(Proper) AIM-9Xs would turn the AH-1Z into a AA monster, even with only two of them. We don’t know how the 9Xs will perform as SAMs yet, but based on the real life power of IIR I don’t think they should be added to a heli just yet.
I can’t imagine the TY-90s being that good for AA at 12.0+, having 8 or more of them means that you can intercept enemy missiles though. They are limited to 6km range, the Sidewinders can easily exceed that range.
The AH-1Z is 12.0, you have to keep that in mind. The CAS and fighters at that BR easily outrange the TY-90s tiny 6km range. Maybe this is just my own preference, but I’d much rather have 2 missiles that I can just send out at target at range than 8-16 missiles that cannot even reach their target most of the time.
Don’t get me wrong, on the Z-9Ws (10.3 and 11.0) the TY-90s are monsters, but not at 12.0.
The AIM-9M doesn’t outrange the TY-90 though. The TY-90s are kneecapped by their guidance time, but within that timeframe they can reach targets that will have the AIM-9M fall out of the sky. I agree that their higher range isn’t really worth much at top tier and that the TY-90s stop being useful as AA and change to mediocre self defense measures on the Z-10.
I don’t think adding the AIM-9X to the AH-1Z would be problematic in terms of balancing. It would be extremely dangerous against planes trying to attack it, but they don’t need to do that. If they don’t have guided ordnance to take it out they can just keep their distance. HVMs, Spikes, PARS 3 LR and Vikhrs would still outrange it by a sigificant margin in helicopter to helicopter combat too.
It’ gives the AH-1Z at least one advantage over the competiton. With how problematic the AGM-114Ls are to implement that’d be a nice change for top tier US helis.
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in game 9x has 7.5 burn time instead of 5.5 on 9m idk where you get your info from
yes!
ah-z1 should have 9x it would be better for self-defence "ugh im looking at you 16 ty-90 on z10
In what world is a 9M/X hitting anything moving faster than 30kmh at 12km?
You are aware that the 12km figure is in perfect conditions?
It can Glide that far, but it WONT hit anything moving from that range.
They 12km figure is total range, as I’ve tried to explain. A missile with a 6km range limitation literally cannot outrange a missile that has more range.
Having the additional range can be useful against enemy helicopters and approaching planes. Neither the TY-90 or the Sidewinder is going to hit maneuvering targets at their max range, the point is that the Sidewinder has a bigger engagement distance and a 9X would be much more powerful than a dozen TY-90.
Have you played during the Z19E craze ? I still remember those nightmarish plumes sniping every single plane, regardless of energy and countermeasure usage.
While 2 9X in 4-5 km range (assuming the target is coming towards the launchers) are basically two guaranteed kills , you have more chances to get above 2 kills with 8 TY-90s.
Currently the 9X is 100% copy paste IRIS-T (well, minus the seeker parts that make it actually work), so you just kinda know it’s incorrect. When fixed it should be a tad worse probably.
Also from Raytheon brochure, as well as other various sources:
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I have played against TY-90 Helis. They aren’t all that as AA (at least at the higher BRs, at 10.3 they are busted), except for close range heli combat and the occasional plane ambush.
6km range is 6km range and a Sidewinder launched towards an incoming target can hit said target beyond those 6km.
If the 9X gets life-like flare rejection you literally would only be able to dodge it kinematically. Even if it doesn’t end up hitting the target, it will make the target much more vulnerable to another attack, even at longer ranges.
Which only works once because you have 2 missiles, that’s it. Not 8.
Really I don’t know why you are going to such lengths to downplay the TY-90, it’s pathetic.
The AH-1Z should get it’s 9X’s it’s supposed to be carrying.
You know you can re-arm very easily when you just hang around the heli pad, like the TY-90 spammers did?
Which means what exactly? when there is no need for aircraft to fly over your helipad to deploy their munitions.
Like really are you just being intentionally obtuse?
ty90 spammers didnt though, they normally hung out between your airspawn and the battlefield because they didnt ever need to re arm
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The planes don’t need to get to your helipad if you can launch missiles from a longer range.
If you are flying over to the enemy airspawn to do AA, you might as well use an Apache with Stingers if having just two missiles is that much of a problem
you cant though, on a maneuvering target aim9m launched from 0 IAS will only travel ~3-4km where a ty90 will go 5-6km
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The Sidewinder will travel further than that, I don’t know why you all claim it wouldn’t.
because it doesnt, a 9m launched from ah1z wont even hit a 2km rear aspect launch on a maneuvering target
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Have you used it ? Have you gotten your hands on a helicopter capable of using Sidewinders? On planes they are fine, because you are usually doing more than 600kmh. From 0 IAS they dont get very far at all . Front aspect you are lucky to hit a 6km launch ( against an aircraft flying directly/ somewhat AT you with considerable speed ) , while in rear aspect if you launch an aircraft pointing away from you with the same speed, it likely wont catch it past a kilometer.
I honestly dont get why you try to portray the Sidewinder as gods gift to helicopters ( compared to the TY90)
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hes trying to argue based on how TY90 self destructs at 6km while on a non maneuvering target aim9 can theoretically glide past that when you have enough altitude
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I have a Harrier, I have launched Sidewinders while hovering.
They aren’t as bad as you are claiming at all.
TY-90s aren’t godlike and Sidewinders aren’t trash. I’m not trying to say Sidewinders are godlike, what I am trying to say is that you can launch them from a much longer range and still hit shit, especially when they have the flare resistance of real life AIM-9Xs.