Well there are the advanced eagles. Imo they toe the line between new airframe and existing. All digital, new FBW, some airframe improvement (like composite), more hardpoints
I mean yeah you’re right, but then the Super Hornet would also be a new airframe, which I guess it kind of is. I really wonder what the F-15EX is gonna be like in War Thunder
Is it possible that might be F/A-18E early (Block 1) ? 🤔
F-15C MSIP II, F-16C Block 50 and F/A-18C Late receive AIM-9X (Blk 1) & AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM someday
But I suppose gajin might ready AIM-120C-3, AIM-120C-5 and AIM-120C-5 sometime this year before AIM-9X Block 1 & AIM-120C-7
Well yeah the super hornet is a new airframe lol
EX will be F-15E (really late) on steriods
Probably gonna be like a slightly lighter F-15E with a better radar
Upgraded F-15E and EX share radar and most avionics
But yes, better than current F-15E, if that’s what you meant
Other than some armed trainers and modern bombers like you said there’s not really any new airframes to be added especially up at top tier.
Like we just looking at the US there’s the Super Hornet, F-15EX, F-16E/V/70/72 (Pretty much the same thing just ever so slightly different to each other), F-14D just off the top of my head. And that’s not taking into account the twin seater versions of the airframes we have which could be added.
Also possibly an upgraded AV-8B+ that’s in the works with presumably HMD + upgraded IR + Radar missiles.
But honestly still enough that I think 5th gen might not be seen until maybe end of 2026, but who knows?
Well yeah, we don’t have a late F-15E ingame. Gotta stay within the frame of reference, you know?
Ooh yeah F-16E. That one is pretty different from other F-16, GE-132 engine, built in IRST, AN/APG-80 radar
You are forgetting over a dozen other F-15 though
Very likely that they will avoid adding 5th gen stuff for a long time, they have to drip feed now or they won’t be able to harvest hype money from newer planes anymore
F-22 seems pretty perfect for December. Other gen 5 might be dripfed though
Yeah personally I think we might see the F-16E at some point this year. Would be a pretty good addition and upgrade over the C and there would still be room for the Block 70/72 later as well.
Honestly other than the B/D/EX or maybe even the Silent Eagle or the STOL/MTD if it was ever armed I don’t think there’s a need for loads of F-15’s with varying levels of differences. It would simply be too cluttered even with foldering. And frankly there’s not really a need for that many anyway.
Is that with the J-7 premium ?
Airframe bigger F/A-18A/B & F/A-18C/D
Gajin would add F/A-18E early (Block I) before F/A-18E (late) (Block II) ?
Yeah there are quite a few sub-variants, I would love to get the F-14D Super Tomcat but I don’t think it still counts as top tier sadly.
And is the F-16E/V/70/72 in service in the USAF? I don’t think it is but I was never able to find a definitive answer.
Nah they better take their time or they’ll run out of new fighters. Let them fill the gaps, there’s plenty fighters missing before gen 5… f2a, superhornet, f14d, mig35, su35… I think we gotta be careful and not open the gen 5 chapter too early
Be patient, the raptor will come soon enough
Can’t wait to see these beauties…
What about later C and E? As well as F-15SA
Why would we get the F-15SA if we can get the nearly identical F-15EX? It’s not like the SA would be anywhere other than the US tech tree, so better put the actual USAF variant