MITL for Helicopters

Dev Server "Eagle's Shadow" General Discussion - Dev Server
1

I was surprised not to see a dedicated thread discussing the addition of MITL guidance for helicopter-launched AGMs, so I figured I might as well start one.

To begin with, I have to admit that I’m not particularly fond of this addition. Things have already been getting somewhat out of hand lately with ARMs in Ground RB, CAS has never been stronger, but at least in that regard, there is some degree of parity between nations. With MITL-guided AGMs, however, let’s just say that the level of parity, as well as the potential for counterplay, varies considerably depending on which nation you’re playing and which one you’re up against.

Beyond the obvious concern of helicopters being able to hover safely behind cover and launch accurate munitions without exposing themselves to any meaningful risk while having virtually unlimited ammunition with AF resupplies, I think there’s also a rather significant disparity in the capabilities of the missiles themselves. Take the LMUR, for example, with its 20 kg HE warhead and a top speed of Mach 0.8, compared to the rather humble Spike NLOS, which isn’t much faster than a prop, having to also contend with the disadvantages inherent to a HEAT warhead, which wouldn’t be that big of a deal if said missiles could actually consistently hit the top center of a target but unfortunately Optical/IR seekers just keep aiming at non-critical areas. → No longer a problem since MITL seems to give you the ability adjust the aiming point (thanks @Nowel)

Spoiler

LMUR

This also touches the discussion about Russia having arguably the strongest Anti Air platform in the game by a significant gap, obviously when you have the availability of 16 missiles dedicated to intercepting low speed munitions in addition of 8 others dedicated to aircraft and high speed munitions, the problem is going to affect you far less.

My personal opinion is that Helicopters are already quite strong and generally speaking have little need for MITL capabilities. More importantly, I don’t think this is something that can be properly balanced in the first place. The best course of action would simply be to scrap the addition altogether. However, if it does make it into the game, Helicopters equipped with MITL missiles should at the very least not be allowed to reload them indefinitely at Helipads. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t allow any reloads for MITL-equipped munitions whatsoever, while limiting non-MITL munitions to a single reload. That being said, the disparity between nations would remain regardless, as there are simply no direct counterparts to the LMUR.

The truth is that, for a long time, Helicopters have effectively had only one place in Ground RB, which is a problem in itself. Depending on the update, they have fluctuated between being a tool for powercreep and little more than a waste of SP, although, if I’m being honest, they’ve leaned more towards the former than the latter. I believe Helicopters deserve their own proper game mode instead. Helicopter PvE, in its current state, is an absolute mess and feels downright numbing to play. I agree that the previous Helicopter PvP mode was also a hot mess, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be reworked and improved with some proper brainstorming and development instead of making Top Tier Ground RB even more of a hellish experienced for Tanks.

I would like to know what you think:

Should MITL be introduced to Helicopters?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters
Should there be a limit of Helipad resupplies for Helicopters?
  • Yes, for MITL munitions
  • Yes, for both MITL munitions and non-MITL munitions
  • No
0 voters
2

Just as a reminder, now you can choose the exact point of impact, they no longer just follow the few pre detemined impacts point, they also change it on the F&F weapons so they now aim at the point that you where aiming at

1 Like
3

Looking at statcard detected, opinion discarded.

The truth is MITL for helis is… useless. You are better off spamming off your load as fast as you can and try to break through interception than flying very interceptable missiles yourself.

The only use if MITL is camping very very close or inside AO basically cosplaying a tank at distance where you don’;t get intercepted

4

That’s interesting, I didn’t know this, thanks for the info!

5

no it isnt.

  • Spawn on helipad of your choice, but closer one is better unless its in direct LOS of SPAAs.
  • Hover up to ~11 meters.
  • Open map.
  • Set CCRP point at or near the enemy spawn/where you think enemy SPAAs are located.
  • Spam spacebar until all missiles are in the air.
  • Land on the helipad.
  • Switch to MITL.
  • Guide in last missile towards SPAA of your choice.
  • Repeat for as many times as necessary until people playing the SPAAs have either run out of missiles or just ragequit.

SPAAs cannot afford to ignore missiles because you never know if they are from someone doing MITL firing off duds and guiding last or if all of them are guiding in at someone else.
As such youre effectively draining their resources away while the MITL heli can repeat this for ever or until someone in a plane comes over and says hi (and its not like the helis are completely defenseless, outside of H145M)

Video:

MITL is just fundamentally broken. Same way LDIRCM was fundamentally broken.
And SPAAs like SLM or CSSA5, NOMADS (and Elde but tbh Elde suffers no matter what) Type81c/Tansamkai/Type03 that have issues with interception of missiles due to IR seekerhead or in case of TSK horrible radar and T03 abysmal non TVC missile will just be completely useless.
Only SPAAs that will see minimal problems with this are Pantsir S1, Pantsir SMSV and FK2000.

*Also if you want to be extra annoying, fire off the duds at random spots so that they all fly in different direction making the SPAA think its targeting friendly tanks when infact they are just a distraction while you guide in the last one. A straight line of missiles might be bit too conspicuous.

** Also also, the first missile fired via CCRP/GNSS can actually lock onto a target on its own without you doing anything,
image
while the rest just fly off to narnia and the last one you ofc guide in yourself, so technically you can score two kills this way if the SPAAs arent paying attention. While being completely and 100% safe. No SPAA can ever touch you if you do it right.

3 Likes
6

No more spikes aiming for nsvt

7

It also kinda work on the ground, although a bit harder since you cant get as close as in the milt

8

For the most part helicopters would be fine if couple things were actually true:

  • They would have their radar signature be more realistic making ARH missiles be able to keep a lock on reliably if above multipath, so that helis can survive SPAAs if they fly low.
    Flying low = not being able to see many targets to fire off every missile = have to play carefully.
    (Right now you can ignore any ARH SPAA by flying sideways with chaff only periodic drop and every missile will just miss)
  • MITL capability does not get added to any helicopters. Needing direct LOS is currently the only weakness of these helicopters, which will be gone with MITL.
    As you can just sit behind a hill, fire off half or all of your missiles, wait until coast is clear (as in, you killed every SPAA or made them have no missiles) and then pop up and chuck FnF at whatever is moving.
  • LDIRCM gets nuked into the ground with this coming update. Which hopefully in live is going to actually change things. No helicopter should have a 24/7 forcefield against infinite number of IR missiles.

If these things would change i dont see a need necessarily to impose any limit on how many missiles you can rearm as there would be plenty of counter options for SPAAs to take.
Helicopters shouldnt be just “i got two kills in my light tank, lets hop into a heli and turn it into 20” while not able to be touched, there should be some risk involved.

9

Unfortunately no, it’s not.

1 Like
10

I think making helos into something you spawn without having to leave your ground vehicle like the nuke plane but getting no rearming option would be nice compromise (i think all cas should work like that, but in return SPAA sp should be increased)

11

Thats just wrong. This is exactly the same capability you already had via spamming. Including spotting target by “follow ordinance” on random rocket or missle

There is nothing that you’re gaining from this that you couldn’t do before

1 Like