This is just going to be a poorly organised conglomeration of critiques and compliments for this iteration of this mode, some tactics I have found that work for me, and some suggestions for changes I think need to be made.
The change to the mobile SAMs to have their search radars on when you get within their range is an absolute GODSEND thank you so much. It makes it pretty easy to engage the 2S6’s in the convoys. I have found it most effective to lock the harm onto the 2S6, fly head on to it until around 6-8km or so when it launches, then wait until the missile gets close, and then launch your HARMs. It will immediately stop tracking you, and then it will usually intercept the first one (although occasionally it will get through) but it does not have enough time to get the 2nd one. You also will want to lob it upwards because head on launches from the HARMs usually miss, they need to come from top down to have a better chance at hitting. You will also want to climb a bit, up to around a km or so of altitude once you find the 2S6 for the same reason. When you do this the S300s will launch on you, but you can ignore them because you have plenty of time to get within range to fire your HARMs at the 2S6 and then descend to the floor to cut off LOS to the S300 radar.
The new GBU-53 is really nice as well. But only against stationary targets for whatever reason. When I engage the groups of dug in tanks with the stormbreaker, more times than not I will get 5/5 kills (after I have already hit the 2S6 with a HARM). But if I am hunting convoys, I am better off taking mavericks, because even though they are much less consistent with damage, they actually hit. For whatever reason, if the target is moving, the stormbreakers just hit the ground 20 feet behind them. I have tried dropping them from every angle too. From the top, front, back, and sides. And the funny thing is, I don’t have this problem with them using them for CAS in GRB, so I don’t know what gaijin has done here.
The GBU-53 also works okay at attacking the depots as well. I can hit the one 2S6 thats at the edge far away from the buildings, and thanks to the new pseudo rcs mechanic, it does not react in time. But if I try to target the spaas closer to the buildings, it just locks the buildings instead. I imagine the GBU-39 does even better because that wouldn’t be an issue, but yesterday I only had time for 3 rounds and in between all 3 I forgot to make a new custom loadout with GBU-39s. JSOWs should (and from what I hear, they do) work even better for this thanks to the even shorter detection range, but I only have 1 plane with JSOWs and I have not started its stock grind yet.
The increased rewards for doing A2G is really nice. I’m coming away from most rounds with 2-300k SL profit (with premium account) focusing only on hitting ground targets, only fighting other players when they come my way.
The spaa still needs to be balanced though, this time in favor of the red side. Now that the long range spaas turn of their radars when they detect long range ARM launches, the advantage red side had with the hypersonic ARMs that could clear out the entire blue side air defences in just a few minutes is now gone, and they are now experiencing the BUK (now SAMP/T) hell that NATO was experiencing (at least from what I hear anyways, I don’t have any redfor countries researched). The SAMP/T batteries should be replaced by Patriot batteries (SARH sams just like the S300, so they need LOS and can only engage 1 target at a time) just like the BUKs were replaced by S300s. I’m not sure how the mobile sams could be balanced though. The 2S6 is actually pretty easy to kinematically dodge as long as you aren’t point blank. In comparison, the ITO is just a mach 3.5 death needle within around 8km. I don’t really know of anything that can replace it, because as far as I know, NATO does not really have anything comparable to the 2S6. ADATS maybe? That one is faster and more maneuverable than the 2S6 still, but it would also run out of energy really fast like the 2S6.
Also, NATO is lacking in the ARM department for the lower era bracket. AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 STARM Pls gaijin? I want to wild wiesel in my phantom. While you’re at it, add an F-4G Wild Wiesel :D
Yes, this has happened to me a few times as well. Occasionally I will go for a gun run on a BMD only for it to pilot snipe me from 2 miles out. Or I might not even be going on a gun run, I might just be flying around the area. This is… Annoying. To say the least.
Also,
How long can I expect to wait to be able to use my Apache Guardian for nuke thunder? I feel like this would be really good at ground attack for this mode, especially with the pseudo RCS being modeled for small munitions, and the air to ground radar that can tell you where the targets are. I could pop up from behind a hill, lob a bunch of JAGMs at a convoy, and then dip before the 2S6 can get me.
And speaking of the air to ground radar, please add the proper air to ground radar modes for the planes that have them. The spotting system is very inconsistent so being able to use radar to spot non moving targets instead of having to rely on the inconsistent spotting system would be very helpful. And while on this topic, when something is unspotted, instead of just being removed from the map, it should remain on the map with a “last known” position.
