They have extremely high ballistic drop and low muzzle velocity which greatly limits their range and also forces you to often lead your shots greatly, far more than most have to. Addiitonally their high fire rate and low ammo capacity means you have to be extremely conservative.
This is a big issue if we are talking about a Harrier Gr1 vs a Mig-21
(It is one of the main reasons why the Sea Harrier’s missing EEGS would be such a massive buff for it right now. )
SRAAMs really arent guranteed kills. Last time I took the Hunter F6 into a match, I had 3/3 SRAAMs fired at a T-2 Defeated simply by the T-2 flying in a straight line away from me. Every fight was:
Chase after T-2, eventually T-2 would get distracted by someone and turn fight them
Get onto T-2s tail to fire SRAAM
Fire SRAAM
T-2 would run away
SRAAM would self-destruct metres away from hitting the target.
Most of the times i’ve taken Hunter F6 or Harrier Gr1 into a Sim match. SRAAMs have proven to be less than reliable at getting kills. Unless the target was totally unaware I was even there, at which point, they are no better than an Aim-9B
The MiG-21 has 200 rounds of 23mm.
The Harrier has 260 rounds of 30mm.
Ballistics between the two probably favors the 30mm from my experience.
This is skill issue that is solved by getting closer to the target. Or not chasing afterburning supersonic plane. Like obviously if the first one didn’t hit…and you are chasing a plane that is faster than you…surely you don’t expect the next one to magically hit?
Good luck getting closer to targets that are faster than you. This entire thread is talking about moving an aircraft that is 0.13 mach faster than the Harrier Gr1 and most aircraft at 9.7 except a select few. down to 9.7. (id not be opposed to all of those supersonics moving up to 10.0, even the Lightning F6)
Again, if everything is supersonic, what choice really is there? In a Harrier Gr1, sure, Id go off and bomb a base, but Hunter? Not a lot really to do except go hunting. Also… If you are behind the supersonic aircraft, the supersonic aircraft isnt behind you diving out of no where.
No shit. But… If I see that supersonic aircraft getting involved in a turn fight with a teammate and then I enter the furball, get as close as I can behind the super-sonic aircraft and then fire, and it still falls short. Then what else is there really left to do?
I’d say they are placed equally below the airframe.
Anyway, just makes me laugh that you use the Harrier Gr1 as the reason why the Mig-21PFM should move down to 9.7. Like SRAAMs are these super OP missiles like they were 2-3 years ago (maybe if they ever get fixed)
Hell, if you are going to use that argument, then pick something at least good. LIke the AV-8A which is Harrier I airframe still, but with 240 CMs, 2x Aim-9Gs and RWR. You picked literally the weakest harrier in game at the moment. Or something like the F-104C, or Mig-21F-13 or the T-2. Even the Ligntning F6 is stronger and at the same BR (even with the state of Red Tops)
All of which are WAY better than the Harrier Gr1 and most probably should move to 10.0.
But still… Really hate dealing with supersonics in subsonics. In fact, Id rather deal with all-aspects missiles in something with no CMs than deal with super-sonics in sub-sonic airframes
Never once did i mention that SRAAMs are super OP. However every time ive played the gr.1 ive dominated whole lobbies with little to no effort. The fact that you find the MiG-21 a possibly bigger threat than the already existing F-104s while they are faster with better engines and far better guns and gun handling, radar and RWR included is also a bit weird to me. The MiG-21F-13 is a joke of an argument, its about as weak as a PFM if not weaker. I understand that you dislike having to deal with supersonics in a subsonic aircraft, but you cannot keep pushing these supersonics to fight aircraft way ahead of their time simply because they’re supersonic. Back to the harrier for a second, i use the Gr.1 as an argument because thats the one i play and perform well in. Unlike 80% of the playerbase i’m not going to draw the boldest of opinions on vehicles ive not once touched, or maybe encountered in ~4 games.