The weapon came first.....then, the air-frame.
I had the pleasure of hearing that weapon fire, in Kandahar, when it flew a training run, when I worked as a civilian contractor there.
It’s considered one of the major reasons that the Russians gave up its mass tank assault plans into free Europe.
This led to a slow deterioration and subsequent end to the cold war along with other factors.
You are right about that. Yes, a deadly, superb weapon.
In this case ugly is beautiful.