Yeah, or just fixing what we’ve already got
Lock range (2 accepted reports, including 1 from 2+ years ago), Track rate (Report from 2+ years ago), 35g overload (3 year old report for that one) and then just refine the how the IRCCM works a bit.
Then that leaves Push ahead as a new additional form of IRCCM on the 9M to give it another buff if needed.
Ohhhh, if those reports which covered with dust thanks to Gaijin finally became online, along with some fancy new features
Maybe then we would gonna see fewer topics such as
R-73 too stronk, gib US AIM-9X exclusively, russian bias (While AIM-9M is general standard missile of Western jets but only mentioning US)
Ah, if new AIM-9M comes out, I will def going to spade these SHAR FA.2 or Tonka F.3 Late.
can’t wait to see those.
Yeah… same scrap heap the BOL reports are on at the moment
Currently I’m more often killed by R-27(E)T(1) missiles as they’re a buffed up version of the R-73 with small FoV (and IRCCM). If you don’t pre-flare at a huge distance and change directions to not have it in rear-aspect, it will hit you regardless of what you do at close range. Without a MAW you have nearly no chance of seeing that missile coming and if you only have a small number of flares you have to be economical with them, so pre-flaring is very costly. It’s effectively an ASRAAM-light without the better IRCCM of the ASRAAM and shorter range because of the higher drag. They’re most effective against enemies breaking away from a furball as you get to fire them in rear aspect.
The downside of ETs is that they can’t be carried by the same lightweight pylons that most fighters dedicate to IR weapons. You have to sacrifice an ER, or laterly an R-77, in order to carry one. So yes, they’re a powerful weapon, but it’s hard to say it’s a better choice over an ER or an ARH in most cases.
Also, the long range can be a double edged sword, since it uses the same FoV shrinking IRCCM that the R73s use, rather than the seeker cutoff one that AIM-9Ms use. This means they’re quite easy to accidentally spoof at longer ranges, so your target has to not only be rear aspect, but also not currently being engaged by someone else (Or likely to be during the ~15 second flight time).
They’re powerful missiles, to be sure, and very few people expect them. But it’s hard to compare them 1:1 with AIM-9Ms, which get rails dedicated to them specifically, so you aren’t really losing anything by throwing them at whatever you see.
The R27ET flare resistance is much worse than that of the R73
the only aircraft which shouldnt bring r27et is su30sm, every other sukhoi should give up a radar missile for it
My point is that it’s a bad comparison to the AIM-9M, given that they’re restricted in number (You can carry two max), and it’s restricted to slots that can also be used for just as if not more powerful missiles. So any talk of it’s effectiveness needs to take into account a comparison to the single best SARH missile in the game.
9M / AAM-3 shutoff fills a role that gatewidth struggle to fill, which is side-aspect. Radar missiles thrive in front aspect and are decent in rear aspect, but struggle in side aspect (notching). 9M is decent in every stat and amazing in side aspect. Its also decent in front aspect but struggles in rear aspect. Its hard imo to place IR missiles in a tier list* when they fill different roles and perform way better in situations that the other would struggle in. I’d much rather have something like the PL-8B in a rear aspect / front aspect than the 9M, but I would much rather have the 9M over the PL-8B in side aspect. I’d love for the 9M to come to the MiG-29N so I can use 9Ms over R-73.
*Atleast when you consider shutoff. Ranking gatewidth is relatively easy since they pretty much all have the same seeker.
+But I’d also like to see a 9M buff in some capacity. I don’t think buffing them will make them overpowered.