During the late 1950's Canada and Australia constructed a refined Sabre for their respective air forces. Both versions were considered the ultimate derivative of the Sabre. Is there any possibility for this to occur behind the Iron Curtin, i.e. the Czech or Poles refine the Mig 15 / 17? Additionally if this was done, what should be modified on both airframes?
There was an effort to turn the MiG17 into a ground attack aircraft, as the MiG17AS, with two extra pylons, and it made for an excelent CAS aircraft, apart from a limited payload. The heavy guns were very usefull for straffing, and the mix of 37mm and 23mm gave a pilot more options in that role.
Why would they mix different calibres?
AFAIK it was commonly found inefficient, as due to different muzzle-velocity, trajectory etc the 37mm will be missing the target when the 23 mm can hit and the other way around.
IIRC especially with the A6M the difference between the two kinds of armament was huge.
Why would they mix different calibres?
AFAIK it was commonly found inefficient, as due to different muzzle-velocity, trajectory etc the 37mm will be missing the target when the 23 mm can hit and the other way around.
IIRC especially with the A6M the difference between the two kinds of armament was huge.
For the Air to Air role the mix was intended to add the bomber killing capability of the 37mm shell with the rate of fire of the 23mm. As soon as the russians had the NR30 ready, they went for a uniform 30mm for the MiG19 and Su7. For sabre killing over korea The MiG would probably have been better off with 4x23mm, ie, the same weapons as the La9. For ground attack the 37mm gives you a much more destructive shell, while the twin 23mm gives you density of fire.
In WW2 most countries had mixed calibers on fighters. The early Fw190s had two MG and two pairs of 20mm guns of different models.
Given that the USSR as a rule tended to export lower quality versions to the Eastern European states and third party customers I doubt you could get this without some changes in the Soviet leadership and removing a lot of the paranoia.
The bold is my point exactly.
Most planes with a mixed armament would have been better off with an armament with a similar trajectory/muzzle velocity etc.