Hunter Hawkers in the Wrong BR

[Ion_492]

@Morvran

The problem in game is that they are modeled rather wrong due to major game limitations. This results in them being way harder to play than they should be and far more vulnerable.

Just curious, how are they modelled wrong, and what could be changed to make them better?

[Rileyy3437-live]

Flares being too effective, F-5’s in general are like ridiculously cold aircraft.

I don’t think the British flight models were ever going to be competitive post-korean war/early cold war era, however it doesn’t help that the weapons sets that were relied upon are not effective enough in-game.

Things like F-5s (and many others) can drop like 1 flare (after you can only lock them from like 600 metres) and defeat a 9L whilst in full burner, IRL you had to drop burner, reduce engine thrust turn and flare several times and it was not possible to defeat them within about a 30 degree rear aspect radius if you had an afterburner on.

Again though, I don’t think Harriers, tornado’s, hardwing phantoms, jags etc were ever going to be good fighters, just ‘good enough’.

[Morvran]

Probably easier to just link this

Sea Harrier Overhaul desperately needed

Another update and yet no changes/improvements for any of the Sea Harrier’s in-game. There are a number of old issues for all 3 that have yet to be fixed and this is starting to be badly felt. Harrier wide issues These issues that dont just affect the Sea Harrier but issues that affect every single Harrier in-game from the Harrier Gr1 right the way up to the FA2 and AV-8B+ Sooty Exhaust. The Harrier’s in game have a very sooty exhaust that can be seen from long distance with great ease, This…

But mostly heat sig. Harriers should be able to deny rear aspect locks just via a VIFF and flares barely work.

Also 9Ls are way too easy to defeat usually.

Even things like the sooty exhaust from the back of all harriers is technically wrong. Big boost for those at 9.7 where VID is most common.

[POLYDEUCES]

Hunter F.6 used to be OP and is now borderline impossible to Balance.

The 9.0 Hunter would be fine at 8.7 while the 9.3 ones would still be reasonable at 9.0.

Considering we have F-104 at 9.3 and 9.7 still as well as all aspect on SU-25 and A-10 I really don’t see the issue.

The 10.0 Squadron Hunter used to be a bit too good at 9.7 and now competes with some crazy machines just because it has AIM-9J and countermeasures.

[Morvran]

Its crazy that they still havent fixed SRAAMs

[POLYDEUCES]

I got killed by one recently when I did not expect it to be a F.6.
In a downtier it can be quite the surprise.

The 9.0 ones with the weaker engines and without missiles should be fair at 8.7.
The 9.3 ones with stronger engines and AIM-9B/E still would not surpass CL-16B Mk.6 which is the best 9.0 period.
CL-13 is not to be moved up in Br considering the compressed state this BR range is in but the Hunter deserves to shine in a similar fashion to the CL-13 I should think.

I just started with the Swiss 9.3 Hunter. It is bearable but far from ideal.

[Morvran]

Yeah, Hunter BRs are a mess. Gets even worse in SB:

At 9.7:

Hunter F.58 with 2x Aim-9Ps and CMs
Hunter F6 with 4x SRAAM (would be fine if they fixed SRAAMs)
Hunter FGA9 with 2x Aim-9E
All 3 have the better engine

At 9.3:

J-34 with 2x 9Bs - This is just a Hunter F4 which only really gets more internal fuel over the Hunter F1 from what I can find

At 9.0:

Hunter F6 (France) with 2x Aim-9Bs - Unlike the J-34, the Hunter F6 gets a more powerful engine and the improved wing design, meaning it is superior to the J-34 in pretty much every respect. It also gets drop tanks which neither the J-34 or any of the British Hunters get.

Hunter F1 with no AAMs - Similar performance to the Hunter F4 (J34) but hasnt got any AAMs at all. This could do with being at a lower BR compared to even the J-34, but being the same BR as the Hutner F6 is just insane.

Its a little better in RB, but yeah. They are a total mess right now