The CLAWS is the worst split-type SPAA, featuring the lowest, dumbest, and most easily obstructed towed radar, along with a launcher vehicle that has no VLS. When a CLAWS launcher and a Strela-10M2, positioned closely together, face a freshly spawned Arcade mode aircraft—with the CLAWS scanning with its radar before firing an AIM-9X, while the Strela-10M2 fires a 9M37M immediately—the 9M37M somehow hits first…? The BR placement for SPAAs in Realistic Battle makes sense, because the Strela-10M2 has no search radar of its own, and the CLAWS’ position isn’t revealed on the minimap. But in Arcade mode, this makes no sense! I once saw a player in Arcade who used only the Strela-10M2, got a nuke, and dropped it.
This clearly exposes the balance issues in Arcade mode. The CLAWS, as a split-type SPAA, becomes a disadvantage in Arcade’s always-spotted environment—the radar vehicle is easily destroyed, and once it’s gone, the launcher vehicle is automatically destroyed as well, making the entire system useless. Meanwhile, the Strela-10M2, despite lacking a search radar in real life, benefits from Arcade’s map-wide spotting mechanic, effectively giving it “free full-map radar.” On top of that, its 9M37M missiles have excellent low-altitude maneuverability and resistance to countermeasures, allowing it to easily outperform other, supposedly more advanced, anti-air systems.
From a purely technical performance perspective, the 9M37M and AIM-9X are products of different generations. The 9M37M, designed specifically for short-range, low-altitude air defense, has a high launch velocity and rapid climb rate. In close-range engagements, it can indeed reach the target sooner than an AIM-9X, which might need to turn first. That, in itself, aligns with the weapon’s characteristics. The problem, however, is that the Strela-10M2 gains excessive situational awareness in Arcade mode—a SPAA without radar can spot targets at the same time as the CLAWS, which possesses advanced radar. This completely defeats the purpose of vehicle design.
The ADATS is the SPAA right before the CLAWS. I absolutely love this anti-air/tank destroyer hybrid—I’ve destroyed 143 tanks and 489 aircraft with it 😎. Its main issues are that its tracking radar is easily blocked, it can’t fire while moving, and at long ranges, you start to wonder if the missile is still in the air (no smoke, no tracer—just a stick flying through the sky 🤣). I mention the ADATS because the CLAWS hasn’t given me a better experience than the ADATS. I’m not qualified to suggest mechanical changes to SPAAs, but I do think the BRs for the CLAWS and Strela-10M2 in Arcade mode need adjustment. The CLAWS at 12.3 isn’t strong enough, and the Strela-10M2 at 11.0 is too strong (just in Arcade mode).
(Because I really wanted to play top-tier American SPAA, I spent a whole day grinding out 200,000 research points. Then, since I didn’t have enough crew slots for the CLAWS, I paid Gaijin real money to purchase a sixth crew slot—my first purchase in six years of playing War Thunder. Wrong decision. Both of them!)