What would an A-6F or A-7F like upgrade to the F-111 look like?

[apparition13]

In the mid to late 80s we get the massively upgraded A-7F and A-6F, both with new engines and avionics. Sadly neither goes into production. The question that comes to mind is what would a similar upgrade of the F-111 look like, an F-111J if you will. Perhaps an A-6F like new build in place of the F-15E, or maybe an A-7F rebuild.

What engines, what avionics, what capabilities? Any changes to the airframe, like in the A-7F? And if it was produced and deployed, how would it have performed?

In short, how do you envision a putative F-111J?

 

[NOMISYRRUC]

There was the OTL Avionics Modernisation Program (AMP) which AFAIK was to have included every surviving F-111 (and FB-111) in the USAF. I don't know how many aircraft actually had it done, but @BlackBat242 and/or @Scott Kenny may know. The Wikipedia article on the F-111 says that some of them had their original TF30 engines replaced by more powerful marks of that engine.

 

[NOMISYRRUC]

A quote from the Air Vectors article on the F-111 (https://www.airvectors.net/avf111.html).

From 1986, the EF-111As were refitted with more powerful TF30-P-9 engines. From 1989, they were fitted with the "Avionics Modernization Program (AMP)" kit, which included:

• Improved radar systems.
• A ring laser gyro INS.
• Capability to support a Global Positioning System satellite navigation network receiver.
• New digital processors, cockpit displays, and communications kit.

 

[Scott Kenny]

One of the proposed upgrades to the FB-111 was replacing the TF30s or F101s. FB-111H. This also had an enlarged aft fuselage to hold the much bigger engines and more fuel. That was to replace the B-1.

A-7F was intended to use the F100 or F110. F-14Ds show that you can stuff the F110 into the same rough volume as a TF30.

The better option would be a swap with probably the afterburning TF41 proposed for the A-7F (TF41 with F100 afterburner grafted on). Better fuel economy.

As to the avionics update, I'd want the same set as the A-6F.

 

[BlackBat242]

There was the OTL Avionics Modernisation Program (AMP) which AFAIK was to have included every surviving F-111 (and FB-111) in the USAF. I don't know how many aircraft actually had it done, but @BlackBat242 and/or @Scott Kenny may know. The Wikipedia article on the F-111 says that some of them had their original TF30 engines replaced by more powerful marks of that engine.

I have no idea of the numbers run through that program.

The TF30-3 of the F-111A & C produced 10,750lb dry & 18,500lb afterburning.
The TF30-9 of the F-111D & E produced 12,000lb dry & 19,600lb afterburning.
The TF30-100 of the F-111F produced 15,000lb dry & 25,100lb afterburning.
In 1985 the F-111Fs were re-engined with the TF30-111 which produced 17,895lb dry & 25,111lb afterburning.
The TF30-7 of the FB-111A produced 12,500lb dry & 20,350lb afterburning.
The TF30-3 of the EF-111A produced 10,750lb dry & 18,500lb afterburning.
In 1986 the EF-111As were re-engined with the TF30-109RA which produced 12,000lb dry & 20,840lb afterburning.

A navalized version of either the TF30-100 or TF30-111 would have been a good upgrade for the F-14 to replace the TF30-412/414 which produced 12,350lb dry & 20,900lb afterburning - without the added modifications that were required for the F110-400 of 1987 which produced 16,800lb dry and 27,000lb afterburning.

 

[Archibald]

I do know that circa 1969 SNECMA got 10300 kg of thrust out of the TF306E, which translates as 22,700 pounds. Quick search at Google books brings Flight International, 1969, and 22,820 pounds: pretty close.