Because not only was the F-16AJ never built, the version added to the game is not a historical design either, but Gaijins interpretation of a “serialized” Japanese F-16 using the about a decade newer F-16A ADF as reference. It is simply not a historical aircraft, which is why it should be replaced by a real alternative.
It will likely take the F-16AJ to the premium section, which then makes the F-2 come after the F-1. That is a nice branch of domestically developed Japanese aircraft while the capability the AJ fills now in terms of gameplay is taken over by the F-16A-30 in the ASEAN fighter branch of the tree.
They have done this before with ahistorical vehicles in the German tree, and announced it for similar cases in the Japanese tree once they have replacements like the R2Y2s and Ho-Ri Production.
Here they would even have an ideal replacement, giving a historical F-16A variant to replace an ahistorical one.
Work in Progress - We will gather Feedback for about one Week from now and start working on the Ground Sub-TT suggestion in the meantime, Heli’s coming after that or maybe at the same time.
It just takes time even with multiple people working on this until it can be submited.
Well, I kind of indicated it, since the Japanese version is indicated in quotation marks…
Doubt. There is no point in this, it is easier to add liveries for AJ, since any earlier version of F-16 ASEAN does not add anything new. And besides, why would anyone want to research a 400,000 RP plane again, when you already have it?
The issue here is it’s too different still for that.
ASEAN F-16s (save for two airframes used for spare parts from Thailand) are Block 15 or later, while the AJ is a Block 10.
There’s also the clear split between the OCUs which have better ground attack capabilities than the AJ, but no radar missiles, and the ADFs that could use radar missiles (AMRAAM in service, not sure if SARH missiles were used) but no ground attack armament.
So if they just changed the AJ into one of these, players might get upset and would prefer to keep the plane they already had alongside the new option.
Which is why the F-16A-30 was chosen as replacement, which has some unique features in the Block 30 airframe and drogue chute, and trade Sparrows for AGM-65D compared to the AJ. This is an aircraft that still fits the same BR and role, but also offers at least a small amount of new flavor with it.
It would boil down to what armament options would Gaijin allow. It should have the capability to equip the standard F-8E weapons from the AIM-9B to the AIM-9D and personally thats what I would prefer since if the F-8H is going to be implemented for the USA tech tree, it can still get the experimental F-8H (BuNo 147057) that mounted the AIM-9L and AIM-95 Agile. Even if the Philippine Air Force doesnt really have AIM-9Cs and AIM-9Ds, im pretty sure Gaijin has implemented vehicles similar to this situation.
It should make for an interesting update and competitive with an expected higher BR because of the engines as well.
I personally lean more of the Philippines being a subtree for the United Korean tech tree instead of Israel since the Israel tech tree can still get the superior exhibition versions they have that they exported to the Philippines (ie. Sabrah Light Tank and UT30). Still, as an ASEAN founding member, I really do think that the Philippines should be in this tech tree to preserve the ASEAN-ness of this tree. If we start splitting up the countries to other nations’ tech tree, it would probably ruin this tree’s integrity.
There are various options in the ASEAN tech tree suggestions that can still be valuable in the perspective of the Japanese tech tree. Of course there is the T610 Super Pinto and F-8H but it could also have the OV-10M SLEP and AS.211 which can augment Japan’s lack of CAS options. For ground, the M113 UT25 and ASCOD II C2 vehicle technically can be equipped with proxy rounds. For helis, it can also offer the T-129B Atak that is in-game and AUH-76 ‘Eagle’. Its not really a lot but its still something that are mostly unique and in subtrees, uniqueness really is the key.
Im pretty sure when South Vietnam was falling, plenty of airframes retreated to the surrounding ASEAN nations. The RTAF has Skyhawks in its museum at least taken from retreating RVNAF stocks. In regards to the Navy, plenty of RVN Naval Ships ended up augmenting the Philippine Navy as well.
It really was such a shame the AMX was not purchased more by Southeast Asia, they marketed heavily in our region, it was even the primary choice as the LIFT for the Philippine Air Force for the 1995 Modernization and if the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis didnt hit, this is what we would probably have instead of the AS.211
While Elbit did integrate/make the various systems for the Sabrah Light Tank and the UT M113, I don’t believe these were ever adopted or trialed in Israeli service.
Because of that, I think it would be more reasonable for both the ASEAN subtree and Israel to have the Sabrah Light Tank each (to avoid any squabbling), but the M113 in the former, and something like an Eitan in the latter.
It will have a higher br than the “Japanese” version. It’s hard to call it a replacement. Need to wait and see which weird ones will even make it into the Japanese branch, and go from there
yeah even with the testing they found out that the AMX are generally better than the Hawks, but the major thing that holds the purchase back was the engine with its high fuel use and relatively complex maintance in addition to the lower lifespan, it kinda seals the deal unfortunately, even if the Hawks are technically “worse”, the operating cost is lower
It is heavier than the current AJ, which will result in slightly worse flight performance and it has no access to radar missiles. However it does get a drogue chute and IR guided AGMs (still no GBUs compared to the US OCU).
It is a sidegrade, not an upgrade. While it performs better at air to ground, it performs worse at air to air which balances out the changes.
This is not an aircraft that would get a higher BR, it would stay at the same BR the AJ is at.
We can’t take care of everything, just the most unique / necessary stuff is considered and placed carefully into the Tree by us, otherwise it would be a mess, even though we add as much as possible at the same time to show what’s possible to add overall, including the Honorable Mentions lists.
As of now, every rank has at least 2-3 Vehicles (less at low ranks), the Ho-Ri got replaced and lack of ATGM- (F&F-), Anti-Air Vehicles and open Gaps has been fixed - Oplot-T and Leopard 2SG join the top tier MBT line-ups.
Further Discussion regarding Ground, Heli and Naval additions shall be moved to our main Thread;
Subtrees can have unique vehicles and unique vehicle modifications? What a revalation! Gaijin showed me that they are just near exact copies of other nations stuff, with very little uniqueness.