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General characteristics
2 peopleCrew
20.3 tTake-off weight
Flight characteristics
14 996 mCeiling
2 х Allison J35-A-35Engine
airCooling system
Speed of destruction
920 km/hStructural
379 km/hGear
Suspended armament
104 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rocketsSetup 1
8 x HVAR rockets
8 x HVAR rockets
104 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
Setup 2
104 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets M439Setup 3
3 770 Ge icon.pngPurchase
Sl icon.png6 200/9 500/1 950Repair
10 000 Sl icon.pngCrew training
630 000 Sl icon.pngExperts
1 800 Ge icon.pngAces
202 × 2 Talisman.png % Rp icon.pngReward for battle
320 × 2 Talisman.png % Sl icon.png270 × 2 Talisman.png % Sl icon.png100 × 2 Talisman.png % Sl icon.png
This page is about the American jet fighter F-89D. For other version, see F-89B.


GarageImage F-89D.jpg

The F-89D is a premium rank V American jet fighter with a battle rating of 7.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision".

The F-89D Scorpion was designed and built to be an all-weather interceptor intended to neutralize any potential invading Soviet bomber force. The USAAF was intent of replacing the P-61 Black Widow with another night fighter, one specifically which would fly faster (minimum 530 mph/850 kph) almost assuredly requiring the usage of jets, six sixty-calibre machine guns or 20 mm autocannons and armed with internally stored aerial rockets. To round out the aircraft for ground attack if needed, it would also need to accommodate 1,000 lb bombs and eight larger rocket types externally. Initial wind tunnel testing of the fighter determined that the proposed swept-wings were insufficient at slow speeds and were changed out with straight wings. Though causing a loss of high-end performance, increased stability at low speeds was necessary.

Other changes to the horizontal stabilizer also increased the effectiveness of the elevators and rudder. Concerns about the fuel tanks situated right over the engines were nullified when it was determined that efforts made by Northrop to protect them were considered sufficient, anything else would have required a complete redesign of the aircraft.

Other key features of the Scorpion was the usage of decelerons or clamshell-style split ailerons which work as a standard aileron, however, can open up as a dive brake or be utilized as a takeoff/landing flap. Last-minute changes by the Air Force required upgrading the engines and outfitting an afterburner, adding a radar system, fire control system, permanent wingtip fuel tanks, reconfigured nose guns and easy access to lower the entire engine to make for easier maintenance.

Having determined that the six autocannons originally specced with the F-89A and B models would be less effective against bomber formations as it requires relative precision to damage or destroy the enemy bombers. On the other hand, a new requirement for the F-89 to house 104 Folding-Fin Mighty Mouse Aerial Rockets and underwing HVAR rockets would allow the F-89 (now designated as the F-89D) the ability to launch salvos of rockets and quickly targeting another bomber to launch more and allow for the potential of one or more rockets in the salvo to accomplish the required amount of damage necessary to destroy them or cause them to turn around and retreat. Though unguided and not terribly accurate, a salvo of rockets typically allowed for one or two rockets to explode near enough to be a successful hit.

To aid in the aerodynamics of the rocket launchers, they were outfitted around the wing-tip fuel tanks. Engineered so that the launching rockets would not damage the fuel tanks, the underwing still allowed for the mounting of the larger HVAR rockets to be used against bombers, but also along with the FFAR rockets be used against ground targets. The F-89D though best used with higher speeds, can be used as a dive-bomber of sorts, when going against ground targets, the fighter should throttle back, extend dive brakes, line up the shot and fire the rockets. Immediately when finished firing, retract the brakes and full-throttle the engines to gain speed and distance from any enemy fighters which may have targeted you.

General info

Flight performance


Max Speed
(km/h at ??,??? m)
Max altitude
Turn time
Rate of climb
Take-off run
 ????  ???? 14 996  ??.?  ??.?  ??.?  ??.?  ????
Max Speed
Take-off run (meters)


Combat flap Take-off flap Landing flap Air brakes Arrestor gear
Wing-break speed
Gear limit
Combat flap
Max Static G
+ -
920 379  ??? ~?? ~??
Optimal velocities
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
0 m  ???? kgf  ???? kgf

Survivability and armour



Suspended armament

Main articles: FFAR Mighty Mouse, HVAR

The F-89D is unique in its weapons loadout and stands out in a class of its own with the F-86D Sabre Dog in that the only weapons found on the fighter/interceptor are unguided aerial rockets (both FFAR and HVAR). It is not the intention of this aircraft to dogfight other fighters, instead its purpose is to was to eliminate Soviet bombers. The F-89D when given the clearance, would zoom-climb to bomber altitude with its afterburners engaged and then would utilise its Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets (Mighty Mouse) by shooting salvos (with 104 total rockets on board, a few could be fired off or a large amount) at inbound bomber aircraft. The rockets would spread out similar to how a shotgun works and the result should be enough rockets make contact or explode near the bombers to take them out. While these unguided rockets may not be accurate, with the amount on-board, many can be fired to increase the interceptor's chances of hitting. The HVAR rockets are larger and only a few are mounted under the wings. These rockets should be reserved for the larger and slower bombers, notwithstanding there are less to work with which decreases the chances to hit compared to the FFARs.

While the F-89D was built and configured for aerial interception and destruction of aircraft, the rockets, both FFAR and HVAR can be utilised on ground targets too. The F-89D is outfitted with decelerons which double as speed brakes which open up in a clam-shell style. The Scorpion can dive on ground targets, engage the dive brakes, line up the target and then unleash either the FFAR or HVAR rockets depending on the target types. With the 104 FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets, enemy vehicles which are clustered together are an excellent target to unleash salvos of rockets at. Another opportunity is during domination maps, the rockets come in very handy for taking out aircraft which are attempting to cap the airfield as the rocket spread does not need to be super accurate to still achieve a critical hit or destruction of the aircraft capping the airfield.

Usage in battles


Pros and cons


  • Fearsome rocket armament, both Mighty Mouse and HVARs
  • Decent high-speed manoeuvrability
  • Dual-engine, can fly with one (though, head back to base!)
  • Targeting radar equipped
  • Bomber interceptor or ground attacker role capable
  • Use of decelerons as ailerons, dive brakes (clamshell-type) or flaps


  • No autocannon armament
  • Rockets are inaccurate, odds increased when launched in salvos
  • Not very manoeuvrable at low speeds
  • Large target wing-surface
  • Heavy wing-tips, losing one throws the aircraft off balance
  • Not as nimble as single-engine MiGs


F-89D at cruising altitude.

Almost immediately after WWII, the Nothrop Corporation began developing an experimental jet fighter-interceptor to meet the new requirements for that class of aircraft. The American interceptor’s primary targets were supposed to be Soviet bombers, so the projected model’s flight characteristics and armament had to meet this objective. At first the two-seater twin-engine jet was developed to have a rather interesting four gun turret. This turret was to be mounted on the aircraft’s nose and could fire on targets either automatically or manually along a vertical plane either forward, up, down or, in some cases, backward. However, when the experimental model of the aircraft was ready, the turret still hadn’t undergone testing yet, so the military decided to install traditional static frontal guns on it, as well as HVARs on the wing pylons. It was with this loadout that the Scorpion F-89A and F-89B went into service. The armament was switched exclusively to rockets somewhat later. To make the change to rockets, the designers implemented an interesting solution: Mighty Mouse unguided rockets were installed on the front of the wing-mounted fuel tanks in such a way that the rocket and fuel sections of this part of the design were separated by a fireproof barrier. This also made it possible to install heavier, more destructive HVARs under the wing. The F-89D or “rocket” version of the Scorpion went on to become the most widespread version of the aircraft in the US air force – 682 of them were manufactured.

- From Devblog



  • F 89d wallpaper001.jpg
  • F 89d wallpaper002.jpg
  • F 89d wallpaper003.jpg
  • F 89d wallpaper004.jpg
  • F 89d wallpaper005.jpg

See also

  • F-89B - Cannon-armed variant of the fighter.

External links

Northrop Corporation
Fighters  P-61A-1 · P-61C-1
Jet Fighters  F-89B · F-89D

USA jet aircraft
F-89  F-89B · F-89D
F9F  F9F-2 · F9F-5 · F9F-8
A-4  A-4B
B-57  B-57A · B-57B