current rafale is pretty cleary on another level from the other 14.3s in game rn its more of a 14.7 or 15.0 jet.
what i think gaijin should do is when the other 15.0 level jets come to the game like E2K T4 with captor M, Su-35S and F-15EX etc is bring the current rafale F3R in game to the BR level as the 15.0s and add the rafale F2 at 14.3 would be much more balanced since it has a worse radar and im pretty sure it only gets 6 pylons for MICAs so it would be like the current E2K T2 that can only carry max 6x AIM-120s
Its a 15.3 jet easily as currently modelled in-game.
For general air combat:
By far the best AAM in-game (MICA)
Top 3 FM’s for dogfighting
Top 2 FM overall (1/2 airframes with supercruise, top 3 dogfighters, best high altitude performance, roughly tied for best acceleration, best high speed energy retention) (I’d personally say best FM overall period)
Competitive CM loadout (36 regular flares, 16 large flares, 112 large chaff, can be debated on merits)
Best radar (and its not even remotely close)
Top 2 guns (Niche, but sometimes comes into play)
Best RWR/MAWS
Best fuel consumption
Specific to sim:
1 of only 2 airframes with TDL’s at top tier
The ONLY other airframe that comes remotely close to the Rafale atm is the EFT, and the Rafale still beats it or matches it in effectively every regard relevant to WT. There is no reason any jet below 14.3 should have to face Rafales as currently modelled in-game.
I’d argue the clearest solution is for gaijin to stop this insane spree of massive powercreep and excessive tech jumps, so we dont literally run out of new top jets to add by xmas 2026, which is basicly where we’re going at this rate, seeing as this december patch is going to be a total flop aircraft-wise if gaijin doesnt either rein in the Rafale, or add jets that are superior to it. Aircraft-wise, just about every update since the Rafale was added has been about how the new additions might contend WITH the Rafale, which imo is the reason why all of 2025 has been a garbage year for top tier jet enjoyers, since we’ve spent the whole year just being oppressed by the Rafale.
Obvious (imo) solution to this is:
Remove HMD and 2 extra MICAs from Rafale F3R, making it a historically accurate FRENCH F3R, nerf its FM as per accepted bug reports. This will still leave it as a top 3 contender in-game, but will mitigate its ability to abuse the MICA as much as it can rn, and limit its individual match impact.
Improve all other fox 3 seekers in-game
Add incremental steps in jet development that would get drowned out if we jump straight to F-15EX, T4 EFT’s, and Su-35’s (AESA armed teen series jets, MiG-29s, and flesh out the Chinese jets)
This would also give gaijin time to (hopefully) revamp map design/size, and objective gameplay to accommodate new higher performance ordinance as well and let new jets stretch their legs a bit before we jump into top variants of Gen 4.5 jets and 5th gen jets.
I have an idea about whats wrong with that, I’m just waiting for a guy to help me set up missile testing again on my new PC. I’m pretty sure most tail control missiles are massively underperforming in maneuverability.
Honestly, I kind of expect an F-22 this xmas. I seem to remember gaijin mentionning 5th gens by the end of 2025 (though Im probably massively misremembering)
The interesting question with the F-22 will be if it gets the Rafale treatment and gets an HMD it didnt field in service until a later upgrade…
Ironically enough in this situation, the MICA is one I’d be able to test with actual figures. I’m pretty sure I know why its underperforming, which is different to what the fanboys think, and it would apply to all tail control missiles as currently modelled in-game if I’m correct. It’d also explain why for the most part they can “only” reach their max G loads under very specific circumstances and only for brief moments of time.
I feel like nothing is stopping them from jumping to mega recent variants of said 5th gens, they did it last Christmas with 4th gens, they’ll do it again.
I’m not sure exactly what impact it would have on missile v missile balancing, but if I’m correct, most of the modern missiles would become a lot more maneuverable and possibly also improve their energy retention.
I think theres a decent chance though that the change is more impactful towards missiles like the AIM-120, since itd make them go from effectively worthless off-bore to actually useable (if not strong), so it might be a case of diminishing returns for the MICA.