F-4E Phantom: outdated classic

Machinery of War Discussion Aircraft
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1

Those who remember time when highest ceiling were MiG-21 vs F-4 know how “fun” it was to fly this bus.
Sadly now at BR (ARB) 11.3 is severely lacking, as there are airframes with better missiles backed-up by good enough radars.
F-4E Phantom in itself can win many gunfights (mostly in AoA or one circle turn), but that’s it. It’s held back by awful (at that BR) radar which doesn’t have PD or similar modes, missiles which can either be flared with single flare or just by doing barrel roll.
At it’s own BR it’s outclassed with R-23Rs, ASPIDE or just AIM-7E with better radar. There is a matter of opponents having all-aspect R-60s or just better AIM-9s.
Getting uptiered only makes misery stronger as not only everyone has even better all-aspect IR missiles, they get even stronger SARH with IOG.

The solution is easy:

  • add AIM-9L - asses how it will change F-4 (although we can say after nuclear event it would even the playfield)
  • add radar upgrade from 80s - if that’s not enough add AIM-7F (which would still be the stronges due to worse radar)

What are your thoughts about it?

  • Upgrade APG 120 system to later modifications
  • Upgrade missile armament (IR+SARH)
  • Implement later block of airframe with according upgrades
  • Add IRST such as TISEO system
  • Keep it as it is.
  • Lower/higher BR accordingly
0 voters
2

Not quite sure how you want to do this: Add a new “late” variant, or adjust the current one?

3

Such as?

4

all of the vehicles carrying those at 11.3 have basically the same issues with not having lookdown/allaspect capable radars and sure you start seeing MTI at 11.7 but it still has limitations

the problem is there is not much else at 11.3 that can serve as a direct comparison, everything that you see often is 11.0 or 11.7
its basically just the kurnass which is the same thing, ja37c which has significantly worse endurance and a much worse gun and the f104s which is kinda just not good

the f4e and kurnass are both very good aircraft at 11.3 and I imagine the F4e might have a better time than the kurnass as it doesnt fight the F/A-18A

5

JA37C smacks! Don’t have as many games in it relative to some of my others but it already is my highest W/R vehicle. The PD radar is excellent and whatever gun woes are made up by the radar gunsight, which you should really only need to use after getting the 2 free kills with skyflashes and then booming/zooming with RB24Js at 1500-1700kmh. My primary concern is those 12.0 F4s with the AIM-7F.

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6

yeah literally the best way to play around that BR, works excellently for the f4e the m61 slaps

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