I will preface this with the the full knowledge of MiG-21 Bison with R-73 and R-27R1 is at 12.3, or Mirage F-1C-200 with 2 Magic and hundred something CM is at 12.0 but those thing either fly like a pencil with paper wing or have airframe heavier a whale with propeller attached and a directionally correct SPO-10, J-7E, with the correct AAM at 12.7 would be a very competitive plane.
Image used is Bangladeshi F-7BGI, but you get my point.
J-7E here is a plane with one of if not the most cracked FM at 11.3 and even 12.3 at uptier, a very good RWR comparable to F-16 at 12.7.
Except at 11.3 it feels like a stopgap “oh whatever” hole patcher plane.
We know that J-7E is capable of loading PL-8, but that thing felt gimped at any BR it’s in because just how strong flare is and how important enemy sense of awareness are to it’s success.
Rather than half-assing the upgrade by adding PL-8 or PL-5C, is adding PL-5EII/PL-8B on this plane be viable, or does this call for F-7PG/MG to be added into the game? This is a very unique airframe with a very capable flight performance. it being only tied into a rear aspect radarless dogfighter would be a massive waste on behalf of everyone especially CN Main.
It would be better to just add a new J-7 variant such as the J-7G with upgraded PL-5 and PL-8, including the B variant. It also has a better airframe from what I know, being lighter. If the J-7E was at 12.7 with just 4 PL-5EII, with no HMD, it would get dunked on
That’s a solution. This airframe is just too good to be left as a novelty at 11.3, there’s so much potential with this airframe that an extra two plane in form of one tech tree tier 8 fighter and one rank 8 premium is still not good enough.
Which is why gaijin should add newer variants of J-7 instead of giving better missiles to the J-7E. Gaijin could move the J-7E up in BR by giving it PL-8. 4 PL-8 at 11.7 is enough for a jet like J-7E.
All aspect non IRCCM is a waste of airframe. it’s one of those “Cracked FM, mid missile” case of plane. I honestly think it would fare better at 12.3 - 12.7 with 4 IRCCM missile.
Forgot to mention that it’s capable of using PL-9’s too, as its more meant for export. PL-9 dumbed down is a hybrid of the PL-5 and PL-8 (possibly PL-7 too), being better than the PL-8. Might carry the 9C variant with IRCCM, but I’m not sure about that one.
