Its not that simple, both 1st German and USSR MiG-29s should have historical R-73s. However, R-27ER/T+R-73s kit is 13.0 material (MiG-29G). Same went for the F-16ADFs for a long time, as they had AIM-7Ms but stayed at 12.7. Eventually they got their historical AIM-120s but they paid the price by going higher in BR.
Some vehicles need a middle ground between gameplay enjoyability and managing to stay at a playable BR.
I understand that, but for branch vehicles, Gaijin correctly invented (early or late) when they have those changes, the F-15 GE only differs from its previous version by the radar, but it should have that armament if it actually uses it.
100% agree
The F-15A and the F-15C MSIP II differ from its engines (therefore flight performance), radar and ARH kit.
The F-15C MSIP II and the F-15C GE differ from radar, bigger missile kit (“better” ARH missiles) and more CMs.
The F-15C GE and the F-15EX will differ from engines, radar and a even bigger missile kit, so the incremental upgrades are there.
If Gaijin gives the F-15C GE its AIM-120Ds, it’ll both create redundancy with the F-15EX if it comes, and it’ll make a plane worst by having to move it higher in BR against planes that are objectively better than it.
p.s. sidenote, I believe they hinted the AESA F-15E (AKA F-15E RMP/Late) or the Growler and not exactly the F-15EX for this upcoming major.
It depends a lot on how they implement the 120-D.
in theory it should be much better than anything we have in game right now.
I’m hopeful that they actually make it good when the update drops
The EX is an AESA F-15E… (ofc new-built airframes, not legacy F-15E)
Ik you’re referencing a F-15E RMP/Late, but there’s zero reason not to add the EX right now. It will still get beat out by the Su-30SM2 until they add proper modern DL.
Dripfeed? Greed? They held the Hornet (at least the ARH version) until it was practically DOA, so there’s also no reason to believe they won’t stretch the US air tree even further lol
There’s also the consideration that the F-15EX could have the giga kit of AIM-120s, and I don’t know how Gaijin and the playerbase will take an US plane stealing the missile count crown from the USSR with a potentially good missile as the AIM-120D, so it boils down to either Gaijin DGAF and dropping the EX bomb, or just giving the F-15E RMP/Late, to which I humbly think we’ll get the latter.
What are the chances they give the EX its EPAWSS system that works properly? haha
EPAWSS would be
Since EW isn’t in game yet, the other 2 are more than capable of coming to the EX. Even the F-15E RMP/Late can get that. It’s nothing super special, just convenient.
Considering that the EX’s overseas stablemates the SA and QA have MAWS systems, the EX should get one too if Gaijin was consistent.
EPAWSS is separate from those MAW systems. Also the USAF has explicitly chosen not to bother with mounting the sensors for those MAWS.
Gaijin could add it of course, since the EX’s contemporaries have it. But we’ll have to wait and see.
It’s a similar issue with inner-wing MRML racks. In service, the F-15EX only ever mounted up to 12x AMRAAMs. But one of the earlier Advanced Eagles mounted MRML racks under the inner wing pylons like we have with the F-15C GE, making for a total of 16x AMRAAMs. Gaijin could go ahead and add MAWS and 16x AMRAAMs, but those are questionable.
Again, we’ll have to wait and see. I’m personally expecting 12x AAMs and no MAWS to start with, and then the MAWS and/or extra MRML racks will make an appearance if the EX struggles. (Like Gaijin did with the F-15C GE)
No nation other than the US has fielded CIRCM on the AH-64E, yet everyone got it.
Since Gaijin created this standard, I will have fun weaponizing it for my own purposes. :)
And yeah, Gaijin has kind of painted themselves into a corner with the MRML racks.
Also, what do you think the chances are of the 120D being a good upgrade vs being yet another anemic “upgrade” like the C5?
I know I’m not blanchboi, but I think it’ll depend on what mood they wake up in during the devserver week. A cointoss on either becoming the next meta missile or just another upgrade in range and speed but being basically a rigid missile at close range.
It depends on whether they want to adapt regular 120Ds or 120D-3s.
We know for sure the 120D will have GNSS and removed launch limits for HOBS shots. What we don’t know is whether it will have increased fin AOA, a better seeker, and a better lofting profile.
And then on top of those, the 120D-3 should absolutely have better fin AOA, a much better lofting profile, and most importantly a larger booster.
For all intents and purposes, I expect the regular 120D to simply be a 120C-5 with GNSS and removed firing angle limits. Those upgrades alone will make it better than the 120C-5, and I’ll personally enjoy that in ASB. But the 120D-3 would be guaranteed to be much better, so I’m hoping for that. Not to mention it could very well be argued that the PL-12A is more of a 120D-3 equivalent.
Yeah I want it to the best possible version as well, but this statement by Smin kinda dampened my hopes.
Though I wouldn’t be surprised if the Super Hornet is one of the other aircraft though, because it suffers bad right now.
F15 EX wont be after the F15CGE its a F15E
Even if you’re technically right, it is excessively likely they will end up placing an F-15E Late W/AESA (AKA F-15E RMP) behind the F-15E, and they’ll place the F-15EX as the last F-15 series iteration before the F-22 on that branch.
That assuming they’ll add both eventually, and gut feeling, obviously.