Firstly, yes, the F-15J(M) does not use C variant AMRAAMs in real life, however, as per gaijin’s standards for implementation of weapons, if a weapon is compatible, it can come to a vehicle. Aim-120C variants are functional on modernized F-15Cs, of which the J(M) is equivalent to.
Additionally, japan does actually have C block amraams in their inventory, for use with the F-35, and, in the future, the F-15JSI. Which while not required by the gaijin’s outlines for adding weapons, does certainly help.
Japan is currently the only country still lacking a 14.0 (In the devblogs they showed one of the CN flankers got moved up). Giving it C variant amraams would help japan to have a proper 14.0 top tier aircraft. And no, buffing AAM-4s to IRL levels would not make them as strong as C-5s. Aditionally, personally, i do not think giving AAM-4Bs would be a fine solution. They lack significant kinematic upgrades, but have much better guidence capabilities. Depending on how they’re implemented they’d basically either be borderline unavoidable sticks of death, or just a downgrade to the C-5 if their ECM characteristics are not modeled.
With all the votes for the AAM-4B, i feel like i really must emphasize, it’s not going to be a balanced C-5 equivalent. It uses the same motor as the 4 just with better guidance and a seeker. And i don’t even mean better guidance as in it will pull that hard, all it does is reduce energy bleed, and the AAM-4 is already overperforming in turning.
It will not be a kinematic equal to the Aim-120C-5, and it’s ECCM is either going to be actually basically impossible to notch or multipath if IRL accurate, or borderline useless if how gaijin has modeled ECCM so far is the standard they’ll go by. There is very little chance it comes to the game as a fair and balanced C-5 rival.
I thought AAM-4B was gonna get added with the F-2 when i saw it on the trailer but turns out gaijin was using the 4B model for AAM-4 all this time xd. AAM-4B or 120C-5 for F-15JM would definately be a good addition
As far as i understand aam4b should be what normal aim120c5 is supposed to be in terms of range at least instead of the current one in the game and it would also get aesa so i’m voting for aam4b.
Asking at gaijin what is up with their aim120c5 should be done too.
In terms of range, the AAM-4 should be a little better then an A/B, with the B being a little better then a C5.
However, we’re not quite sure how, there no evidence of a motor change, and the motor in game is already fairly close to irl accurate as far as video evidence supports. Their manueverability also should flat out be worse. What puts them ahead is their ECCM via datalink.
Imo, a fully accurate AAM-4 is closest to like a C-3, and the 4B is somewhere between a C-8 and a D-1
Only issue is its been 8 months since gaijin accepted my bug report on its datalink/eccm and still nothing. Hopefully im gonna get the J/AAQ-2 to have its proper datalink functionality and that should help though.
I thought with the F-2A Japan would be introduced to battle rating 14.0 airplanes, which seems I was wrong, maybe the F-35B Lightning II should do the work. Obviously is just a joke but no battle rating 14.0 airplane for Japan even with a new addition is awkward.
Me personally I think Japan should just get a another sub tree at this point . The Malaysian tech tree with it’s flanker would add a proper 14.0 before stealth jets come in
I mean we been saying time and time again that F-2A is overdue…well yeah …we should of had XF-2A or early years ago and j/APG-2 F-2 (the one we are getting) should of came with rafale or even an update before it. All thats left now in terms of upgrades is better missiles and F-2A ADTW (2019) with a new gen F-X radar.