I have been playing attackers lately trying to spade them and I have recently come across the A7E. I have to say right of the bat that this aircraft is in a sorry state compared to other US and other nations attackers at the current BR (Both Air RB at 10.3 and Ground RB at 10.7).
I see a few options for the A-7E to bring it up to the bar of other aircraft at its BR.
1: The Aim 9H should replace the Aim 9D for the starter missile and the Aim-9G should be replaced with the Aim9L. We know it used the Aim 9 Ds, Gs, Hs, Ls, and even Ms towards the end of its service life. I don’t believe it should receive the Aim 9M since that would require a major BR jump in my opinion.
2: The AGM-65F should be added as a ground attack weapon for the A-7E. I think a maximum of 4 AGM-65Fs is fair since it has a much better seeker than the AGM-65Bs. The A-10A Early is sitting at a BR of 10.3 in both Air RB and Ground RB fir example. The A-10A Early has the capacity for 6 AGM-65Bs plus 2 GBU-8s plus dumb weapons and two Aim-9Ls. I think its fair to give the the A-7E a better AGM in a limited capacity.
3: The BR should remain the same with a potential to be lowered to 10.3 all around if the performance doesn’t improve.
4: We should get an additional aircraft added to the game under the A-7E we have in game, the “A-7E Late”. This aircraft should be 11.3 with the AN/ALR-67 RWR (The same that is in the A-6E SWIP we have in game), the Aim-9M, and the AGM-88A HARM. I believe this aircraft should sit at 11.3.
AGM-65F Test image.
Aim-9L being mounted.
