Idea for adding AWACS and bigger maps

Game Discussion Realistic Battle
,
1

Hey guys, I was thinking the game could really benefit if AWACS type planes were added in some way. Not as just another bomber or transport, but as a actual support role. Right now most battles are just furballs over the middle, and radar spotting only goes so far.

If we had a playable AWACS (like an E-3 or A-50) it could change the way top tier battles flow. Instead of dogfighting it would give the team extended radar picture, early warning of low flying fighters or bombers sneaking around, and even help ID targets faster so theres less “guessing” when scanning.

Obviously it wouldnt be like flying a fighter. The player could have a radar screen overlay, maybe the plane stays on autopilot unless you manualy steer it. From there you can ping or highlight enemy aircraft for teammates, call out threats, maybe even broadcast missile warnings to allies in range.

To keep it balanced the AWACS would be a big high value target, basically defenseless outside of chaff/flares or a few token guns. If the enemy takes it out, your whole team loses the radar coverage bonus. So it would create a new escort / intercept dynamic that just isnt in the game right now.

This would probly only work in Sim EC or maybe a new “strategic” mode, Arcade and RB are too small and fast. Which brings me to the other point: we need bigger maps for top tier. Jets doing Mach 1+ over the same tiny maps we had since WW2 just feels wrong. Bigger maps with more room for strategy, flanking, sneaking, and for roles like AWACS to actually matter.

Even if Gaijin doesnt make them player controlled at first, just adding AI AWACS that gives passive radar support could be a good start. Then later they could open it up to players who want a commander/support role instead of just dogfighting.

What do you guys think? Would you fly AWACS or would it be boring for you?

5 Likes
2

I won’t oppose a playable AWACS as long as I can keep it in my hangar and bring it in custom battles unlike the Drones…

2 Likes
3

I think AWACS would work better as an AI unit providing DL to its team. I am not sure how I feel about DL for missiles but definitely for planes.

ARB overall needs a giant rework. It’s insane to me how Gaijin can spend so much time and money making all these planes and modeling their various systems but still have them play in a proof of concept beta gamemode.

2 Likes
4

In Sim, maybe. Realistic definitely needs an overhaul, but those matches aren’t meant to be as long as Sim. I think Playable AWACS should come to Sim and AI ones can be in Realistic.

3 Likes
5

I really like the idea (especially in sim mode) but the current maximum map size would make an AWACS inusable, but with maps a least 4 times bigger it would be really nice

1 Like
6

Air RB needs an overhaul at all BR ranges, not just top tier. Most of what is obviously broken in top tier has its roots well before modern tech arrives.

That overhaul must begin with one simple enough change: remove the ability for any single objective to end matches by itself, thereby forcing fighter and nonfighter users to get along instead of snarling at each other as competition despite being on the same team.

Only when nonfighter objectives actually matter to every match and cannot be overridden by fighters existing and doing their job will there be any incentive to add the plethora of missing objectives including AWACS.

7

I would love to play as either the russian or American AWACS

8

Spotting enemy aircraft in a similar way to how scouting works in ground RB would be a very nice use for AWACS, especially with how bad the spotting system in air rb is

2 Likes