[Development] Battle Rating update and important changes to the top-tier air battles

Stona · February 8

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Airfield respawn for late jet bombers and strike aircraft in air RB

Historically, many gaming mechanics in War Thunder were originally created for WWII and early Cold War vehicles, for example - air respawn for bombers and strike aircraft. However, many late period jet bombers and strike aircraft feature flight characteristics close to, or even similar to those of jet fighters. In this case, we consider air respawn closer to ground targets as an unreasonable advantage for such aircraft, since their efficiency is obvious both for players, and for gaming statistics. If later strike aviation is taking off and approaching targets together with fighters, their value for the team remains. That’s why we decided to revoke the air respawns for bombers and strike aircraft of ranks VI-VII in air Realistic Battles mode.

Currently, we see no need to adjust the Battle Ratings of these aircraft, but we will monitor your feedback and game statistics to quickly update the BRs of the top-tier aircraft, if they need it.

Advanced missiles right out of the box

Air combat at rank VII in Realistic Battles intensively employs air-to-air missiles, rather than guns, as it is in the lower ranks.

Now, the majority of rank VII fighters will come equipped with more advanced air-to-air missiles right after purchase. This will allow pilots to fight more confidently and be more valuable to the team, even if their aircraft are not yet mastered. It is worth noticing however, that the weapon presets that include the advanced air-to-air missiles (if they are available from ‘stock’) still require the related modifications to be researched.

Here is the list of planned changes for rank VII jet fighters that currently lack the advanced missiles out of the box:

USA:

F-5E Tiger II - The setup with 2xAIM-9B has been replaced by a setup with 2х AIM-9E without the need to research AIM-9E modification. Mixed setups with AIM-9E still require this modification to be unlocked.
F-4E Phantom II - The setup with 2xAIM-9B has been replaced with a setup with 2х AIM-9E without the need to research AIM-9E modification. Mixed setups or setups with large numbers of AIM-9E still require this modification to be unlocked.
F-8E Crusader - The setup with 2xAIM-9B has been replaced by setup with 2х AIM-9E without the need to research AIM-9E modification. Mixed setups with AIM-9E still require this modification to be unlocked.

Germany:

F-4F Phantom II - The setup with 2xAIM-9B has been replaced by setup with 2х AIM-9E without the need to research AIM-9E modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of AIM-9E still require this modification to be unlocked.
F-4F Phantom II (Early) - The setup with 2xAIM-9B has been replaced by setup with 2х AIM-9E without the need to research AIM-9E modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of AIM-9E still require this modification to be unlocked.
MiG-21MF - The setup with 2х R-3R without the need to research R-3R modification has been added. Mixed setups or with large numbers of R-3R still require this modification to be unlocked (R-3R missile has been also added to the armament nomenclature).
MiG-21bis-SAU - The setup with 2xR-3S has been replaced by setup with 2х R-13М1 without the need to research R-13М1 modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of Р-13М1 still require this modification to be unlocked.
MiG-23MF - The setup with 2xR-3S has been replaced by setup with 2х R-13М1 without the need to research R-13М1 modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of R-13М1 still require this modification to be unlocked.

USSR:

MiG-21SMT - The setup with 2х R-3R without the need to research R-3R modification has been added. Mixed setups or with large numbers of R-3R still require this modification to be unlocked.
MiG-21bis - The setup with 2xR-3S has been replaced by setup with 2х R-13М1 without the need to research R-13М1 modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of Р-13М1 still require this modification to be unlocked.
MiG-23M - The setup with 2xR-3S has been replaced by setup with 2х R-13М1 without the need to research R-13М1 modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of Р-13М1 still require this modification to be unlocked.
MiG-23MLD - The setup with 2xR-3S has been replaced by setup with 2х R-13М1 without the need to research R-13М1 modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of R-13М1 still require this modification to be unlocked.

Britain:

Jaguar Gr.1A - The setup with 2xAIM-9G without the need to research AIM-9G modification has been added: Mixed setups with AIM-9G still require the research of this modification.

Japan:

F-4EJ Phantom II - The setup with 2xAIM-9B has been replaced by setup with 2х AIM-9E without the need to research AIM-9E modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of AIM-9E still require the research of this modification.

China:

F-104G Starfighter - The setup with 2xAIM-9B has been replaced by setup with 2х AIM-9J without the need to research AIM-9J modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of AIM-9J still require this modification to be unlocked.
F-5A Freedom Fighter - The setup with 2xAIM-9B has been replaced by setup with 2х AIM-9E without the need to research AIM-9E modification. Mixed setups with AIM-9E still require the research of this modification.
J-7E - The setup with 2xPL-2 has been replaced by setup with 2х PL-5B without the need to research PL-5B modification. Mixed setups with PL-5B still require the research of this modification.

France:

Mirage IIIC - The setup with 2xAIM-9B + 1х Matra R530 without the need to research Matra R530 modification has been added. Mixed setups with Matra R530 still require the research of these modifications.
Mirage IIIE - The setup with 2xAIM-9B + 1х Matra R530 without the need to research Matra R530 modification has been added. Mixed setups with AIM-9B or Matra R530 still require the research of these modifications.
Mirage 5F - The setup with 2xMatra R550 Magic 1 without the need to research Matra R550 Magic 1 has been added. Mixed setups with Matra R550 Magic 1 still require the research of these modifications. AIM-9B missiles will be removed from the weapons nomenclature.

Sweden:

J35D Draken - The 2xRB24 setup has been replaced by a setup with 2х RB24J without the need to research RB24J modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of RB24J still require this modification to be unlocked.
JA37C Jacktviggen - The 2xRB24 setup has been replaced by a setup with 2х RB24J without the need to research RB24J modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of RB24J still require this modification to be unlocked.
AJ37 Viggen - The 2xRB24 setup has been replaced by a setup with 2х RB24J without the need to research RB24J modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of RB24J still require this modification to be unlocked.

Israel:

Mirage IIICJ - The setup with 2xShafrir 2 + 1х Matra R530 without the need to research Matra R530 modification has been added. Mixed setups with Shafrir 2 or Matra R530 still require the research of this modification.
Nesher - 2xAIM-9D is now available without the research of the AIM-9D modification. Mixed with AIM-9D setups still requires this modification to be unlocked.
Kfir C.7 - 2xAIM-9D is now available without the research of the AIM-9D modification. Mixed setups or with large numbers of AIM-9Ds still require this modification to be unlocked.