We are back with the final installment of our Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: Italy previews. In today’s DevBlog, we take to the skies with a look at the DLC’s new helicopters and aircraft.
Let’s go!
Flying High With Nation Pack: Italy
In terms of helicopters, Italy initially relied only on American-made helos. These were mostly civilian variants of military helicopters such as the Kiowa, Huey, and Chinook, with some of them modified by local Italian industries. From the 1980s onwards, a wind of change blew as Italians started developing and deploying their own designs. These proved effective, such as the multi-purpose A.109 and the A.129 attack helicopter.
When it comes to aircraft, the Italian Air Force can be divided into three categories: the F-104, which was used, reused, heavily upgraded, and kept on for almost half of the Cold War’s duration; the jointly developed Italian-British-German Tornado; and older, lighter domestic designs, such as the G.91, MB-399, and A-11 Ghibli. The odd one out - not falling under the above labels - is the AV-8B.
The Helicopter Force
As before, all bolded units are new or remade models.
In the LOG tab, you’ll find.
- AB.205 CMDO: the Bell 205, which is a civilian version of the UH-1 Huey. This helicopter is license-produced by Augusta-Bell in Italy. Unarmed CV.
- CH-47C CARICO: the classic supply Chinook.
As infantry transports, the following rotorcraft can be deployed.
- AB.205: identical to the CV variant, but with side-mounted MG 42/59.
- AB.412: civilian version of the four-bladed UH-1 Twin Huey. Unarmed and available from 1983.
- AB.412 GRIFONE: same as the previous unit, but with side-mounted MG 42/59. Available from 1987.
- C-47C: a Chinook in a classic transport format.
As recon units.
- AB.206: unarmed civilian version of the Kiowa.
- AB.212 ELIGUFO: civilian version of the twin-bladed UH-1 Twin Huey. This specific Marina variant was fitted with electronic equipment for naval surveillance. In-game, it will act as an unarmed radar recon helicopter. Available from 1983.
- A.109EOA-1: unarmed recon helicopter, faster and more resilient than the AB.206. Available from 1988.
- A.109EOA-2: same as the previous one, but armed with two 12,7mm machine gun pods and two 7-tube 70mm rocket pods. Also available from 1988.
And lastly, dedicated attack or gunship helicopters.
- AB.205 MAMEE: a Huey fitted with twin 7,62mm Gatlings and two 7-tube 70mm rocket pods.
- A.109AT: a purely anti-tank A.109 variant armed with four I-TOW tubes. Available from 1982.
- A.129 MANGUSTA: a gunship variant with eight TOW-2 tubes and two 7-tube 70mm rocket pods. Available from 1990.
- A.129 MANGUSTA CBT: a more versatile variant with a 20mm rotary nose cannon, four Stinger tubes, and two 19-tube 70mm rocket pods. Available from 1995 and prototyped.
The Air Force
Let’s detail the array of aircraft of this Nation Pack:
We start with the F-104 family.
- F-104G: the old-time multi-role version of the “Widowmaker”, carrying 2x AIM-9B and 4x Mk.83 500kg bombs.
- F-104S the ultimate F-104 variant. This is a license-produced Italian version that upgrades the plane’s air detection and electronics, allowing it to carry 2x AIM-7F Sparrow with 4x AIM-9B. This returns the plane to its original fighter role.
- F-104S-ASA-1: a further electronics-focused upgrade of the F-104S. This variant can fire the domestic-made Aspide-1A [SA] long-range air-to-air missile. Available from 1986.
- F-104S-ASA-2: the final upgrade further improves the plane’s air detection, plus allowing it to fire indigenous Idra [F&F] long-range air-to-air missiles. Available from 1990.
Next up, the Tornado.
- TORNADO A-200: multi-role, with 2x AIM-9L and 5xMk.20 Rockeye II cluster bombs. Available from 1982.
- TORNADO EA-200B: SEAD, with 4x AGM-88 HARM missiles. Available from 1990.
- TORNADO ADV: fighter, with 4x AIM-9L and 4x Skyflash SuperTEMP. Available from 1995 and prototyped.
The “real Italian” domestic family, badabing.
- G.91R/1: old fighter turned bomber, with 4x Aerea 559G1 napalm bombs.
- G.91Y: a speedier variant, with 2x AS-20 anti-tank missile.
- MB-339: a trainer used in a CAS role, with 38x 70mm and 8x 127mm rockets. Already featured with ANZAC as a napalm bomber. Available from 1980.
- A-11 GHIBLI: a dedicated ground attack aircraft designed jointly by Italy and Brazil, it carries 2x AIM-9L & 2x GBU-16 Paveway II laser-guided bombs. Who doesn’t like a Ghibli? Available from 1989.
And for the odd one out the AV-8B HARRIER VTOL carrying 2x AGM-65E Maverick anti-tank missiles and 2x AIM-9L air-to-air missiles. Available from 1995 and prototyped.
What’s in the box again?
Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: Italy will feature Italy as a stand-alone NATO nation in Wargame: Red Dragon. They will bring their unique mix of domestic and foreign materiel to the battlefield, old and brand-spanking new. Fully voiced and featuring 104 new Italian units, 19 new models, many existing models redone or upgraded, and a score of new variants, Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: Italy will boast one of the most visually up-to-date arsenals of our game.
In the previous DevBlogs, we detailed the upcoming new Italian infantry. Read all the juicy details here. We also previewed the new and striking Italian vehicles of the Nation Pack, which you can check out the DevBlog here.
What happens next?
That’s all for today’s aircraft preview of Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: Italy. We hope to share the release date of this new expansion very soon!
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Ciao!
