I can’t understand why this plane is at a Battle Rating (BR) of 13.7 when it doesn’t seem to have anything exceptionally privileged over other aircraft at or near that BR.
It carries fewer and worse FOX-3 missiles, and apart from 4 IR missiles, it lacks crucial features like a helmet-mounted display (HMD) and a proper radar with TWS (Track While Scan) mode.
So, why was it “rewarded” with a 13.7 BR? As a result of this matchmaking, we’re constantly facing opponents with superior radar missiles every single match, putting us at a significant disadvantage.
Could someone who understands the situation, or perhaps a developer involved, please explain the reasoning behind this? I’d really appreciate the insight.
4+4 is a fairly typical loadout actually, especially when you consider at the same BR is aircraft like the Griepn C and F-16C with only a 2+4 loadout (yes the F-16C can run 0+6, but I doubt many actually run that loadout). So the F-2 actually has a better loadout than its direct equivalents. Also AAM-3 and AAM-4 are some of the best IR and ARH missiles in game at the moment
It also has an AESA radar which puts it far ahead of most other aircraft in the game, including most at 14.0 in terms of radar performance. (it should have TWS, no idea why its bugged for you)
I’ve also heard its one of the best low speed dogfighters in the game at the moment, easily top 5, if not maybe top 3.
lack of HMD is maybe the only weakness it actually has. (I think there is effort to get it that at some point as it was trialed, which was enough for the Rafale and a few others)
THere might be a compression issue, but the F-2A is probably one of the strongest 13.7s in game at the moment, Just behind aircraft like the F-15Cs (which probably should be 14.0 anyway)
Except you can run 6 AMRAAMs on the F-16C if you want to.
In all honesty it doesn’t really matter that it has an AESA radar. Sure they are better than mechs but it’s not that important.
Not like you get into most dogfights anyway. Sacrificing everything else for dogfight performance is foolish since you only get into a decent dogfight once every 15 games.
More like in the middle. It’s better than Gripens and Flankers (not Su-30SM and J-11B) but anything else it’s most on par with or worse.
I know Id probably run 2+4 in it most of the time if I had it.
Perhaps, perhaps not, given all the TWS+ issues we’ve had of late, TWS ESA has pretty been the only relaible radar at the moment, but OP said the radar was bad, that I very much doubt.
No, probably not, but its worth being said. Especially if OP wants it dropped down in BR, it then could potentially end up at the same BR as something like the Tornado F3 Late if it ever gets fixed/buffed and I dont think the Tornado F3 and F-2A should be at the same BR. Even at 13.3.
Might be a compression issue, but I largely think the F-2A would always be closer to the Typhoons and Rafales than the FA2s and J-8Fs, etc etc.
What is actually at 13.7 of note?
So its better than the Su-27SM/J-11A , Better than the Gripens. Id say equal to the F-16Cs. Maybe a tad weaker than the J-10A? Probably weaker than the M2K but only really down to how OP MICA are at the moment.
and then the F-15Cs , which probably should be at 14.0 anyway. So maybe middle of the pack ish, but id personally place it above average at 13.7
The AAM-4 missiles are absolutely worthless. They can’t compete with the AIM-120C or even the MICA EM in terms of G-force or accuracy; they’re even worse than the AIM-120A. This alone indicates an unfairness regarding BR [Battle Rating]. In the game, you’re playing against 14.0 BR aircraft that use maneuver mode, so dogfighting isn’t really happening much.
I’ve started to think that developers are intentionally making vehicles or equipment strong when they don’t have information or espionage on them. They might be wanting players to research these, or perhaps hoping citizens of those countries will conduct espionage.
Yeah I have no idea how can they find the radar bad when its performance is excellent. I am just saying that other radars are good enough to not cause problems most of the time so AESA is not really needed. At least in my experience.
This is offtopic but I hate how ESA radars leave targets not in the search zone on the scope. Makes it so much harder to tell what on the scope am I actually looking at compared to stuff 6kms lower.
I don’t see why it can’t be 13.3. The reason planes with like F3 can’t go lower is because they have ARH missiles. So in that aspect F-2 and Tornado F-3 are basically the same. 4 ARH each. Sure it would be kinda sad to see both of these at the same BR since the F-2 is obviously better that’s more to do with the F3 being a 11.0 airframe with AMRAAMs.
I am not sure even decompression can save that thing.
I mean it’s better than the 4 Gripens that should by all accounts go down to 13.3 and maybe even to 13.0 for the British one. And the two flankers.
I would put it even slightly below the 4 F-16s because of only 4 ARH but its cutting it close.
Things I would for sure put above are the 2 Mirages, J-10A, J-11B and all 3 F-15s.
If we pushed 14.0s to 15.0 we could actually have these fine adjustments. It is kinda sad that such a long awaited plane is so mid on arrival.
That is actually one of the major strengths for an AESA. I actually want them to model P-Track on M-Scans.
Perhaps it needs a keybind toggle though
Eh… Maybe, but I think the only option is to increase the BR of all 14.0s up, even just 14.3. I think moving anything down is just a recipe for disaster.
Because then you’d need to move some of the 13.3s down, and then move some of the 13.0s down and so on and so on.
I know it is. I would just like if targets outside of the current search window were colored differently or something. Or if it would take more time for the cursor to snap to them.
Yeah fair enough. We need decompression. But I don’t think lowering F-2 would change much for things at 12.3 for example. As for lowering current 13.3s I guess MiG-29SMT can go down to 13.0 since it’s absolute garbage.
what? AAM-4s are better or comparable to AIM-120s? The only time people run AIM-120s on the J-15J(M) is to run 2+6 (cant use AAM-4s on inner 4 pylons).
Also 4+4 isn’t the detriment people think it is. You can counter HMS/HMD lack with the vertical ACM mode (not perfect but it works).
Arguably, F-15J(M) could go up to 14.0 if it receives some more upgrades it had irl.
MICA-EMs are the best missiles in the game. Pretty sure AAM-4s has better acceleration and is more nimble but is slightly shorter range. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t use them in BVR.