Flying into the absolute chaos that is high tier jet gameplay. It seems that only 1/20 missile fire actually make it to the target. I could have an enemy Su-27 nearly stalling out 5,000ft above well within 15 miles and the AIM7P won’t track despite maintaining lock. Same goes for the Sidewinders. It seems like the L hardly tracks even when rear aspect within 5 Miles. Am I doing something wrong?
Also, are Aim9L sidewinders dependent on radar if fired from lock? It seems like every time I fire while having the IR seeker slaved to the radar lock, once the lock is lost the Aim9 goes stupid.
It’s not the easiest plane to play. I would’ve bought the F-5C instead, even if its some BRs below.
But that’s besides the point. Answering your question: play it as a support aircraft, don’t get into the thick of it asap.
Avoid the chaos as you don’t have the speed nor the acceleration at high speeds to get away with practically anything.
And about the tracking issues: Welcome to NATO tracking, where your missile’s CW is unreliable at best, useless in most cases.
Dont launch 7P at a range of more than 10 km, 9L don’t launch outside of 3 km, about 7 miles and 2 miles respectively. And no AIM-9L is not a SARH missile, its an infrared missile, every launch be it slaved or not, it is IR and will go for every flare
Eh I get AIM-9G kills at 3 km all the time, 9L is basically the same motor. It depends what you’re shooting at, if it’s someone aware don’t shoot it at all, unless you’re within 1.5
Thanks! only ask because they seem to lose track the second I break lock. I don’t think they were popping flares unless someone behind them did by a few miles.
I was thinking it was a bug but maybe you’re right.
I’ve been playing the game for 6+ years I’d jolly well hope I’m right! But yeah if you’re launching them at 5km they’re going to lose track easily. You should never be firing an IR missile at 5km except maybe 24T/27ET
I haven’t played the early yet, but I have played the A model. It’s a very well rounded airframe, more of a jack of all trades, master of none. In regards to the weapons, I have a ton of experience with the 9L and 7M/F, but not the P yet. To my knowledge they are extremely similar, kinematically speaking. For the 9L, it is an IR missle that can be radar slaved, but doesn’t have to be. It will go for flares, unless it is an extremely hot target like an afterburning F14. I typically launch between 1-2 miles, for your Euros that’s 2-3 km, all depending on my speed and the target’s speed. If they’re moving slow and I’m moving fast, I would take a little longer shot. For the Sparrows, if the target is high altitude and moving fast, I would launch within 12 miles, or 20 km. For a low-altitude target, wait until they are closer so it is harder for them to multipath.
For the F/A-18 in general, because of the lack of speed, it is better to avoid the initial cluster, maybe try to fly around to the side and flank, or catch base bombers, at least that’s what I try to do when I play ARB.
idk how to play top tier but i use the swedish f-5a from the event, it has 2 9Ls and for these you have to strike from above to an unsuspecting guy because 9Ls gets flare easily most of the time
hits so hard to get someone thats unexpecting since theres red markers on everyone. Ive had one missile hit tonight, and it didnt even result in a kill. Its honestly about to make me uninstall this shit
I usually use the 6x AIM-9Ls and hide in the clouds and wait until enemies are on bombing runs and fox-2 the distracted targets. Works out for me the best, since the fox-2s don’t ring up RWR.
Unfortunately the 9L is very flare hungry. I play mainly sim these days, where people are less aware, and it’s easy to sneak up on them, it works well there, but not in air rb. Make sure you don’t fire them front aspect, they will take the flare 110% of the time, rear aspect depends on how hot the target is and if they’re afterburning. Even still, the missile seeker feels like a 9B seeker most days.