As already stated, the issue with giving lower BR jets AIM-9L (or near equivalent) missile would be to radically alter their balance. They’d need to go up. The F-5E might survive such a BR increase, since it’s already very strong at it’s BR, but the F-4E likely would not. The flight performance is only OK at 11.0, push it higher and you’re ending up in F-4EJ Kai territory, where the second something gets on your six you might as well just J out, because you aren’t winning that dogfight. The F-4J might do a bit better since it at least has a PD radar and AIM-7Fs, but still, you’d be putting it up against an objectively superior EJ Kai at 11.7, and even that isn’t doing great due to the aforementioned flight performance issues.
All aspect missiles aren’t everything anyways, just being able to get a front aspect shot means nothing when any enemy with the slightest bit of spatial awareness can just one flare it. The biggest advantages the AIM-9L brings are it’s superior rear and side aspect performances, combining better range, better pull and moderate flare resistance. It being all aspect is honestly the least of it’s advantages.
The point was that all implemented US F-4s can be armed as needed to fit their BR without producing issues as a move upward allows for more variants to be implemented with similar characteristics, at the old BR. Further this can be supplemented with changes to available ordnance to fit, and lacking performance can be supplemented with advanced ordnance or as CAS / SEAD role where appropriate.
The F-4B & F-4D are missing entirely so there’s no early F-4 with CMs.
So now you cherrypick a quote and then try to make it reference something else? Also, I don’t really care about your point just like you didn’t care about my point when you quoted me to make that point. I have not been, nor do I wish to discuss things not in the game, otherwise I would have started there.
Take Britain. The Sea Harrier FRS1e at 10.3 with 2x Aim-9Ls. Replace the 9Ls with 9Gs. Its now a 9.3 alongside the Harrier Gr3. Its sub-sonic and not the greatest turn fighter in the world. The Tornado F3 might be too low. But it would literally never ever use rear-aspect IR missiles. It doesnt have the flight performance to dogfight anything at its BR. If those were replaced with 9Gs, it would never use them. It would stick with the Skyflash 100% of the time. If it moved up, it would have to recieve Aim-9M.
In fact, every single listed aircraft is vastly inferior to the F-16A, The only aircraft in the game that can actually defeat the F-16A is the Gripen at 12.7 currenntly. and most of those aircraft listed would need a notable BR reduction if they lost all-aspect missiles.
So whilst maybe the US could get an 11.3 with all-aspect IR, it is entirely dependent on whether any of the airframes need all-aspect IR or if a suffeciently weak “fighter” exist to justify it. Adding Aim-9L on a high performing platform for the sake of “fairness” would just result in it moving up significantly in BR.
I actually have no issue with the F-5C having flares. They just need to increase its engine temp significantly when on reheat and it will be a lot better
Engine exhaust doesnt even have temp I think. The game still looks only at engine temp. This is why the F5C sucks so much to fight. Its colder than almost everything (maybe actually everything) at its BR, even when on full reheat:
F-5C
Harrier Gr1
This is why fighting them feels really bad. Simply model this one part, not too mention all the others you mentioned, and the entire IR vs IRCM dynamic changes dramatically. You would have to defend against a missile, not just drop a flare.
Missiles like 9Ls should be almost undefeatable by flares alone in rear-aspect, if the target is on reheat. In game, 1 flare is usually enough.
Aim-9M is like 1/5th, but yeah, a lot are missing lock ranges.
Engine heat system is broken and wrong as well, the game thinks that because each F-5C engine has less thrust than a Sabre, F-5C has less heat signature than a saber. It is utter BS.
You can’t even lock on the F-5C in rear aspect until 2KM lol.
