Every December update has brought something huge to the game
2022: F-16 and MiG-29
2023: F-15 and Su-27
2024: Eurofighter and Rafale
2025: Eurofighter AESA and Su-30SM2
Each December update since 2024 has brought a massive leap in capability with vehicles that always remain meta for the entire year (2 years in the Rafale’s case) so I HIGHLY doubt they’d reserve December for the F-15EX and Su-35, considering they bring almost no new capabilities to the table that aren’t already in game.
This is additionally supported by them continuously adding new weapons specifically designed for being used inside the weapon bays of stealth fighters throughout the past year (AIM-120C-5, Kh-35U, Kh-58UShK, AARGM-ER, etc)
not only that, but bvvd said there would be 5th gen. or atleast, someone asked “you told us we’d have 5th gen late 2026. where is it?” and bvvd said “2026 didn’t end yet, so.” but i still have my doubts that they’d full on add it. EW isnt in the game yet. are they really ready for 5th gen? because if i have to defeat missiles by notching in the su57 and f22 i’ll crash out. though, i’m guessing f35 will be added first since almost every nation has it.
maybe something like an april fools test like they did with nuclear escelation?
That is exactly why they will be added in December.
The only alternative (and more pragmatic option imo) would be to add EW in December with some new vehicle additions and some updated old ones, mirroring the ARH missile update. This would make the most sense, and would allow them a full year to flesh out this feature before adding stealth, since if 5th gens aren’t added this December, they will be 100% be saved for December 2027. This is Gaijin we’re talking about, and I don’t think EW is anticipated enough by the general playerbase to warrant a dedicated December update, so which one do you really think is more likely? If we’re being realistic, full fledged EW will likely be added in the first half of 2027, similar how the ARH update was added in the middle of the year. Also, the F-15E got added in November 2024, and was meta for about a month before being replaced by the Euro and Rafale, so it would be poetic to have the same thing happen to the F-15EX lol
That being said, here are my best guesses for updates in the next year:
2026 Oct-Nov: Peak of 4.5 gens
F-15EX and Su-35 100%
Rafale F4 ~50%
RCS modelling for both munitions and planes
Upgraded ARMs
AIM-120D-3 and R-77M
AAM-4B also possible
Medium range land attack cruise missiles with emphasis on 5th gen compatibility (Kh-69, AGM-184A, JASSM, Storm Shadow/SCALP EG, KEPD 350, AKF-98, Popeye Turbo ALCM)
Dec: Stealth
F-22A, Su-57S, J-20
IIR air to air missiles (IRIS-T, MICA IR, ASRAAM, AIM-9X
Infantry enters open beta
2027 Feb-Mar: Standoff weapons
MiG-31
R-37, AIM-174, PL-15, MICA NG
May-Jun: Electronic Warfare
E/A-18G (obviously)
J-15D or J-16D
EW features and/or pods added to previously added top tier vehicles
Potential datalink/networking introduction via AI AWACs and ground radars.
Aug-Sep: Heavy strategic bombers
B-52J
Tu-95MS/MSM
Xian H-6K
Avro Vulcan
B-2 Spirit (highly unlikely tho)
Extreme range ALCMs; AGM-86, JASSM ER, Kh-101, CJ-20A, etc
Oct-Nov: Supersonic strategic bombers and heavy standoff weaponry
MiG-31BM
B-1B Lancer
Tu-22M
Mirage IV
R-37M, AIM-424, Meteor, I-Derby ER, AIM-260 (if its in service by then)
Dec: Stealth pt. 2
F-35A/B/C
J-35
Su-75 (if it manages a first flight)
I feel this is very realistic considering each update only adds 1-2 new airframes, with a bunch of re-used airframes but as different models, and it follows their recent trend of adding stuff for Nuclear Escalation.
to be honest, that is the last airplane france will ever recieve as a new upgrade, france doesnt have rafale f5 yet. BUT, without rafale f4, gaijin can’t add MICA NG missiles, both mica ng em and mica ng ir. plus, f4 has a better ew suit.
i mean, it’ll heavily depend how they model RCS. if stealth becomes important like irl, f15ex would be a rocket with improved engines and 250 amraams. but i think f15ex is gonna be important, most 5th gen carry like 6 amraams unlike 8-10 of 4.5 gens, they could run out of missiles frequently, which is where the f15ex would come in to clutch.
they ruined the su35 by adding most if its features to su30sm2, like the double pylons for r77’s which only su35 had, but atleast it could have a maws, better rwr coverage and all, it won’t be hella different from the sm2 tbh.
but oh yeah, it would make sense to add rcs beforehand, they definitely wont just jump in to 5th gens with a single update. i think this guy is secretly from gaijin and giving us the plans lol
come to think of it, 5th gen heavily benefits in nuclear escelation rather than air rb against ground attacks
Not really needed as current Rafales are plenty capable and F4 wouldn’t really bring anything new except compatibility for newer weapons (pretty much just AASM 1000).
The ones we have now are pretty modern
Ah yes, longer ranged missiles for the big two, and to hell with everyone else for almost a year /s
Way too advanced without the aforementioned RCS modelling being done first for other munitions/aircraft.
It’s wise not to expect these in the immediate future.
Confirmed not to be coming this year.
Doubtful.
These are for sure coming this year, not 2027 lol.
the Rafale F4 may not be needed, but it gives Gaijin an excuse to add the copy paste Indonesian Rafale F4 to Japan, which personally I am looking forward to.
In this case, it wouldn’t be needed for France specifically (because the ‘F3R’ essentially has much of the relevant for WT F4 capabilities in game already, and technical capability go brrrrr (thank God for MBDA)) but for other nations like Japan lacking a 4.5 of similar capability (especially with longer ranged ARH or IIRs rumoured to be coming) the Indonesian F4 would be a nice option for them (IMO)
Dunno what you’re trying to say, given the context.