They can work but in slow close range dog fights they do not pull anywhere near as much as an R-73 or Magic 2
We have these wonderful HMD that just doesnt have a use excluding queuing the R Darter shots.
New J-11B and Rafale will likely edge the Typhoon in VWR due to superior missiles and similar flight models.
We als stuck with potentially 2-4 missiles that just are not any real use at the close of the game.
Ok the 9(li) is in the same bracket as the M
Not anymore at top tier these missiles arent cutting it.
F-15 full burner on the deck outran it at 3km
Su-27 stalling out dropped 4 flares and decoyed it.
R-73 at close range is really hard to defeat as is Magic 2.
The issue with the Aim9M…is why would you use it over the 120?
It doesnt have a real purpose and doesnt add anything to capability of the top tier loadouts.
Sure go down a BR bracket and the F-16/Gripen etc will use the Aim9M more because the SARH missile efficacy is not of the level of the ARHMs
In my opinion the biggest issue is the range (should be around 15km).
As a sim player it is quit annoying cause it don’t have the advantage of the other top tier missiles
In sim, 9M is by far best ir missile together with ET. ET is hard to spot due to its side aspect range and well, you wont be spotting 9M whatsoever unless you are focused on plane launching it.
Most Jets are too fast to leverage it, why wouldnt I just use an ARHM in the same scenario?
and the IRCCM seems to be far easier to flare than it was a few updates ago.
The time I want an IR missile is close range, but thats just me. I am not saying the 9M is a bad missile Im saying the meta has clearly shifted to missiles that can pull more G and are great for merges which the 9M/L and Li arent.
Thats not been my experience, not at top tier most head on missiles shots that are IR are flared and then you merge and are at a disadvantage unless its a jet using 9s
9M is great at lower Brs and great at any BR in ground battles but in RB it’s not chief.
Would a Russian or French main swap their R-73 and Magic 2 for a 9M…
Every time I was able to shoot some on merges, whether in F-16C, Grippen or F-15 I got the kill. Unlike Magic or R73 which are much more easily visible and avoidable
After that I almost only play in simulator, I couldn’t tell you what it’s like in realism
Yes but the 9M is meant to have a stronger motor thats one of its strengths. You wouldnt attempt an R-73 shot from that range. Bare in mind the F-15 was turning at that point and still managed to level out and kinematically defeat the missile.
yes it closes the aperture , when you flare it then opens it again which is why dropping a chain of flares while stalling should have killed that Su-27
Yes used to be they are defeated too easilly now, by random flaring and pure performance of these aircraft now in game. 120 just off side shot is pretty reliable
To make a ranking of the best IR missiles in sim we would have in first place the 9M followed closely by the 27ET, the Magic 2 only comes far in the ranking