The A-149 Gryphon is a light multi-role fighter/attack jet used by both the AAF and Livonian Defense Force in ArmA 3. It was added with the release of the Jets DLC.
The A-149 Gryphon is a fourth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, and all-weather tactical fighter aircraft. The aircraft was designed as a multirole platform at affordable costs. This aircraft, despite its aging platform, has still been upgraded with the newest sensors and weapons systems.
Field Manual
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Design
This is a premium asset that requires ownership of the Jets DLC.
A single-engined conventional jet fighter, the Gryphon uses a mixture of canard control surfaces and a delta-shaped wing design.
Armament
The Gryphon is armed with a 20 mm minigun as part of its standard armament. It has 250 rounds of high-explosive (HE) shells loaded by default.
The Gryphon has six pylons (three on each wing) that support dynamic loadouts.
The two inner pylons (1-2) support:
AMRAAM C (1×)
AMRAAM C (2×)
BIM-9X (1×)
BIM-9X (2×)
Macer II (1×)
Macer II (2×)
GBU-12 (1×)
GBU-12 (2×)
CBU-85 (1×)
BL778 (1×)
A-149 pylon configuration
The two pylons in the middle of each wing (3-4) only support:
AMRAAM C (1×)
BIM-9X (1×)
Macer II (1×)
The two wingtip pylons (5-6) can only support either of the following missiles:
AMRAAM C (1×)
BIM-9X (1×)
It also has an externally fitted targeting pod with an integrated laser designator which can provide self-designation capability when used in conjunction with guided munitions like the GBU-12. As with the Buzzard, the Gryphon can be slingloaded by heavy-lift helicopters if necessary.
Drawbacks
Though it possesses a targeting pod just like its high-tech counterparts, the camera on the Gryphon's targeting pod is forward-facing only. As a result, it cannot be fully rotated in all directions.
Two AAF-operated Gryphons en-route to their target. Note the externally-fitted targeting pods on both planes.
Simultaneously, while the Gryphon does possess semi-stealth capability like the Buzzard, it lacks a dedicated stealth variant and cannot store its weapons internally (unlike its NATO and CSAT counterparts). This lack of a stealthed variant results in the Gryphon always retaining a consistent radar signature no matter its loadout.
With its combination of lacklustre avionics, the inability to perform SEAD missions, or the agility of the CSAT To-201, the Gryphon will always lose to its modern counterparts in both Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and Within Visual Range (WVR) air-to-air dogfights.
Crew Capacity
The Gryphon only contains a single seat (for the pilot). It is unable to transport any passengers.
Camouflage
Grey
Digital Green [Camo]
Digital Grey [Camo]
1/3
Grey: Pattern-less scheme that uses a flat light grey paint colour. Exclusive to LDF Gryphons.
Digital Green [Camo]: Digitised three-tone green/olive semi-fractal camouflage pattern. Applied onto the AAF's Gryphon jets.
Digital Grey [Camo]: Digitised two-tone white/grey semi-fractal camouflage pattern.
Protection
The Gryphon has a base armour value of 60.
Hull
The jet's hull can withstand 270 points of damage. Will result in a total loss if the hull's "health" is depleted.
Engine
The Gryphon's engine can resist 210 points of damage before failing. It takes 350% increased damage from high-explosive (HE) weapons.
If damaged: Decreases thrust output and can prevent the Gryphon from attaining its top speed. If destroyed: Can instantly blow up the Gryphon if damage levels are at critical.
Instruments
The Gryphon's flight instruments and Multi-Functional Displays (MFD) can take up to 180 points of damage before failure. All instruments take 350% increased damage from HE-type weapons.
If damaged: Causes periodic flickering of MFD screens. Instruments remain fully functional. If destroyed: The MFDs will be disabled. Instruments will malfunction and do not provide proper readings.
Fuel tanks
The Gryphon has a total of three fuel tanks located along the left and right sides of the fuselage, along with a third just behind the engine. All three tanks can only resist up to 180 points of damage before rupturing.
The engine fuel tank takes zero damage from explosive weapons, though both side tanks will take 400% damage from HE-type weapons. 50% of incoming damage is also transferred onto the Gryphon's "health" pool.
If damaged: Gradual fuel leaking; will lose up to a maximum of 50% of the remaining fuel supply. If destroyed: Rapidly lose entire fuel supply over the course of several seconds.
Control surfaces
The Gryphon's control surfaces consist of five components:
Ailerons (left/right)
Elevators (left/right)
Rudder (centre)
The ailerons can survive 108 points of damage before failure while for the elevators it is 90 points. The rudder on the other hand, can withstand 120 points of damage. They all take 300% increased damage from HE-type weapons.
Depending on the control surface, the jet's handling and agility will be degraded based on the severity of damage. If multiple parts become disabled simultanously, it may become impossible for the Gryphon to perform any high-G manoeuvres altogether.
Stealth
The Gryphon is not designed with stealth as a focus, though some aspects of its airframe allow it to retain semi-stealth capability in all areas (radar/infrared/visually):
RCS
The Gryphon has a radar cross-section rating of 0.8, which lowers the maximum detection range of active radars by 20%.
IR
The Gryphon has reduced visibility on the infrared spectrum, and can only be detected at 90% of an infrared-based sensor's maximum range (factor of 0.9; reduction of 10%).
Visual
The Gryphon is slightly more difficult to spot visually, and will reduce the maximum range of any visual-based sensors to only 80% (factor of 0.8; reduction of 20%).
Sensors
The Gryphon has an array of sensors designed to allow it to operate effectively in both ground attack and air superiority roles:
Teal = Active Radar Orange = IRST Green = Visual
Active Radar
It has an active radar range of 12 km against aerial targets and 8 km against ground targets. It has an azimuth and elevation coverage of 45 degrees, while identity recognition locks in at 4 km out from a target.
Infrared Search and Track/Visual Sensor
IRST detection extends out to a maximum range of 4 km against aerial targets and 3 km against ground targets. It has an azimuth coverage of just 90 degrees, while for elevation it is limited to 60 degrees. Targets can only be tracked if they are moving at speeds of less than 1,440 km/h.
Its visual sensor on the other hand, has a maximum range of 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.
The visual sensor is located in the external targeting pod's camera, and has an elevation offset of 1 degree. Targets are only trackable if they are moving at speeds of less than 360 km/h.
Both sensors operate at a minimum range of 500 m, while targets can be recognised within a range of 2 km.
Radar Warning Receiver/Passive Radar
The RWR has a 360 degree detection radius and 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.
Armament
NOTE:Only the weapons used on the default loadout for the Gryphon are listed here. For full details on ordnance that can be mounted on the Gryphon, refer to the dynamic loadouts article.
M61 Minigun
Base damage value
Aerodynamic friction
Initial velocity (m/s)
Penetration depth (mm)
60
-0.00078
1,036
52.836
20 mm Gatling cannon. Fires HE-based ammunition useful for WVR dogfights.
It can attain a fire rate of up to 4,000 rounds per minute and has a muzzle velocity of 1,036 m/s. Accuracy-wise, it has a dispersion of 0.001 rad at distances of 1,500 metres.
Target Lead Indication is provided on the pilot's Heads Up Display (HUD). Landing hits can be accomplished by pointing the M61's crosshair directly onto the HUD's circle.
Relies on the Gryphon's Infrared Search and Track sensor to function.
Trivia
The Gryphon is directly based on the real-world "JAS 39 Gripen" multi-role fighter jet designed by Saab of Sweden.
However, the Gryphon actually appears to be an amalgamation of two variants of the real-life Gripen. The exterior fuselage of the "C" model is combined with the cockpit and front wheel position of the "E" model.
Promotional screenshot with double missile racks on hardpoints 3/4.
Based on one of the DLC's pre-release promotional screenshots, the number three and four pylons were able to support double missile racks at some point in its development.
However, it is not known as to why these hardpoints were eventually changed upon release to no longer support double missile racks.
AAF
AAF - Vehicles (ArmA 3)
LDF - Vehicles (ArmA 3)
