With the FRS1 finally getting EEGS. The Harrier T10 has the same effeceincy as the Sea harrier FRS1 at 11.0 without BOL. It turns better, but is weaker overall in A2A combat due to the lack of radar and EEGS.
So T10 needs to be 11.0 or get 2x BOL (Fully understand not giving it 4, but none is rediculous)
Given the Su-39, A-10C and AV-8B(NA) have far greater CM loads than 60 at or near the same BR and the A-10C would have even more CMs than T10 with 2x BOL, Its an extremely unfair situation.
But anyway, with the Harriers finally getting partially fixed. Thats 5 aircraft i’ve barely touched recently becoming interesting options. T-10 might have been purchased, but no BOL might be a deal breaker. 60 CMs on a subsonic attacker at 11.3 is brutal, Especially with the already appalling problems the Harriers have with IR Signatures
Yup… 100% confirmed to be a balancing decision and they arent disputing its ability to carry 4x BOL. (2 would be plenty though)
They’ve just killed most sales of the aircraft I think if this decision isnt overturned. GIven all the other subsonic ground attack aircraft like the Su-39, A-10C and AV-8B(NA) have significantly more CMs.
If no BOL, we might have to start the uphill battle to get Phimat, still will suck due to the limitations it imposes, but at least we dont need to split that CM count between flares and chaff
Hopefully, one day(and if it does happen, hopefully soonish, e.g., a couple of updates down the line).
Especially considering it was confirmed that the UK getting a hornet wasn’t off the table(but isn’t guaranteed) in the future. (Which was the best news out of Dev Streams for me.)
1x Phimat is a start, but it replaces a Aim-9L, so its 3x 9Ls + 60 flares + 216 large chaff at the same BR as the Su-39 with 2x R-73s, 192 CMs and IRCM (also the Vikhrs if you know what you are doing, i’ve seen them get kills vs F-16s with those) .
I think 1-2 bol pods wouldn’t be too much of an ask imo.
I’m probably still going to grab it, I’m a simple woman, lov’ me harriers, but eh, tis what it is.
I think they really messed up by simply choosing the T.10, I think the Gr.5 would’ve been a better choice. sure it didn’t have a targeting pod, but I’d rather have that than something so doomed from the start, regardless of it having some extra ground pound options.
