WIP, continuous updates coming
Gaijin has stated that they plan to implement modern Fox-3 missiles soon, and that every nation would receive said missiles in the same update. This most likely means these additions will come in 2024’s summer update, usually the biggest one of the year.
I’d like to start a discussion here to ensure that those aircraft are accurately modelled and properly balanced when they arrive.
Here’s what I’d anticipate in terms of Fox-3 equipped aircraft:
USA
1 or 2 aircraft
F-15C MSIP (early), BR ~13.3
F-15C upgraded to carry AMRAAMs. Pretty much guaranteed to come in the first wave of Fox-3 equipped aircraft.
Empty Weight: 13,154 kg
Loaded Weight: 22,000 kg
MTOW: 30,844 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 208.6 kN
Max TWR: 1.61
Max speed at sea level: 1,470km/h (Mach 1.20)
Max speed at altitude (10.6 km): 2,352km/h (Mach 2.20)
Max climb rate: 342 m/s
Armament:
1x M61A1
4x AIM-120A/B
4x AIM-120A/B or AIM-9M-9
Minimal A2G capability
F-16C Block 50/52, BR ~13.0
Potentially just updating the (incorrect) weaponry of the F-16C, but also possibly a new aircraft for progression reasons.
Empty Weight: 9,070 kg
Loaded Weight: 11,374 kg
MTOW: 17,874 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 112.5 kN
Max TWR: 1.64
Max speed at sea level: 1,505 km/h (Mach 1.21)
Max speed at altitude (11.0 km): 2,170 km/h (Mach 2.04)
Max climb rate: 300 m/s
Armament:
1x M61A1
6x AIM-120A/B or AIM-9M-9
Decent A2G capabilities
Germany
1 aircraft
Typhoon Tranche 1, BR ~13.3
Most likely the headliner for the update. Pretty guaranteed to come as soon as AMRAAMs are introduced.
Empty Weight: 11,000 kg
Loaded Weight: 16,000 kg
MTOW: 23,500 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 180.0 kN
Max TWR: 1.67
Max speed at sea level: 1,530 km/h (Mach 1.25)
Max speed at altitude (11.0 km): 2,125 km/h (Mach 2.00)
Max climb rate: 315 m/s
Armament:
1x BK-27
4x AIM-120B
2x AIM-120B or AIM-9L(I)-1
2x AIM-9L(I)-1
Decent A2G capabilities
USSR
1 or 2 aircraft
Su-27SM, BR ~13.3
Su-27S found in game upgraded to carry R-77s. There aren’t a whole lot of alternative aircraft of similar capabilities for the USSR/Russia because of the collapse of the Soviet Union and its effect on military development.
Empty Weight: 16,870 kg
Loaded Weight: 23,700 kg
MTOW: 33,000 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 245.2 kN
Max TWR: 1.52
Max speed at sea level: 1,450 km/h (Mach 1.17)
Max speed at altitude (??): 2,284 km/h (Mach 2.35)
Max climb rate: 330 m/s
Armament:
1x GSh-30-1
4x R-27ER or R-77
2x R-27ER, R-77, R-27ET, or R-73
4x R-73
Decent A2G capabilities
MiG-29SMT, BR ~13.0
MiG-29SMT either updating (inaccurate) weaponry or a new vehicle.
Empty Weight: 11,670 kg
Loaded Weight: 14,018 kg
MTOW: 20,979 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 133.6 kN
Max TWR: 1.90
Max speed at sea level: 1,555 km/h (Mach 1.26)
Max speed at altitude (12.0 km): 2,347 km/h (Mach 2.20)
Max climb rate: 300 m/s
Armament:
1x GSh-30-1
2x R-27ER, R-27ET, R-73, or R-77
4x R-73 or R-77
Decent A2G capabilities
Britain
1 or 2 aircraft
Typhoon F2, BR ~13.3
British designation for Typhoon Tranche 1.
Empty Weight: 11,000 kg
Loaded Weight: 16,000 kg
MTOW: 23,500 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 180.0 kN
Max TWR: 1.67
Max speed at sea level: 1,530 km/h (Mach 1.25)
Max speed at altitude (11.0 km): 2,125 km/h (Mach 2.00)
Max climb rate: 315 m/s
Armament:
1x BK-27
4x Active Skyflash or AIM-120B
2x Active Skyflash, AIM-120B, or AIM-9M-9
2x AIM-9M-9
Decent A2G capabilities
JAS-39C, BR ~13.0
There is a very small chance the SAAF JAS-39C will be upgraded to carry AMRAAMs. South Africa has never operated AMRAAMs, but they haven’t operated Skyflashes either. The weaponry would be entirely fictional. With the Typhoon being a certainty, I don’t see this happening.
Empty Weight: 6,865 kg
Loaded Weight: 9,032 kg
MTOW: 13,906 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 73.8 kN
Max TWR: 1.44
Max speed at sea level: 1,225 km/h (Mach 0.99)
Max speed at altitude (11.0 km): 2,125 km/h (Mach 2.00)
Max climb rate: 254 m/s
Armament:
1x Akan m/85
4x Active Skyflash (fictional), AIM-120B (fictional), or AIM-9M-9
2x AIM-9M-9
Decent A2G capabilities
Japan
1 aircraft
F-15J MSIP (early), BR ~13.3
F-15J upgraded to carry AMRAAMs.
Empty Weight: 12,973 kg
Loaded Weight: 17,479
MTOW: 30,845 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 211.4 kN
Max TWR: 1.89
Max speed at sea level: 1,450 km/h (Mach 1.20)
Max speed at altitude (??): 2,650 km/h (Mach 2.50)
Max climb rate: 341 m/s
Armament:
1x M61A1
4x AIM-120B
4x AIM-120B or AAM-3
Limited A2G capabilities
China
1 aircraft
J-11A MLU, BR ~13.3
J-11 upgraded to carry R-77s.
Empty Weight: 16,870 kg
Loaded Weight: 23,700 kg
MTOW: 33,000 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 245.2 kN
Max TWR: 1.52
Max speed at sea level: 1,450 km/h (Mach 1.17)
Max speed at altitude (??): 2,284 km/h (Mach 2.35)
Max climb rate: 330 m/s
Armament:
1x GSh-30-1
4x R-27ER1 or R-77
2x R-27ER1, R-77, R-27ET1, or R-73E
4x R-73E
Decent A2G capabilities
Italy
1 or 2 aircraft
Typhoon Tranche 1, BR ~13.3
It’s a Typhoon.
Empty Weight: 11,000 kg
Loaded Weight: 16,000 kg
MTOW: 23,500 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 180.0 kN
Max TWR: 1.67
Max speed at sea level: 1,530 km/h (Mach 1.25)
Max speed at altitude (11.0 km): 2,125 km/h (Mach 2.00)
Max climb rate: 315 m/s
Armament:
1x BK-27
4x AIM-120B
2x AIM-120B or AIM-9L(I)-1
2x AIM-9L(I)-1
Decent A2G capabilities
JAS-39C, BR 13.0
There’s a small chance that we might see a Hungarian JAS-39C for Italy. However, Hungary has only ever operated the more modern AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM and only recently began operating IRIS-Ts. So a Hungarian JAS-39C would have fictional armament. With the Typhoon being a certainty, it’s unlikely.
Empty Weight: 6,865 kg
Loaded Weight: 9,032 kg
MTOW: 13,906 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 73.8 kN
Max TWR: 1.44
Max speed at sea level: 1,225 km/h (Mach 0.99)
Max speed at altitude (11.0 km): 2,125 km/h (Mach 2.00)
Max climb rate: 254 m/s
Armament:
1x Akan m/85
4x Active Skyflash (fictional), AIM-120B (fictional), or AIM-9M-9
2x AIM-9M-9
Decent A2G capabilities
France
1 aircraft
Rafale M F1, BR ~13.0
First production variant of the French Typhoon spinoff. A naval Rafale of the first level of capabilities.
Empty Weight: 10,196 kg
Loaded Weight: 14,000 kg
MTOW: 19,500 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 150.0 kN
Max TWR: 1.50
Max speed at sea level: 1,400 km/h (Mach 1.13)
Max speed at altitude (??): 2,130 km/h (Mach 1.90)
Max climb rate: 305 m/s
Armament:
1x 30M971B
4x MICA-EM
2x MICA-EM or Magic II
No A2G armament
Sweden
1 aircraft
JAS-39C, BR ~13.0
JAS-39C with AMRAAMs.
Empty Weight: 6,865 kg
Loaded Weight: 9,032 kg
MTOW: 13,906 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 73.8 kN
Max TWR: 1.44
Max speed at sea level: 1,225 km/h (Mach 0.99)
Max speed at altitude (11.0 km): 2,125 km/h (Mach 2.00)
Max climb rate: 254 m/s
Armament:
1x Akan m/85
4x Rb-71A, Rb-99, Rb-74, or Rb-74M (fictional)
2x Rb-74 or Rb-74M (fictional)
Decent A2G capabilities
Israel
1 or 2 aircraft
F-15 Baz Meshupar, BR ~13.3
F-15A Baz upgraded to F-15C MSIP standards.
Empty Weight: 13,154 kg
Loaded Weight: 22,000 kg
MTOW: 30,844 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 208.6 kN
Max TWR: 1.61
Max speed at sea level: 1,470km/h (Mach 1.20)
Max speed at altitude (10.6 km): 2,352km/h (Mach 2.20)
Max climb rate: 342 m/s
Armament:
1x M61A1
4x AIM-120B
4x AIM-120B, AIM-9M-9, or Python 3
Decent A2G capability
F-16C Block 40 Barak II, BR ~13.0
F-16C Barak II with AMRAAMs. Possibly just an updated F-16D Barak II but I’d say that’s unlikely, as the Barak needs all the performance it can get to compete with the American F-16C with the same armaments.
Empty Weight: 8,280 kg
Loaded Weight: 16,057 kg
MTOW: 21,772 kg
Max total thrust (WEP): 107.5 kN
Max TWR: 1.32
Max speed at sea level: ??
Max speed at altitude (12.2 km): 2,145 km/h (Mach 2.02)
Max climb rate: 254 m/s
1x M61A1
6x AIM-120B, Python 3, or AIM-9M-9
Decent A2G capabilities
Other stuff
Missile information
AIM-120A AMRAAM
First variant of the venerable AMRAAM.
Weight: 158 kg
Max speed: Mach 4
Max range (high alt high speed): 70 km
Max range (0 alt 0 speed): 20 km
ARH range: 16 km
Max overload: 35 g
Warhead mass (TNTe): 22 kg
AIM-120B AMRAAM
AIM-120A with upgraded software to improve guidance during inertial portion of flight, extending range in oblique shots and increasing PoK.
Weight: 158 kg
Max speed: Mach 4
Max range (high alt high speed): 70 km
Max range (0 alt 0 speed): 20 km
ARH range: 16 km
Max overload: 35 g
Warhead mass (TNTe): 22 kg
R-77
Russia’s first production Fox-3. Features folding grid-fins that provide good manueverability and easy storage, but extreme drag at transonic speeds.
Weight: 175 kg
Max speed: Mach 4
Max range (high alt high speed): 80 km
Max range (0 alt 0 speed): 12 km
ARH range: 16 km
Max overload: 40 g
Warhead mass (TNTe): 22.5 kg
Active Skyflash
ARH seeker derived from that of the MICA-EM fitted to Skyflash SuperTEMP airframe. Unlike the rest of the Fox-3s listed, doesn’t feature a datalink for mid-course updates. Offered to the RAF and Swedish Air Force, not purchased due to the better performance of the AIM-120B.
Weight: 208.2 kg
Max speed: Mach 4.4
Max range (high alt high speed): 50 km
Max range (0 alt 0 speed): ??? km
ARH range: 15 km
Max overload: 25 g
Warhead mass (TNTe): 11.5 kg
MICA-EM
ARH variant of the MICA missile. This was the first variant of the MICA family and France’s first ARH missile. Its airframe is identical to the MICA-IR and features thrust-vectoring.
Weight: 112 kg
Max speed: Mach 4.5
Max range (high alt high speed): 80 km
Max range (0 alt 0 speed): 20 km
ARH range: 15 km
Max overload: 50 g TVC (to ~5-7km range), 30 g aero
Warhead mass (TNTe): 12 kg
Rb-71A
Swedish designation for Active Skyflash. Originally intended to use a Swedish seeker, but this was cancelled in favour of the British Thompson-CSF seeker until the whole program was scrapped in favour of the Rb-99.
Weight: 208.2 kg
Max speed: Mach 4.4
Max range (high alt high speed): 50 km
Max range (0 alt 0 speed): ??? km
ARH range: 15 km
Max overload: 25 g
Warhead mass (TNTe): 11.5 kg
Rb-99
Swedish license-produced AIM-120B.
Weight: 158 kg
Max speed: Mach 4
Max range (high alt high speed): 70 km
Max range (0 alt 0 speed): 20 km
ARH range: 16 km
Max overload: 35 g
Warhead mass (TNTe): 22 kg
AIM-9M-9
Most modern USAF AIM-9M variant. Features improved software for more effective guidance during suspended tracking. Slight improvement in performance over AIM-9M-6 in-game. At least in US service, all older blocks were upgraded to this standard.
Weight: 84 kg
Max speed: Mach 2.5
Max range: 18 km
Lock range (front/rear): 3/11 km
Max overload: 35 g
Warhead mass (TNTe): 9.4 kg
IRCCM: suspended tracking
AIM-9L(I)-1
German license-produced AIM-9L upgraded with IRCCM and smokeless motor to AIM-9M equivalent.
Weight: 86 kg
Max speed: Mach 2.5
Max range: 18 km
Lock range (front/rear): 3/11 km
Max overload: 35 g
Warhead mass (TNTe): 9.4 kg
IRCCM: suspended tracking
Additional notes
- BRs are for RB.
- BRs are assuming no decompression. Yes, I agree something like 15.0 or 16.0 would be better, but for the sake of balancing these aircraft against each other an existing vehicles it’s easier to assume no decompression. This still holds true after top BR was moved to 12.7, I had anticipated this.
- Gaijin will probably add all these aircraft at the same BR. The BRs listed are where I anticipate the vehicles settling after a couple months.
- Weapons listed can all be carried in combination - the list is a list of pylons and their capabilities more or less.
- Yes, there are a lot of 3rd gen aircraft or less capable 4th gen aircraft that mount AMRAAMs etc. These will probably come in the following updates, since Gaijin wants everyone to get Fox-3s at the same time and the vehicles listed are the most famous and comparable of the generation. Plus, it’s easier to modify an existing aircraft model than to model a new aircraft family from scratch.
- If we see earlier models of 4th gen aircraft families that eventually used Fox-3s (F/A-18A, J-10, etc.) there’s a chance upgraded versions with Fox-3 could come in this same update. But that’s extremely speculative at the moment, so I did not include those aircraft.
- All aircraft listed are capable, at least in theory if not operationally, of using current in-game SARH missiles. With the significant step up in BVR capabilities presented, stock SARH (AIM-7M, Skyflash, R-27R, etc) are going to be a must.
- There are probably a lot of inaccuracies in this post. Corrections are much appreciated. That’s the point of this post, to get the collective knowledge of the community to ensure balance and accurate modelling.
- AAM-3 in-game is modelled with suspended tracking like an AIM-9M. IRL it is has dual-spectrum seeker. If properly modelled, all aircraft with AAM-3 would be .3 higher in BR. Unlikely to happen until other nations have more advanced IR missiles in-game as well.
- Tranche 1 Typhoons were chosen as they have full combat capability. Pre-production models would work as well but there seems to be some disagreement on the combat capabilities of each nation’s developmental airframes. Tranche 2 IMO would be best for introducing the more modern IR missiles discussed in the “ASRAAM, IRIS-T, etc” section alongside the much improved A2G capabilities of the Tranche.
- I’d suspect 3rd gens with AMRAAMs and R-77s would generally be 12.3 (subsonic) and 12.7 (supersonic) though that’s a discussion for another day.
Helpful Forum posts
McDonnell Douglas F-15C MSIP II Eagle: Better Birds of Prey
Eurofighter Typhoon - Germany's Best Fighter Jet
Sukhoi Su-27SM Flanker-J1: A new Standard for the Masterpiece
Eurofighter Typhoon F.2: The Tranche 1 Tiffy (Part 2)
Mitsubishi F-15J
Shenyang J-11, J-16, J-15, History, Performance & Discussion
Italian Eurofighter Typhoon General Thread
Dassault Rafale - Variants, Characteristics, Armament and Performance
Dassault Rafale M LF.1 - The "Express" Delivered Rafale
SAAF JAS-39C Technical Data and Discussion
McDonnell Douglas F-15C Baz: The Eagle of David
Modern ARH (FOX 3) Missile - History, Performance & Discussion
(WIP) Modern IR (FOX2) Missile - History, Performance & Discussion
ASRAAM, IRIS-T, etc
Originally, this post included a number of 13.7s with more modern IR missiles with thrust vectoring and focal plane arrays or dual-spectrum seekers. However, I then made 2 discoveries.
- The R-73M referenced for the Su-27SM was the 2012 R-73M for Su-27SM2s which have access to R-77-1s. The 1999 R-73M never actually entered service.
This means that the Su-27SM1 only used base R-73 RMD-1s. If that’s the case, then it’s essentially identical to the J-11A MLU and there’s no reason to stretch for a balanced and reasonably realistic missile loadout for the J-11B to match the R-73Ms. - The 100g overload reported on the forums for the IRIS-T is erroneous; multiple sources say 60g.
That meant that the German and Italian Typhoons were a significant downgrade over their ASRAAM-equipped British counterpart (though still too strong for 13.3) while the JAS-39C was solidly 13.3 material.
So instead of 6/10 nations having 13.7, suddenly only 2/10 did (not ideal). However, if Britain lost the ASRAAM and Israel lost the Python 4 and their aircraft were moved to 13.3, Germany and Italy would be extremely dominant (still 2/10 nations). However, if they then lost IRIS-Ts, only France and Sweden would have advanced, undodgeable, IR missiles (…2/10).
So the simplest and best solution I could see was for no nation to get new IR missiles, at least at first (except the AIM-9L(I), just an AIM-9M). This would provide 8/10 nations with extremely similarly equipped and well-balanced 13.3 aircraft. While unfortunately Sweden and France lack the same capabilities as the other nations, the lower BR of the Rafale and JAS-39C should keep those aircraft relatively competitive.
Changelog
V2.0.0: initial post
V2.1.0: added MiG-29SMT
V2.1.1: clarified weapon options convention
V2.1.2: corrected formatting for SMT
V2.1.3: added information relevant to air top BR being moved to 12.7, rewording
V2.2.0: specified reasoning for Tranche 1 Typhoons specifically, added speculation on BR of 3rd gen aircraft
V2.2.1: removed accidental mentions of AIM-120A on non-American aircraft (oops)
V2.3.0: added Active Skyflash, extra info on missiles
