Got a question
 

Wondering what the opinions are on the weapons systems that got cancelled in the real world like the F-20, A-12, A-6F, A-6G, EE-T1, AMX-40, for example. Do they exist in your universe and to what degree?

F-16F, F-20 (USANG), and A-6F are all in my universe with the US. Also, the A-7F was built, and it was flown by the USAFR and Spain. The F-18E and F were built, with Spain and the USN/USMC flying the F-18E, with limited numbers of F-18Fs (200) delivered by 1997 (USN - 150, Spanish AF - 50). Top scoring Spanish ace flew F-18E and number 2 was a F-18F crew.

AMX-40 was built and in service with Mexico, Spain, and the French Foreign Legion. Mexico began licensed production in 1994 and Spain in 1995.

Mirage 4000 is flown by France and in service with Mexico, Qatar, and UAE.

Various versions of the LAV-75 are in service along with the M-8. Also, the M2A3 and M3A3, a new M-1A3 as well as the M-1A4 "Giraffe", Leopard III, the Corsair by the Brits (CIH variant of the Challenger II), and T-93 (the game's T-90) as well as the T-95 (advanced model of the T-93 ~800) and the T-94 "Black Eagle" (less than 500).

Case by case decision.
Some were cancelled IRL due to political reasons, some financial, some because they just couldn't work.
Some, such as the flame thrower armed aeroplane were just stupid.

The A-6F and M-8 AGS exist in my universe (the latter in place of the LAV-75),

I have the F-20, some F-16F, 1 squadron of F-29, F-23s, some M8 AGS, along with some LAV-75s.

IIRC, we have a couple of threads devoted to discussing weapon systems that were on the drawing board or in prototype/demo phase during the late Cold War, some of which became reality IRL, and some that didn't (the G11, for example).

I'll try to dig one up and merge it with this thread.

M-8 AGS definitely exists and has been deployed in place of the LAV-75 in all areas of the game. There is a battalion in East Africa that has them that was integrated into the reformed 2nd Armored when it was moved to Kenya.

The F-20 is a hard call for me. The AGS was definitely going into production and was only stopped because of a very stupid political decision - there are several at BAE in York or there were when I was there 2008-2014 and they were still completely operational. It would have been deployed for sure in time for the war with the 82nd having them for sure as well as the 73rd Airborne.

When I was GMing, the A-6F and M-8 AGS existed, as well as the LAV-75 and A-7F.

I run a modern MERC-Style campaign set in Africa so if it's around today, I allow it.

My background for T2K is pretty much straight Alternate History which diverges some time in the late 70s.

I combined elements from Harold Coyle’s “Sword Point” and “Bright Star” novels and the military scenario during the intro from this book...
https://www.amazon.com/US-Rapid-Depl...gateway&sr=8-1

But set them all in 1986 after Gorbachev is assassinated.

Lessons learned from a rather expansive Middle East conflict shaped US weapons procurement and also led to some structural changes.

Thusly, I had the XM800T ARSV, YC-14 transport as well as a myriad of vehicles based on the Abrams and Bradley chassis. Most of which were developed in real life but never entered service. Given the cost of vehicles based on a tank chassis many of these new vehicles were only found in the “Fourth Brigades”of the 4th Armored (raised in 1989 as part of a newly formed Heavy Expeditionary Corps), 1st Mechanized, 2nd Armored and 4th Mechanized (all of which had an extra Brigade that was forward deployed in West Germany).