As we can see, the F-16 ADF and Taiwanese MLU are currently at BR 13.3 thanks to the addition of AIM-120 missiles in the current airframes, however they still lack IRCM missiles (AIM-9M) which they used in their AMI, USA ANG and ROCAF service. These missiles in the current BR of these 3 aircraft are more than necessary, considering that in the same BR you find the Mig-29SMT with Helmet-Mounted-Sight, double off the countermeasures (116 in total) and a better radar (Zhuk).
So, for vehicle balance reasons, I suggest adding the AIM-9M and not changing the aircraft’s BR. Why? These aircraft do not have the HMD capability to extract the “full” capability of the AIM-9M
The FM difference is nullified when you have the HMS, double the countermeasures and a better radar, I fly both, Mig-29SMT is not that different from the ADF and MLU airframes in the current BR 13.3 in terms of gameplay. I also don’t think he would go to 13.7 just because of the 9M, they are aircraft with few countermeasures and without HMS, OCU is in 13.7 for no reason, probably because of the HMD they installed on it.
HMS with R-73s might help to even the odds in dogfight, but its usefulness will decrease further you are from the target.
The FM on the hand will help both with visual range and beyond visual range. I know for certain id much rather be entering notch with F-16 than with Phantom for example
Wasnt ADFs radar updated together with AMRAAMs?
Dont get me wrong, I dont think OCU is 13.7 material with current max BR, moreso the ADF due to low CM count.
But since were not getting decompression, id much rather see bad F-16s than entire BR range ruined, because I dont think there would be much for 12.3 to do against ADF that can carry both AMRAAMs and 9Ms.
He received the APG-66v3 (same as the F-16MLU), and I actually agree with you about the OCU, unfortunately it is a complicated subject precisely due to the compression of the BRs, if they raised the BR to 14.7 it would help a lot.
Imo, HMD with the Aim-9M is irrelevant anyway, as the Aim-9M is not a HOBS missile. It is of most use in targetting a radar/IRST onto the desired target in the furball that is ARB. But I rarely if ever fire an Aim-9M more than a few degrees off the nose, which can easily be achieved through the use of the radar if really needed. At the very least, Ive never struggled in aircraft like the Harrier and Tonka, to get the missile going where it needs to go.
HMD only really comes relevant with HOBS weapons such as R-73 and Magic II which can make use of the feature fully
Italian F-16s most likely had Aim-9Li1 and not Aim-9Ms
The difference in CMs might be an issue, but adding IRCCM I think would more than likely simply increase the F-16A ADFs BR up to 13.7 alongside the others. The only exception is the F-16D at 13.3, but that does have the weaker FM and ARH of the rest which generally has the bigger impact.
It is ultimately a compression issue, but I dont really see a solution that works for the F-16A ADF without coming with a negative. The better soltuion probably would have been to add second F-16s for the current 13.3 BR rather than moving the existing airframes
AIM-9Ms would move them to 13.7.
Which you already have J-11A…
HMS is not a BR changing feature.
Countermeasure amount is clearly not a BR changing feature [see Sukhois].
Mig-29SMT and F-15E are significantly worse airframes to F-16A Block 15.
to be fair, at 13.3, you’ll got either the AIM-120, or the AIM-9M,…
but not both, as demonstrated with the recent change (AIM-120 for every F-16’s that recieved AIM-120), and the presence of the Belgian F-16A (13.0) in french TT which is already 2 BR steps higher than F-16A blk 10 (12.3), simply because it have 9M’s instead of 9L’s
Why’d you bunch the F-15E here?
It’s out of place. Streagle is missile bus (Sure, ADF can go with 6x AIM120 but Streagle can do same but with two Sidewinders more)
Also F-15E is faster and has more AoA (If at speed. At low speeds, ADF might outturn it)
F-15E is a bit better than Mig-29SMT now, probably due to an update to F-15E since its initial drag nerf near its release. It’s still notably worse than the “worst” of the F-16s.
Max G for F-16s is currently around 11 - 12.
Max G for F-15E is around 10 - 11 having the same fuel time.
Their AOA would be similar if not slightly more for F-16A.
Ik the f16a has a lot of aoa that it shouldn’t have but thats beside the point because the aircraft isnt 9g limited
From experience the f16a can out pull the f15e because of its fm that it has currently
You can literally pulls 30° instantaneously at proper speeds
I also want to clarify the f15a can do the same or more in some cases
In sustain rates though the f15e is much better because of the 2 monster engines that it has
Feel free to tell me if am wrong
