I don’t know how to make this request, but I think the British Phantoms should move down a BR.
They lack good radar missiles, with their AIM-9G missile being able to outrange the Skyflash in some situations, and the Tornado F.3 being at the same BR with better missiles, radar, rwr, top speed, and similar maneuverability. I am not saying we need to up the Tornado’s br, it is perfectly capable there. But, at the same BR, you have the F-4J/S. Better Sparrows, agile eagle, (technically) better IR missiles, and better radar.
If the BRs on the phantoms would not decrease, then they should at least get their fuel pods, ground pounding capabilities, and AIM-9L’s with their pods.
My main point is that at 11.7, the FG/FGR’s would be a step above the F-4E where it should be, being faster and a better radar, but will the trade off of maneuverability, but behind the navy phantoms where they are generally superior besides acceleration, and behind the Tornado F.3 Early, where it has all aspect missiles and longer range Sparrows.
If anyone knows how I can make this request to Gaijin, please let me know!
Yeah, the British Phantoms shouldn’t be at the same BR as their US Naval counterparts whatsoever and whoever decided so clearly don’t have a real grasp on how ridiculous it is. In my opinion the best solution would be to give the FGR.2 and J(UK) the AIM-9L and moving only the FG.1 down to 11.7.
We will have to wait for the next BR change. Likely sometime this month. But yes, it is on my list too. There is 0 justification for their current BR with their current loadout. I could almost forgive the F3 and the FGR2/FG1 for being the same BR before this decompression. But now… It is just stupid
Skyflash DFs are the best SARH they were equipped with. Only better before the adoption of the AMRAAM was the SuperTEMPS which are a Tornado exclusive.
So yes Aim-9Ls would be the only AAM upgrade possible and with 2 identical aircraft. The FGR2 could receive them and the FG1 could remain with 9Gs. If they require different BRs then so be it. If the FGR2 with 9Ls is fine at 11.7. Then the FG1 can be upgraded as well.
(As an honourable mention they could in theory also get SRAAM, as they were slated for the Phantoms, but they never actually equipped them)
Not just tracking. All-Aspect and Max Range as well. I also assume that things like the TVC being broken hasnt been fixed yet either. Need to go check at some point.
Yeah, I doubt they would. I think they need ot be either 11.7 with 9Gs or 12.0 with 9Ls and then review again after a few months to see if further changes are needed. I’ll be honest, I havent played the Phantom in ARB for a very very long time. But I have in ASB and even with its notably lower BR of 11.3 (use to be 10.7 before the decompress) it still feels underpowered vs the Mig-23s it faces.
Honestly. I have no idea. But thankfully there is a really easy solution. Give the FGR2 Aim-9Ls and leave it at 12.0. Then lower the FG1 to 11.7 but leave it with Aim-9Gs.
Then review again in the future. See what it is actually like. Maybe 11.7 with 9Ls would be fine. Maybe it wouldnt. But this way everyone wins and it creates some uniqueness between the 2 airframes.
Issue is, as i see it anyway, that phantom with PD radar, what is essentially a DF sparrow AND all aspect sidewinder at 11.7 would absolutely stomp in a downtier.
21 Bis airframes get away with having all aspect IRs at 11.3 by not having a radar missile (yeah i know there is R-3R, but that missile is a gimmick at best, even at 9.7) and R-60M/MKs having next to no range in tail chase. And other various attackers with all aspect missiles get away with them, well, due to being attackers (not dealing with whenever they are or are not undertiered).
AIM-9L on Phantom airframe would be devastating in a downtier.
My only reason why I think 11.7 might be fine, Is because the Mig-23MLD is 11.7 and that is overall about equal to maybe stronger than the the Phantoms. At least in their own way. But yeah, its a tricky call