To-201 Shikra

Shikra
Faction	CSAT
Type	Stealth Air Superiority Fighter
Seats	1 seat: 1× Pilot
Item capacity	Max: 500 kg 6× Weapons 24× Magazines 6× Backpacks
Top speed	~ 1,505 km/h
Service ceiling	16,000 m
Fuel capacity	2540 L
Primary armament	Main: 1× Gsh Cannon 30 mm 4× R73 SR AA [Default] 6× R77 MR AA [Default] 3× KAB-250 LGB [Default]
Secondary armament	Targeting: 1× Laser Designator Defensive: 240× Countermeasures (Flares/Chaff)
Variants	Standard, Stealth
Games

The To-201 Shikra is a multi-role/air-superiority fighter jet that is used by CSAT forces in ArmA 3. It was added as part of the Jets DLC.

With a top speed of around 1,505 km/h (418 m/s), the Shikra is currently the fastest vehicle in the game.

Overview

• Roles:
  • Air superiority
  • Close air support
  • SEAD

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The To-201 Shikra is a fifth-generation, single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter jet. The aircraft was designed by a CSAT and Russian joint syndicate with the goal to build a highly agile and maneuverable air-superiority fighter. The To-201 also has ground attack capabilities, and is able to support various weapons configurations via its conventional pylons, but also its internal weapons bay. Field Manual

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Design

The To-201 is a twin-engined stealth fighter that uses a semi-blended-wing-body fuselage.

Primarily designed with supermanoeuvrability in mind, it incorporates all-moving horizontal and vertical stabilisers.

Armament
By default, the To-201 is armed with a 30 mm cannon that is loaded with 180 rounds of high-explosive (HE) ammunition.

The To-201 has thirteen (seven for the stealth variant) pylons that support dynamic loadouts.

• The top two of the hardpoints in the tandem internal bay on both sides of the fuselage (1-2) only support:
  • R73 (1×)
• The bottom two of the hardpoints in the same tandem bay (3-4) only support:
  • R77 (1×)
• The main internal bay located directly in the centreline of the fuselage (5-7) has three pylons. Both the left and right pylons (5-6) only support:
  • R77 (1×)
• The main internal bay's middle pylon (7) can be fitted with the same missiles as the left and right pylons (5-6), but is primarily reserved for air-to-ground munitions:
  • KH25 (1×)
  • KAB-250 (1×)
  • RBK-500F (1×)
  • KH58 ARM (1×)

Non-stealthed To-201 pylon configuration

NOTE: The following pylons only apply to the non-stealthy variant of the To-201:

• Both the innermost and centre pylons on both wings (8-11) support:
  • R73 (1×)
  • R77 (1×)
  • KH25 (1×)
  • KAB-250 (1×)
  • RBK-500F (1×)
  • KH58 ARM (1×)
• The two outermost pylons on each wing (12-13) only support either of the following:
  • R73 (1×)
  • R77 (1×)

The targeting module also has an integrated laser designator which can be used to provide self-designation in-conjunction with the To-201's KAB-250 bombs.

Features
Like its NATO counterpart, it has both stealthy and conventional configurations; the stealth configuration stores up to seven weapons in internal bays but otherwise lacks external hardpoints.

To-201 under pursuit from a Black Wasp. The To-201's supermanoeuvrability allows it to easily outpace its NATO counterpart in close range dogfights.

When it comes to Within Visual Range (WVR) dogfights, the To-201 is far superior to the NATO Black Wasp in almost every aspect. Its agility is unrivalled, and can easily out-turn and outmanoeuvre its NATO counterpart with ease.

Having the outermost weapon stations reserved for air-to-air missiles ensures that even when outfitted for close air support, the To-201 is still deadly in a dogfight.

Although it's slightly inferior avionics-wise, the To-201 can make up for it by closing the distance gap between it and a Black Wasp by simply flying faster, nullifying the latter's radar advantage.

Notable Traits
The To-201 is the only fixed-wing jet in ArmA 3 that is actually capable of carrying more than two anti-radiation missiles at a time. Its NATO counterpart for instance, can only store two ARMs at a time (and only on the non-stealthed variant) while the To-201 can bring up to three into battle; two on the external wing hardpoints and one internally.

This makes the To-201 a particularly lethal SEAD aircraft, as its ARMs combined with its passive radar means that it can safely detect and engage SAM batteries at stand-off ranges without relying on other units to spot for it.

Drawbacks
The only real downside to the To-201 is its stealth variant, which has one less internal pylon and is restricted to carrying only four long-range AA missiles at a time internally. This is in contrast to the Black Wasp, which is capable of loading up to six long-range AAMs at a time (with two more short-range AAMs).

Crew Capacity
The To-201 has a maximum seating capacity of just one; the pilot themselves. It cannot transport any passengers or crewmen.

Variants

• To-201 Shikra
• To-201 Shikra (Stealth)

Non-stealthed variant. Has a total of thirteen pylons (six external) that support dynamic loadouts, but are by default configured with a multi-role loadout.

Stealthed variant that cannot mount external munitions. Only has a total of seven internal pylons that support dynamic loadouts, but is also configured to use a multi-role loadout.

Camouflage

• Arid Hex: Light tan/dark tan/dark green cell pattern camouflage.
• Blue: Two-tone sky blue/charcoal blue paint scheme.
• Grey Hex: Light/dark grey cell pattern camouflage.

Stealth

Both variants of the To-201 are notoriously poorer at remaining hidden from infrared/visual-based sensors due to its large size, and actually have increased visibility to both types of sensors:

RCS

The standard To-201 with external hardpoints retains no stealth capabilities against active radars. The dedicated stealth variant on the other hand, has an RCS rating of 0.6 and can only be detected at 60% of an opposing radar's maximum range (40% reduction).

IR

The To-201 is not masked against infrared sensors, and can be spotted at 120% of the sensor's range (factor of 1.2; increase of 20%).

Visual

The To-201 is easier to spot via visual sensor, and can be tracked at 120% of an opposing sensor's default range (factor of 1.2; increase of 20%).

Sensors

The To-201 has an array of sensors designed to allow it operate effectively in both ground attack and air superiority roles:

File:Arma3-shikra-sensors.png

Teal = Active Radar
Orange = IRST
Green = Visual

Active Radar

It has an active radar range of 13 km against aerial targets and 9 km against ground targets. Azimuth/elevation coverage is limited to 60 degrees in both directions.

Targets can be identified once they move within 6 km range of the To-201's position.

Infrared Search and Track/Visual Sensor

The To-201's IRST sensor has an operating range of 5 km against aerial targets and 3 km against ground targets. Azimuth coverage is a full 360 degrees, but is restricted to an elevation of 120 degrees only. The IRST sensor is able to track targets moving at speeds of up to 1,800 km/h.

Its visual sensor is limited to only 4 km for aerial targets and 3 km for ground targets. Azimuth coverage is limited to 26 degrees, while for elevation it is 20 degrees. Targets can only be tracked if they are moving at speeds of 360 km/h or less.

Both sensors have a minimum operating range of 500 m, while targets can be recognised once they move within a distance of 2 km.

It should also be noted that the visual sensor is located in the pilot's targeting camera, and will rotate independently of the aircraft's actual heading. It has an elevation offset of 1 degree.

Radar Warning Receiver/Passive Radar

The RWR has a 360 degree detection radius and has a target recognition range of 12 km.

Laser Spot Tracker

Laser markers and infrared strobes can be tracked within a range of 6 km. It has an acquisition cone of 180 degrees.

Trivia

• The Shikra is based on a combination of two real-world airframes, the "Su-57" (formerly known as the "T-50 PAK FA") and "Su-35" fighter jets. Both are designed by Sukhoi, a subsidiary of the United Aircraft Corporation.
• At its top speed, the Shikra actually flies faster than the bullets fired by every pistol and SMG in ArmA 3.
• Shikra (Accipiter badius) is the name of a small bird of prey species that can be found throughout Asia and Africa, though the name may just be another instance of tongue-in-cheek considering that the To-201 is one of the largest fighters in ArmA 3.

Gallery

External links

• Wikipedia: Sukhoi Su-57
• Wikipedia: Sukhoi Su-35

See also

• List of vehicles by top speed (ArmA 3)

Aircraft of comparable role and configuration

• F/A-181 Black Wasp II (NATO counterpart, ArmA 3: Jets only)
• A-149 Gryphon (AAF counterpart, ArmA 3: Jets only)
• Su-34 (Russian Armed Forces predecessor, ArmA 2 only)