Could a Thaqib SAM Threaten an F-15?
In this video, we examine the recent claim that Houthi forces shot down a Saudi F-15 and take a closer look at one of the most interesting possibilities: the Thaqib air defence system.
The Thaqib is particularly unusual because it reportedly uses repurposed Soviet air-to-air missiles, including the R-73 and R-27, in a surface-to-air role. These Cold War-era missiles were designed for fighter aircraft—but how effective could they be when adapted into a ground-launched SAM system?
To find out, we recreate our own Thaqib-style system in DCS World, combining Su-27 technology, R-73 and R-27 missiles, and some rather questionable steep ramps to see how these 1980s missile designs perform in a simulated scenario.
Can an improvised SAM system built around old Soviet air-to-air missiles threaten a modern fighter like the F-15? Let’s do science!
🎥 Watch the video: Could Houthi Rebels Have Shot Saudi F-15 Down With 1980’s Soviet AIR TO AIR Missile?! | DCS
