I don’t understand why people can’t understand that trying to compare apples with oranges doesn’t work -other that they both fruits.
Ofc F-18 will “ruin” 11,7 and that’s why it is 12.3 and 12.7 (the BRs that meet 11.7) . It’s more ^powerful^ .
But that’s not a thing about upranking or downranking the plane. That’s a compression issue and happens everywhere and it doesn’t work only for the MiG 23 , but since the MM is mixed imagine there are MANY more planes that can do nothing about it even in US or other nations.
It doesn’t mean that is right.
If it was me the game for F-18A and C early would be MiG 29s , F-16s variants . Those are hard equivalents. And all them were supplementary to Su-27s and F-14s/15s. That’s the game for them , variants between them match and counter eachother… France has M2Ks and M4K in a similar manner.
On the other hand there is no reason non PD phantoms to play against MLD (ex) , because you can find uprated 3 gens (let’s call them 3,5 gen) to match it with. There is always somewhere an uprated version of something… The latest F-4E for example had a CAA mode (let’s say a reprogrammed air-ground mode), that was essentially a type of MTI capability… sure it wasn’t good, but neither were the MTI… there was no perfect MTI . Give it 9L and AIM-7F and you have an equivalent.
It’s not that difficult. Make it a folded-new plane as well, if someone wants it let him play.
But it all depends what you want to do, what you want to picture in the game.
And yes not only MiG 23s have a problem with it…
Because there is always the counter argument… do 10,7s are equivalents to MLD? or even 11.0s? Is MiG 23M a valid opponent for MLD?
First it was the R-27ER that ruined your MiG-23MLD, then it was the Mirage F1C and Magic 2s that ruined 11.7 for you and now it’s the F/A-18s.
Yes the 11.3-14.0 BR range needs decompression and the Hornets should move up with that decompression, but whenever that is done you’ll just find another jet or missile to complain about.
Just because it has a lot of missiles doesn’t mean it has to do high altitude long range BVR. The 18C late also has 10x amraams, should that plane also do high altitude long range BVR? No, because it’s dogshit at that role despite having 10x amraams.
Which is funny, because you can arguably be competitive with the MiG 23ML. Then again, it could also be me, but I have no issue fighting F-18s with R-24Rs.
i always say it and some of u still saying it isn’t true.
the F/A-18A has 4 AIM-7M, good TWR and maneuverability and a decent radar.
the F-15A has the same 4 AIM-7M, good TWR and good radar.
so i think it isn’t that hard to put 18A in 13.0 or at least 12.7
just give the 18A AIM-9M and it can go to 13.0.
even MiG-29A can dominate and it has less missiles, its bigger and due to the reason that its soviet, has worst radar