Looks like X-2 based on the vert stabs. It’s been seeing a lot of use and movement for RCS and other testing for F-X, so not surprising that it pops up in new locations
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I was having a small bit of cope for some unseen more complete 5th gen prototype from it seeming larger in the photo and the cockpit seeming short, but if the size matches X-2 there’s really no reason to believe it’s anything else. Even the cockpit seems like it lines up unlike I thought at first glance.
X-2 overlayed roughly. It’s not perfect, but does show the cockpit and nose section line up much better than I thought.
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Isn’t the X-2 quite small? Compared to the F-2, it looks quite big in that image
The X-2 is about 3 feet shorter than a F-2 while a F-35 is about 2 feet longer than one. I also think that the shorter rudders makes it look more like a F-35.
The thing making it look excessively large is that from this angle the wings extend farther left in our perspective then the bodywork does. If you use the middle of the tailfins as a reference point for the end of the aircraft it can be visually noted to be smaller then the F-2.
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Anyone mind explain what the x-2 is exactly? Or just send me to the location with the information as i cant find anything on it on the forums.
ts is just as funny as RCAF CF-121
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Cheers
Even today it gets moved around for F-X-related testing?
Yeah, did some RCS testing back in March.
This tweet also mentions it being transported to Gifu in March which is where the mystery plane pics were taken.
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and you still have that horrid AIM-7E to grind before getting complete AIM-7M kit(infuriating)(should’ve swap that with E-2 or the outgoing F)
honestly could they bump it up to 12.7 if they give AAM-3 or they don’t want it clash with F-15J
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There is no reason to uptier him in this reason, F-15J have superior flight model and in same time 1 step higher, same loadout + AAM-3 and only 12.7. 12.0-12.3 just super broken, F-4EJ Kai fight FOX-3 carrier half of the time and have all reason to get AAM-3 without uptiering
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problem is it’s a supersonic fighter with 4 IR and 4 SARH, giving IRCCM will inevitably bump the EJ Kai BR up. For comparison in 12.3 you had the slow GR.7 Harrier being the all 4 IRCCM slinger (with BOL) and MiG-21 Bison while also supersonic and can carry 4 R-73 still limited on choice for either 2 SARH and 2 IRCCM or all 4 IRCCM (and they even got HMD with). Heck even MiG-29 was refused to give back R-73 to sit at 12.7 just because it can carry 6 with HMD included and they had to make 2 models to separate 12.7 and 13.0 (even though people have suggested it to get R-73 by removing the R-27ER/ET missiles).
to F-15J which already have 4x AAM-3 and 4x AIM-7M, 12.* literally most broken BRs. Moving EJ Kai have no sense at all, also R-73 with HMD much more deadly than AAM-3 without
F-4EJ Kai now half dead, it’s still pretty playable plane, but 40% of your enemies would be FOX-3 users (because nearly half of the games are uptiers), and what counter part you have? AIM-9L and AIM-7. Moving it to 12.7 will kill it, no matter will it have AAM-3 or not, even with “XAAM-4” it will die
it won’t change the fact that they will not give it anyways without bumping the BR up because it’s a supersonic fighter that has 8 AAMs even though it’s a brick, again other than the Bison and GR.7 mentioned earlier, other IRCCM carrier below 12.3 only carries 2 like the Mirage F1C and 2000C-S4/S5, the Su-25T/39/25SM3, JH-7 at 11.7(which is diabolical for the performance it has), A-10C won’t count because of their obvious being slow(and yes I know it carries 4).
We can say F-4EJ Kai to get AAM-3 and let it stay at 12.3 but no way they will let it happen or not before bumping the BR for balancing measures. Just think it’ll be a menace at 11.3 or 11.7 with like theoretical 4 or 6 kills (I fly Mirage 2000 on 11.3 downtier twice and it already so menacing to get 4 kills with 2 Magic II being easy confirm kills plus Super 530D, let alone F-4EJ Kai with 4 AAM-3 and 4 AIM-7M) even though downtier chances are nowadays slim thanks to Su-30MKK, F/A-18C Early, Su-33, F-2A ADTW and now F-14D.
That’s the point, it either don’t get AAM-3, or get them and die at this point (In fact that’s why it half dead for me). It would not be the problem with “agile eagle” (every other F-4s, except F-4C) but without it it would be just easy target for 13.3-13.7. I wouldn’t say about it if they didn’t moved F-15J to 12.7, and other near top tier planes, but now it’s other level problem, F-16, MiG-29, F/A-18 (and more) every battle, plus 60-80% of time uptier againts Su-33, early FOX-3 carriers and other super maneuverable (compare to F-4EJ) planes.
Im glad I get to flew on it while it was one of the best 12.3, and were better choice between it and F-16J in compare to their BR (for me)
Also it’s not the problem, E problem is range (and autopilot) but it still can be used
Also, no one knowsm somebody created discussion to rid of auto radar switch? Impossible to use SARH with top-down attack, every time radar switches to regular radar and losing target
Probably not going to be finishing the report I had planned for elevation dependent thrust on the AAM-4. Firstly, from preliminary numbers, it would significantly nerf performance in close range engagements. But even aside from that, due to the sources used for my old report and how I structured it, it would be pretty hard for me to pass an amendment to the report to properly incorporate the thrust curve…
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