With the addition of new guided weapons in recent updates, airfield defense systems have become increasingly ineffective to the point where they simply cannot defend their positions anymore .
Reminder of the context :
Currently, airfields in simulation mode above 9.0 Br (approximately) are defended by Roland systems firing Roland 3 missiles. These missiles have a maximum range of 8km, allowing them to effectively intercept players within 6km of the airfield. The chassis firing this missile allow a maximum firing elevation of 35°, allowing it to intercept targets at low or medium altitude. In addition, airfields are defended by various vehicles with anti-aircraft guns (for example, Guépard), these vehicles are effective against targets at low distance and altitude (less than 4 kilometers). These different systems were integrated several years ago (when they were the best anti aircraft system in the game) and have therefore not been changed for a long time.
The problem :
The problem today is that the game has evolved significantly since the introduction of these vehicles. Aircraft are faster, carry better weapons that range further, and are carried in greater numbers.
Starting in 10.7, with the introduction of aircraft capable of carrying a large number of guided air-to-ground missiles, players are no longer safe on their airfields, and the higher the BR, the greater the destructive capabilities.
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In 10.7, a player can destroy an airfield’s entire defenses (while remaining at a distance of approximately 15 km) in two attack passes.
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In 11.7, a player can destroy an airfield’s entire anti-aircraft defenses (while remaining at a distance of 20 to 25 km) in a single attack pass.
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Starting with 12.7, a player can destroy a moving aircraft on an airfield while remaining at a distance of 20km or more.
This ability to destroy aircraft without having to be within range of any counterattack allows some players to destroy airfield defenses in order to kill their opponents as soon as they spawn, making the game mode unattractive for new players unfamiliar with these techniques and potentially finding themselves stuck on airfields.
This lack of airfield defenses has also caused another problem: suicide attacks. Dropping bombs or rockets allows you to earn a large number of battle points, some players take advantage of the lack of defenses to attack in a loop by crashing into enemy airfields to make as many battle points as possible, leading a large number of people to want to play “PVE” in a mode supposed to be as close as possible to reality.
Some ideas for a solution :
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A first idea would be to gradually improve anti-aircraft systems based on the Br. Rolands would provide adequate defense for battles ranging from 9.0 to 10.3, and would be replaced by more powerful systems beyond that. For example, defenses could be carried out by ITO-90s from 10.7 to 12.7, then by Pantsirs from 13.0 to 14.0, allowing players to attack systems but presenting a certain risk for anyone who gets too close.
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A second, more radical solution would be to deploy the most powerful anti-aircraft systems as soon as guided weapons become available, thus no longer allowing players to attack enemy airfields. For example, with Pantsirs from 10.7 and Spyder AIOs for top tier battles
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Finally, a solution that could be more easily implemented, even if the defenses remained in their current state, would be to add the ability to intercept munitions, allowing for example the DCA to destroy missiles targeting them or to destroy munitions targeting players.
Let me know what you think and if you have any other ideas I’d be happy to add them.
- Leave the defenses as they are
- Gradually improve anti-aircraft according to the Br
- Replace current defenses with the strongest defenses in the game
- Anti-aircraft systems must not be able to intercept munitions
- Anti-aircraft systems must be able to intercept munitions