I have some expirience on what to expect at the harrier’s br (i have the Sea Vixen), with the EJ I’ve heard mostly bad reviews on it
The F-4EJ ADTW is…not easy.
It is relatively fast, but the Matchmaker puts you with the F-104 and the MIG-23ML together, so you’re not going to be first to a base. It also puts you together with the F-4S and the F1C-200 in an uptier and you’ll just suffer.
The radar did not work for me, and the times where is did actually log onto a target the AIM-7E would not perform very well either.
So if you want to use it, then your best use is to put a Gunpod underneath and use the AIM-9P to hunt other players.
I wish it were either better or not as affected by the power creep, but unfortunately it is not performing well in the current meta.
I don’t have the AV-8S, but being subsonic at 9.7 might still work.
If you can research the F-5E FCU and slap a Talisman on it, that will help you for the 2nd half of the grid, that is an excellent plane with good armament.
EJ has terrible radar and meh missiles at the BR. Most people just use it as a bomb truck, which I personally cant think of a single less interesting way to grind than just bombing bases.
No idea about the AV-8 though sorry. Only harrier Ive played is the british squadren one at 10.7 and I hated it lol
Honestly the T-2 early they only had in the store for like a month and then removed for some reason was the best prem grinder they released for japan.
The F4EJ (And identical ADTW) are pound for pound some of the worst Phantoms in game, only really beaten out by the truely awful F4J (UK).
It’s got the flight performance of a missile truck due to not having the Agile Eagle upgrade that the US and Israeli F4Es do, without the missiles to back it up. AIM-9Ps aren’t awful at the tier, but they aren’t anything special either, and the poor handling of the airframe isn’t conducive to getting into position for decent shots.
The real problem is the RADAR and SARH missiles. You don’t get a pulse doppler RADAR, which hurts but isn’t uncommon for the tier. However, you’re also saddled with base AIM-7Es, which are practically incapable of close range shots and aren’t that great at longer range either.
You’re basically forced to bombtruck, something it isn’t bad at, but it’s rather soul sucking as a gameplay style goes.
The Harrier is a Harrier, they haven’t been in a great spot since they lost their airspawn that allowed them to dunk people minutes into the game.
Honestly, your best bet is trying to Talisman one of the F-5s, either the squadron one if you don’t have any Japanese planes unlocked, or the F-5A if you do.
Premium account + Talisman a good plane when you unlock it.
Buy the B-17 for japan, this will let you grind up to rank V. Set your squad research to the F-5 ( there are a lot of squads just for grinding im in one ) once you have completed research on the rank 5’s get a talisman for the f5.
This would be the optimal grind path. because you will be training up your pilot crew skill with the bomber, and it will translate over to the f-5. The f-5 will be free other than the talisman. to finish up the rest of the tree.