This is mostly copied from a response I made in the general BR balance thread, but I think this deserves to be a separate post.
To start things off, I will be proposing 2 aircraft loadout changes (those being that the F-14A should get Aim-9Ls, and the F-14B should get Aim-9Ms), and a BR suggestion for an R-27R/R-73 equipped Mig-29. I will also include a few of planes from the spearhead dev server, and apologies if I forget or misplace an aircraft, feel free to correct me.
Rafale to 16.0, because it is by far the best plane in the game, and without nerfs to its flight performance, loadout, or HMS it must be a higher BR than everything else. 16.0 would also include an Su-30SM2 and AESA Typhoon when they are added alongside 120C-5 buffs.
15.7 - Next from top
Eurofighters, Su-30SM. These two planes are the next best in the game, and they are a step above something like the F-15E.
15.3 - The next best planes that are distinctly worse than 15.3s
F-15E/I, F-15 Golden Eagle - F-15s should be there because of their distinct advantages over the lower BR counterparts, while also not being good enough for a higher BR.
Mirage 2K 5-Fs - Because of the MICA and solid flight performance.
15.0 - The best of the current 13.7s
F-15C/F-15J - These could be a side grade to the F-15E, but they should be a lower BR based on the GEs BR
J-11B - This is the second best Flanker, and I’m not sure why it’s still at 13.7 in game. It has better missiles and better flight performance than the Su-27SM, and a higher missile count than the F-16s
J-10A - In my experience this is roughly on par with the J-11B, but it also could be 14.7.
The 14.0 F-18s, excluding the Finnish non MLU one - They have 10 Aim-120s and acceptable flight performance. I don’t think they would be good enough for a BR higher than this.
F-16I Sufa - I am unsure if this should be 15.0, or 14.7, but I’m leaning towards 15.0 because of the increased engine power over the F-16Cs.
14.7 - The rest of the current 13.7s
Finnish F-18C - The worst F-18C, and it deserves a lower BR.
F-16AM, OCU, C, Barak II - These are all better than the planes below the, but they will be outclassed any higher.
F-2A (?) - Great flight performance, radar, as well as a decent loadout, but its lack of HMS will keep it from going any higher
Gripen Cs (excluding the South African one) - Excellent flight performance, incredible CM count, but they are lacking a larger missile loadout.
Su-27SM - Worse J-11B, and it’s weak ARH missiles will keep it from going any higher.
14.3 - The best 13.3s and worst 13.7s
Su-34 - It’s a heavier Su-27 with a better loadout, but it’s lack of HMS and flight performance keep it from going higher.
JAS39C (South Africa) - R-Darters are worse than Aim-120s, so this plane deserves a lower BR.
JF-17 (?) - This could either be 14.0 or 14.3, but I do find it to be a very competitive plane despite its flaws, so it will go here.
F-16D - This is in between the other F-16Cs and F-16A ADF and its counterparts.
14.0 - The rest of the 13.3s
J-11A - Worse than the Su-34, but it will be too powerful any lower
F-16A ADF/F-16A MLU - Worse than the F-16D, but better than the planes below it.
Mig-29SMT - A weak airframe, and weak loadout puts this here, below planes like the JF-17 or Su-34, but better than the gen 3 ARH carriers
Su-30MK2 - It’s a worse Su-27SM, and is on par with the J-11A
13.7 - The best of the current 13.0s
F-15A/J/Baz - Good Radar/RWR, and flight performance.
F-2A ADTW - Good Radar/RWR, and flight performance as well as access to IRCCM puts this on par with the F-15s and Flankers.
J11/Su-27 - Great SARH missiles, great IRCCM missiles, but the poor RWR and lack of ARH keep them from being higher.
Su-33 - Better RWR, more missiles, but worse flight performance than the other Flankers.
J-8F - Gen 3 ARH carrier with IRCCM missiles, with good flight performance and HMS.
Tornado F.3 Late - Gen 3 ARH carrier with IRCCM missiles, and a great CM count and decent loadout.
F-4F KWS - Gen 3 ARH carrier with IRCCM missiles. I don’t see how the other ARH carriers along side this are any better or worse, so they will all be the same BR.
13.3 - Most of the current 13.0s
Kfir C.10 - Worse than the other ARH carriers because of a low missile count, and no IRCCM. This could also go higher if needed.
JA37DI - No IRCCM missiles and a poor RWR put this below the 13.7 Gen 3s.
F-5TH - Poor loadout, and a relatively slow top speed for this BR.
F-14B - With Aim-9Ms this plane will become more competitive, but distinctly worse than the F-15As.
F-14 IRAF - It has Fakours.
AV-8B Plus - These are better than the Sea harrier FA2, and deserve a higher BR
JAS39A - High CM count, great flight performance, but a lack of a good SARH missile keeps this from going higher.
F-16A (Belgium) - Better than the Squadron F-16 below it.
Mig-29G - Similar situation as the Gripen and F-16, but it loses flight performance/RWR to gain 2 very good SARH missiles.
Mirage 4000 - 8 Magic 2s + a high CM count would put this at least on par with other planes at this BR.
13.0 - Worst of the current 13.0s, and the best 12.7s
Sea Harrier FA 2 - Worst 13.0, and it would be 12.7 if that didn’t mean it would face 11.7s.
F-16A OCU - Worse than the F-16A above it, this plane should go here.
Mig-29 (R-73+R-27R) Worse than the Mig-29G, but they would be better than the current 12.7 Mig-29s.
For aircraft below here:
F-14A gains 9Ls and stays at 12.7
The F-18s at 12.7 may move up to 13.0, but I can not be certain, because I have not played them. They may also need a loadout buff to do so.
Please forgive any mistakes/missed planes, or made a bad argument, and feel free to correct me, or suggest changes.
Also mods, please don’t lock this because I want to create an actual discussion on how to properly decompress rank 8, and to show that it can be easily done.