OVERVIEW

The GA-39A-4 is the final version of the GA-39, which I haven’t posted yet. The AGs can be learnt in the cockpit, you can check them by yourself m.

HISTORY

In 1987 the situation at GHAF, the Golden Tree Navy Air Force (aka GAN), was like this: GA-19 multirole fighters and the aging GA-22 Pistris. Although the GA-19 was a new addition in the Navy, it wasn’t enough to fulfill every role, and generally had the same job as the Pistris, anti ship. It also has Carrier Defense capabilities, but was more meant for long range fights. The 19 was made to replace the GA-7, a multirole fighter jet, but the former was used as the real carrier defender in BVR and WVR environments, thanks to it superior MACH 2,45 speed and excellent maneuverability. As you may have understood, there were too many jets that fulfilled too many different roles, leading to a rather complex Naval Air Force.
That’s when the Golden Tree General Command decided to ask for a new multi role fighter jet.
Golden Harpoon and Golden Arrow engineers teamed up and came out with the GA-XF39, a twin engine aircraft that resembled the SU-27. The prototype was smaller and lighter than the fulcrum, but also proved poor performance: it wasn’t turning enough and was underpowered. The program didn’t keep on going until 1991, when some engineers proposed a revised version of the GA-39, on the “Augustus” (A) version. This had canards, a tail hook and a more powerful power plant. The plane entered service to first replace the GA-7 in the A-A role, as the A-1 variant was meant to do. The A-1 served for only 5 years, until it was noticed how short-ranged it was. Soon came two other versions, an improved, longer range, more fuel efficient air superiority version, the Augustus 2, and a slightly heavier, modernized Augustus 3 strike variant.

These two remained in service for a rather short period of time, when most of the missions were flown by the GA-19 as the escort fighter for WVR (even though it was less maneuverable) and the GA-39A-3 for strike/interdiction sorties. The Augustus variant, in all its forms, never really proved to be better in the WVR and (partly) in the BVR than the GA-7, and so a C (Caesar) version was built for this role. In 2013 then, the final Augustus variant was built: it has a CFT (the hump) than also serves as the ECM department, improved engines, longer range and better A-G and A-A weapons (with the introduction of the Alabard J BVRAAM). The plane is mainly used by the 122nd Super and the 451st Foo Fighters squadrons, the latter of which has got more wins than any other squadron of the Navy. There, 39’s pilots succeeded in 92% of the mission, most notably the one in Egypt.