You actually get lots of updates, look at all the op cas options that will be coming in your mode! I’m sure you’re super excited about all the new munitions you’ll eat from the sky
As a Brit main (who also likes a lot of Morvran posts) my only complaint with the phoon was the shit radar, I’ve not unlocked the AESA yet so can’t comment but I don’t think there’s anything to complain about past that, it’s a great jet. Hopefully in the not too distant future we’ll get the AMK kit as well
Flightmodel- and Sensor-Suite-wise (RWR, MAW, AESA) it’s a very good if not the best plane. But the lackluster armament (AIM-9 and AIM-120 are as maneuverable as a whale and their reliability is questionable) for the forced furball meta currently in WT limits its effectiveness very much to BVR at high speeds or <1 km close-combat gun fights. The BVR part is limited to luck and absent-minded players as targets, the close-combat and WVR is dominated by MICA and R-73. Your only chance is to fly fast and low (or high if its cloudy) to catch and surprise unaware enemies and even then luck decides if your AIM-9M works or just thinks the opposite direction of the target is more beautiful.
So yes, excellent plane but wrong armament for the meta. A2G is good now with the SPICE, even if somewhat limited as it’s still a glide bomb and not a missile.
Agreed, think ASRAAM should improve things but won’t be as good as 9X in pure manoeuvrability but better in engergy, hopefully better than 9M turn wise, and much better energy wise.
Meteor will be end game, but I don’t think the phoons should get the 120D
Not really surprising as the ramjet (or throttleable ducted rocket) is the part which is most unique to the meteor and the core component for its performance. The flight profile can be as variable as it gets and even a shut-off + reignition is in the realm of possibility (pyrophoric fuel).
Going by that: Shouldn’t the AIM-120A/B/C be much more maneuverable after launch ingame? Currently they don’t seem to be able to maneuver at all even if they accelerate slow in comparison to other missiles.
I think these are far off or rather not needed as currently the maps are way too small for AA to hide anyway so ARMs would just kill AAs even more easily as they are already.