It is a compression problem, but its also hard enough for many between 10.0-11.0, let alone many above 11.0 as well to deal with the F-5s already in game. F-5C/E have always been annoying to fight because of their good all round performance and cold fusion engines that mitigate the advantage of having decent IR missiles greatly. In a 1v1 an FRS1e vs F-5CC, the FRS1e is basically forced to only use guns, because 9Ls will be totally useless.
the 11.3 ones are easily some of the strongest aircraft at that BR and incredibly potent aircraft in most theatres. I wont fight them even in 12.0 aircraft like the Tornado F3 unless I can strike from range with a Skyflash and I avoid getting even close as 9Ls will again be useless to use, if i can even get a lock at any meaningful range with them.
I think all F-5s need a major IR signature nerf and made actually “hot” or they need to be a higher BR than they are now. Only real thing that mitigates them is missile performance, but 9Ls are not weak IR missiles. this F-5 will easily be one of the strongest aircraft at that BR. If it has more than 60 CMs, and the 320 (alone or in addition to the standard 60?) then that gives it one of the strongest CM loadouts of that BR as well. Even running 50/50 split on CMs, 160 Flares puts it above most by quite a margin and it could avoid any IR threat with ease.
if it also has a better radar and RWR than the F-5A/E do, then again, those are just further strengths in its favour.
Also F-5A(G) at 11.7 in sim would be worthless without a radar to me. Unable to find targets and know their position hurts.
I think once we decompress things will be much better. Regardless gaijin seems to balance more so on missile loadout than performance. The JA37DI is 12.0 with 2 RB71(DF) and 4 RB74, bigger engine(so more of a heat signature) and 320 BOL cm pod. At the same BR we have the FGR.2 with 4 9G and 4 skyflash. And also at 12.0 we have the mirage F1 with 2 magic 2 and 2 matra 550R. Loadout is a very big aspect of BR. I do think the FCU could be higher because it has both the radar gunsight, 4 missiles, and the good engines. But i dont think it should be 12.0 when i can force him to stay low and slow compared to me before i gain alt and radar him from above. Id be willing to test the FCU at 12.0 but i dont think they would performan great. Regardless id like to see them after some decompression.
Assuming it has the standard F-5E radar. Its better than quite a few for that BR, like the F-111s/Tornado Gr1 or the Harrier Gr7/Tornado Gr4 at 12.7.
Speaking of SIM. IF the FRS1s get dropped down to 11.0, then that is a fight that will suck. F-5G will hold every singel advantage and steam roll that bracket.
Decompression is of course needed and the on-going compression this BR change cycle is not going to help. But I dont think I will be touching many 10.7-11.3 aircraft for a good long while in either RB or SB until these have diminished in their use and I dont think that will be all that quick. Depending on what is and is not modeled, they could be very very potent aircraft.
I dont touch that BR anyways since i hate Air unless im playing any of the Meta air nations. I haven’t touched the J35D in years and probably never will as long as all aspect slingers exist especially when you almost have to carry a fuel pod in place of missile if you want to extend in combat.
I prefer 11.0 esq vehicles but again i only play phantoms or my Mig 27’s (30mm is an actual lazer but not a suitable replacement for flight performance or missiles lol) 13.0 is either F16, Su-27, or F15 i dont enjoy any other vehicles in that range.
If… and I do stress if… the FRS1s ever get finished. It will be a BR I would be playing all the time. but at the moment, I dont see the point much. Im usually either in the Tornado Gr4 at 12.3 or Typhoon at 14.0. I may pick up the F3 at 12.0 if I was in the mood for it, thats rather fun in SB. F3 Late might get played if it moves down, but with the compression at the moment, FA2 wont be touched much for a while, even if it gets finished.
I also need to crack on grinding France and Italy with the AMX A-1A and Mirage F1C-200 at some point.
See i would play my favorite aircraft if they weren’t only decent 4 years ago. So realistically i have no interest, and the 2nd favorite aircraft is so far from the Meta that i need to play it in a full downtier or against anyone without radar missiles to somewhat enjoy it. Thankfully i olay a lot of nations so i dont have to worry about my favorite aircraft being trash when i can just turn my brain off in my Su-27 or any of my US jets. Or play my strike master and hunt down Do 335’s with my British infantry men hiding inside my gunpods. (So little damage…)
Probably a typo, i mean they haven’t gotten even half of the vehicle correct so whos to say they should try when writing out their descriptions for the event.