Block 2 (Stealth+)
------------------------------------------------------------
MSL : AIM-132 ASRAAM
SPW1 : AGM-154 JSOW-ER (LACM)
SPW2 : AIM-120 AMRAAM (4AAM)
SPW3 : GBU-53 StormBreaker (XSDB)
STEALTH : Level 8 / 68% RCS
HP : 125
------------------------------------------------------------
AVAILABLE AIRCRAFT
INSTALLATION GUIDE
1. Extract the archived file
2. Select one of the two available versions above
3. Navigate to your Ace Combat 7 installation folder
4. Find "~mods" folder under ACE COMBAT 7 > Game > Content > Paks (create the folder if it doesn't exist)
5. Move the .pak mod file into the ~mods folder
6. Become stelth
MOD CONTENT
A. MAIN (PRIMARY)
• APR_F-35C-B1
Custom model, animation, and pawn for F-35C Block 1
• APR_F-35C-B2
Custom model, animation, and pawn for F-35C Block 2
• APR_WPN_MSL_E0
Blueprint for standard missile (MSL)
• APR_F-35C-B2
Blueprint and Custom model for LACM and modified SOD
B. SUB (OPTIONAL)
• APR_F-35C-B1_PPDT
Player Plane Data Table for F-35C Block 1 containing general information data of all aircraft
• APR_F-35C-B2_PPDT
Player Plane Data Table for F-35C Block 1 containing general information data of all aircraft
COMPATIBILITY
A. Mod Type:
• Pawn, AcePlayerPawn (Player plane system) [SYSTEM]
• Vehicles, Aircraft (Player Plane model) [VISMOD]
• Vehicles, Aircraft, SWP (Player plane SPW socket) [VISMOD]
• Weapons, Player (Player weapon) [SYSTEM]
• Information, PlayerPlaneDataTable (Player plane data) [SYSTEM] [OPTIONAL]
B. Compatibility:
CREDIT
DCHOU - Mod concept & screenshots
Andhika - Screenshots
This mod is open for donation here.
DISCLAIMER
* This mod uses various types of mod files, so it has low compatibility. Verify your installed mods if it interferes with this mod
* This mod alters the visual model, weapon loadout, and stealth level of available aircraft. Not generally recommended for use in multiplayer unless all parties agreed to install this mod in advance
Osea is too broke to afford 5th gen fighters for LRSSG
The F-35C Lightning II is a 5th generation multirole stealth fighter, equipped with an internal weapon bay for mounting its special weapons (SPW), and reducing its visibility on radar. During the previous wars, the Lightning II operated with low observable configuration to accomplish its missions with a high degree of survivability thanks to its low radar-cross section (RCS). However, a conflict of interest between full-stealth and heavy firepower between various military customers around the world has forced the original manufacturer of F-35C to reluctantly side in favor with the latter option. Naturally, it would mean more revenue with the purchase of additional aerial ordnances. Consequentially, the F-35C has lost its full-stealth capability starting with the late production model.
Three known changes to the weapon configurations have been reviewed. The first is replacing the standard-issue 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon inside the port side of the fuselage with the new 25 mm GAU-22 Equalizer cannon. It is considered a "trivial matter", as the 25 mm gun pod is constructed with reduced radar signature in mind. The second is relocation of the AIM-9 Sidewinder Joint Strike Missile (MSL) from the internal weapon bay to a pair of external weapon pylons under the wing. This severely reduced the stealth capability of the F-35C as it now has a pair of missiles exposed outside. The last one is substitution of two internally-mounted AGM-84 Harpoon Long-range Anti-Ship Missile (LASM) for twelve externally-mounted AGM-179 JAGM 8-Target Air-to-Ground Missile (8AGM). This decision is made due to the likelihood of more engagement against numerous ground forces in the future as opposed to naval forces, necessitating the "Beast Mode" configuration for this special weapon loadout, which is a fancy term for carrying as many weapons as it can under its wings externally, eliminating its low radar observability completely.
As a result, third party manufacturers began building aftermarket modification kits, and accepting offers from any customers who would like to acquire the latest version of the venerable Lighting II without a loss of stealth performance. The F-35C Stealth™ Modification Kit is a quick and affordable solution to convert any F-35C into a dedicated stealth fighter. The Modification Kit can also reprogram the aircraft with different special weapon options for various types of strike missions while maintaining a low degree of observability that can compete against even the most advanced of contemporary stealth fighters.
FEATURES
• Full-stealth
F-35C is now a dedicated stealth fighter that fully exploits its internal weapon bay for tactical airstrikes.
• ASRAAM MSL
In order to feasibly reinstall MSL inside the internal weapon bay, a factory-standard AIM-9 Sidewinder will not be able to accomplish this task. Therefore, a replacement has been chosen for this modification: The AIM-132 ASRAAM. This modified Short-range Aerial Suppression Missile (SASM) is retrofitted to function identically to that of existing MSL in the market by having a joint air-to-air / air-to-ground (A2A/A2G) missile homing guidance.
• StormBreaker XSDB
Some military customers, especially within the Air Force branch, heavily criticized the multi-lock stack system of 8AGM, arguing that it is "a massive waste of time and ammo". To provide an alternative weapon system of respectable efficiency and accuracy, the GBU-53 StormBreaker Advanced Small Diameter Bomb (XSDB) has been carefully evaluated and selected to replace 8AGM. Up to 8 individual bombs can be carried simultaneously inside the internal weapon bay. As an (admittedly accidental) added stealth factor, XSDB is undetectable against Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), gaining secondary effectiveness against naval adversaries due to the current lack of availability of LASM SPW conversion kit in the market.
• JSOW LACM
The disappointing track record of AGM-154 JSOW armed with Stand-Off Dispenser (SOD) warhead has been a cause of concern for the both the plane and its original manufacturer for a long time, even driving away some of the potential customers. Its design as a glide bomb doesn't help convincing the justification for purchasing the F-35C either. Going forward, any existing stockpile of JSOW will be powered with a turbojet engine, and rearmed with tandem high explosive warhead, effectively deriving into a new variant known as the AGM-154 JSOW-ER Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM).
• Luneburg Lens Radar Reflector
Radar reflector serves a purpose to conceal the F-35C's actual radar cross signature. But it also decreases its overall stealth factor due to the aircraft deliberately exposing itself to the radar. Two alternative kits are available to either install or uninstall 4 units of radar reflectors.
AVAILABLE VERSION
• F-35C Block 1
------------------------------------------------------------
BODY : Luneburg Lens Radar Reflector
MSL : AIM-132 ASRAAM
SPW1 : AGM-154 JSOW-ER (LACM)
SPW2 : AIM-120 AMRAAM (4AAM)
SPW3 : GBU-53 StormBreaker (XSDB)
STEALTH : Level 6 / 76% RCS
HP : 130
------------------------------------------------------------
• F-35C Block 2 (Stealth+)
------------------------------------------------------------
MSL : AIM-132 ASRAAM
SPW1 : AGM-154 JSOW-ER (LACM)
SPW2 : AIM-120 AMRAAM (4AAM)
SPW3 : GBU-53 StormBreaker (XSDB)
STEALTH : Level 8 / 68% RCS
HP : 125
------------------------------------------------------------
AVAILABLE AIRCRAFT
- F-35C Lightning II (Total Conversion)
INSTALLATION GUIDE
1. Extract the archived file
2. Select one of the two available versions above
3. Navigate to your Ace Combat 7 installation folder
4. Find "~mods" folder under ACE COMBAT 7 > Game > Content > Paks (create the folder if it doesn't exist)
5. Move the .pak mod file into the ~mods folder
6. Become stelth
MOD CONTENT
A. MAIN (PRIMARY)
• APR_F-35C-B1
Custom model, animation, and pawn for F-35C Block 1
• APR_F-35C-B2
Custom model, animation, and pawn for F-35C Block 2
• APR_WPN_MSL_E0
Blueprint for standard missile (MSL)
• APR_F-35C-B2
Blueprint and Custom model for LACM and modified SOD
B. SUB (OPTIONAL)
• APR_F-35C-B1_PPDT
Player Plane Data Table for F-35C Block 1 containing general information data of all aircraft
• APR_F-35C-B2_PPDT
Player Plane Data Table for F-35C Block 1 containing general information data of all aircraft
COMPATIBILITY
A. Mod Type:
• Pawn, AcePlayerPawn (Player plane system) [SYSTEM]
• Vehicles, Aircraft (Player Plane model) [VISMOD]
• Vehicles, Aircraft, SWP (Player plane SPW socket) [VISMOD]
• Weapons, Player (Player weapon) [SYSTEM]
• Information, PlayerPlaneDataTable (Player plane data) [SYSTEM] [OPTIONAL]
B. Compatibility:
- Capabilities, PlayerPlaneConfig (Plane performance) [SYSTEM]
- Skin, Aircraft (Plane skin) [VISMOD]
- Pawn, AcePlayerPawn
- Vehicles, Aircraft
- Vehicles, Aircraft, SWP
- Weapons, Player
- Information, PlayerPlaneDataTable
- Other plane data table ❌
CREDIT
DCHOU - Mod concept & screenshots
Andhika - Screenshots
This mod is open for donation here.
DISCLAIMER
* This mod uses various types of mod files, so it has low compatibility. Verify your installed mods if it interferes with this mod
* This mod alters the visual model, weapon loadout, and stealth level of available aircraft. Not generally recommended for use in multiplayer unless all parties agreed to install this mod in advance
Osea is too broke to afford 5th gen fighters for LRSSG