This thread will only focus on Air RB, so we will ignore factors like guided bombs for CAS.
With the warmly received BR change to the F-15A/F-15J, which had been 13.0 (like F-2A right now) but were reduced to 12.7.
I think it is time that we review the F-2A ADTW as well, in gameplay terms, it stands as a side grade to F-15J, sacrificing many benefits of the F-15J for a better airframe that will help in 1v1 duels.
There are many areas that the F-2A ADTW is worse in performance, with some nuances.
Radar (NCTR and quicker scanning, but the lack of SRC mode means you can’t reliably use AAM-3 with radar on when dealing with multipathing targets, and TWS+ locks the radar in place; the radar would be better than F-15 radar if we’re comparing ARH slingers)
Acceleration to speed/climbing
Slower overall speed
Less minigun bullets (512 vs 940)
Half CMs (120 vs 240)
Some graphs showing the advantages of the F-15J in non-dogfighting
Other than flight performance, none of the metrics are viewed as good, only being rated 50-60% with yellow (mediocre) color, though I don’t care about ground attack due to this being an ARB post.
F-2A ADTW shouldnt go lower, what should happen is all these 13.3 premium Su-30s to go to 13.7 (I dont even know why chinese Su-30MKK with 6 PL-12s sits at 13.3 while J-11B is 13.7) and the other ARH carrier planes such as J37DI. F-16A, AV-8 to go to 13.3, and more decompression overall
F-2A ADTW except good radar and airframe and “best” (im saying “best” since I had them go for a flare or missile rear aspect with enemy afterburner on) its literaly outshined by every Su-27/30 series (ADTW should be facing Su-27/33), would be fair to face mostly 13.0-12.7 planes rather than what I have experienced (in 300 matches got only 5 downtiers, YES I COUNTED THEM)
