Well, I’m thinking this is the likely Japan addition for next major.
The AESA radar will likely have the same counter flaws as normal PD radars.
Only gets 4x AAM-4s [with 4x AAM-3s as compliment].
A BVR performance that’s slightly worse than F-15’s.
I’m hoping but, we saw the F-15C in the devblog so wouldn’t it be more likely we get the F-15J MSIP?
Maybe… It’d annoy me that Typhoon’s equivalent would be added this soon, and be blatantly OP.
It’d also make the F-2 a sidegrade if that’s added later.
Already F-2 early would be a sidegrade compared to the F-15J pre-MSIP.
Now that we might have the F-15J MSIP, F-2 early is a bit of a downgrade. It has no CAS capability nor ARHs, though it would be a good dogfighter.
F-2 late also would be pretty sluggish until it got rid of its AAM-4s, so it’s not like it would be immediately superior to the F-15J MSIP. However, it would have some good guided CAS with L-JDAMs.
What exactly will be the difference between the aam4 and say, a aim120c5
Dimensions, motor, and some minor seeker differences.
Maybe slight maneuverability.
That’s largely it from my understanding.
AAM4 is a big missiles, which means a larger motor, warhead, ans seeker, all those things help. It will however be a hell of a lot heavier, but Japan wanted something compatabile with aim7 mounts. Imagine a suped up active Aim7M if you want an easy comparison.
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Similar to what we have with AAM-3 compared to 9M but AAM-4 also should be stealth on RWR
I’m still doubting those claims.
Even if they were true, I don’t think Gaijin will model them. They don’t even model the UV part of AAM-3, or BTT for maneuverability.
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In Japan, the following theories are often mentioned
・The AAM-4 uses 1Ghz (UHF band) for its command transmitter, guidance head, and proximity fuse, which are not in the threat library of the RWR (optimized for SHF and X-band) and therefore cannot be detected. This command is transmitted from the AAI Intellogate Antenna on AN/APG-63.
・The AAM-4 uses frequency hopping spread spectrum.
This would explain why it cannot be detected by RWR, but the problem is that there is naturally little public documentation to prove this. Mitsubishi has a patent on this, so there may be some information if you look into it.
Sources of research documents on guidance systems and special modulation schemes by TRDI.
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I can already see myself opting to use the stopgap amraams over the aam4 when it gets modelled as a heavier amraam, but its still really cool to see the aam4 coming
It should be better for sniping at long range and have cool seeker features but I am not sure if we will see anything special about seeker
So now that we have the F15J (M), and the Fox 3 door being blown wide open, what version of the F2 should we get?
IMO, considering that any vehicle without Fox 3s are just gonna absolutely suffer, I’d say the F-2A variant that does have the capability to guide AAM-4s should be added. Otherwise, the non-upgraded F2 should sit just below the main Fox 3 carriers like where the F15A/J/Baz, F4F ICE, or Tornado ADV late sits.
What it brings to the table is mainly guided A2G ordinances, better IR missiles, and is mostly a sidegrade to the AJ in terms of flight performance.
F-2 is 100 percent coming this year it’s just a matter of when tbh
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for me personally, i prefer the AESA F-2 with AAM-4B for CAP in RGB.
probably my biggest wet dream is denying people plaing CAS in GRB, no offence but i hate KA-52 more than anything in game right now beside the Su-25SM3, so anything to counter both of them is a must in my book.
@Rambolf
probably if they really went with non-AESA radar, but if they gonna add AESA radar probably the next year we’ll see them.
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Dont all f2s have aesa radar
All have it
Are you about F-2 prototype?
Technically all do, though an AN-APG-68 was bought for testing on an XF-2 platform in case the prototype AESA wasn’t done in time.
But even then not all F-2s can use ARH missiles, the first lack the J/ARG-1 to use AAM-4. And even those are still PD missiles unlike the AESA AAM-4B.
Should just add the j/arg-1 with aam4, then add a later one with the new radar and new top missiles, since I believe aam4b required the new radar to guide