Recent changes I’ve noticed on the Dev-Server is the weird nerf to all the F-16 Countermeasures across all airframes. About 30 Standard countermeasures on all F-16s have been converted to the 15 “Large Caliber” Countermeasures that almost nobody asks for has been applied to all F-16 Models, including what is (Was) arguably the best F-16 to play BR for BR (F-16-50).
Another intriguing change is the Addition of nerfing the F-15 Countermeasure count from 240 to 120 Standard and 60 “Large Caliber” Type. The only F-15 to benefit from this weird change is the F-15I with a Countermeasure buff from 300 to 360 Standard Countermeasures. Again, a change that almost nobody asked for and another artificial nerf pretending to be a “Trade-Off”. Very Cute.
Honestly at this point I’m just going to stop playing Western Airframes and Cease all Investment/Resources to Western Airframes.
You should be able to choose if you want 15 large caliber or 30 small in each flare box since irl that’s how it works (i suspect they are doing this because high tier Russian planes have few cms so they want to “balance” it around that since its Gaijin and top tier revolves around Russia for them, also thats why they have not fixed BOL effectiveness for years even after being provided clear sources)
Large countermeasures are generally better then smaller ones? And split loads is generally accurate to how they’re ran IRL.
The only annoying thing is the flare pattern on F-16s starting at double pop, then going to single pop at lower counts. If they were consistently single pop it would be a lot more convenient. And kind of same for the F-15s, which should have single pop flares from what i’m aware.
Yes and No, yes the Large Cals are superior and yes they SOMETIMES did run an odd count. However the USAF, USN, and USMC always swapped between an equal load for dual shot or an odd load for single shots.
With Modern Warfare, a victim of countermeasure count is clearly the J-15T, irl using ECM for Radar Missiles and a low Flare Count.
No, Countermeasure effectiveness depends primarily on the specific threat. And they type of Flare dispensed. For example a dual color seeker will have a much easier time keeping track of the Aircraft if they aren’t spectrally matched in both bands.
Also it’s probably about time TRDs like the ALE-50 are introduced
I was specifically referring to warthunder, where they are. I know about how different flare types IRL have their own advantages based on rise time and operational bands. But in warthunder larger just are better.
For a single threat, sure. but if you face multiple and a single normal one was sufficient you would extend the number of engagements you could survive.
So it’s probably only useful against tracking suspension IRCCM, and basic missiles.
Yeah, twice the pops of normal caliber flares is better against tracking suspension or missiles lacking IRCCM. But also like, F-15s and F-16s in warthunder encounter gate width far more then tracking suspension, and for defeating tracking suspension large caliber flares are more efficient.
If you need to deploy 2 or more standard CMs to defeat a threat but only 1 large CM then its a net gain and its worth the swap.
But if you only need to deploy 1 standard CM to defeat a threat (which is the case for a lot non-IRCCM threats in most aircraft) then its a net loss and you have instead halved your CM count. Also pre-flaring in my experience doesnt really matter too much about the flare strength, which again, just means you cant pre-flare as often.
Then there is also the little issue that you cant really control or really have any fore-knowledge of which CM you are going to drop next. So is it a large and you only really need one or do you assume its a standard and you need 2-3? (this is why on the Typhoon I run pure flares in the LCMs and pure chaff in the BOL, I know what Im dropping and when)
