you’re already immune to ARH based BVR if you have a MAW lol, MAW will pick up an incoming FOX3 from nearly 30 kilometers depending on the MAW. gives you plenty time to pre-notch and basically instantly chaff the missile.
that’s twice the distance of active range of every FOX3 in the game, and atleast 4x or 5x further for AIM-54s if we use the same 30km figure. could be even more, since MAW has an easier time detecting larger missiles from even further ranges
Personal opinion but if we stick to IR missiles I fear the AIM9M and AAM3 more than any current IR missiles in game. The R73 is honestly pretty mid for an IRCCM missile - it’s overall pretty easy to flare with a decent flare dump. The magic 2 and other even better missiles (PL8B I think ? Being the best) are fast, but also pretty easy to flare as long as they are not in your 30º back at less than 2km.
The Aim9M-AAM3 tho are pretty annoying overall.
For exemple, with the Mirage 4000, which only has large caliber flares (which are great on paper) :
I see a F2 going towards me. I start pre notching expecting an AIM120. Guy fires an AAM3 sub 3km. I dump flare, change direction (rolling and pitching aggressively), the missile keep going on me (because I don’t have the time to go towards or away from the missile to have him keep on gating the flares.
The combo of having a plane with fox 3 forcing the notch, and gate with missiles that are best at tracking notching targets through flares is very good. Obviously it’s not a great dogfight missile, but often time they don’t even have to start dogfighting, if they can ensure a kill before even merging.
Now obviously top tier is a different matter. IR missiles are basically useless at top tier. But here fox3 HOBS definitely have the advantage over the other fox 3 missiles in the hands of semi competent players (ie, those that actually evade missiles fired at them from 30km away, which is still barely the majority of players to this day lol)
In the current META, I feel that if the R73 had gatewidth rather than FoV (even if apparently it should get both either way, like Magic 2), it actually be very good, since often time high off bore shots are made on « notching » targets that don’t have the potential of defeating the IRCCM
i will just chip in here and say that PL-8B speeds work great for the gatewidth IRCCM.
3km alt shot, from and against stationary target
but you have to be pretty much lined up with the direction target is traveling
thats the issue with the PL-8B it would be better to have shut off on them, since the PL-5EII is in every situation better than it, giving it shut off would make it viable as a long range IR
I honestly like them on MKK more than R-73s. Sure, at knifefighting distance R-73 remains unbeaten but for general purpose use, PL-8Bs all the way.
Cant judge PL-5EII, i yet have to reach plane with them.
I honestly thought it was somewhat between the Magic 2 and r73 in terms of manoeuvrability. The more you learn !
I initially thought so too because i had really high hit rate with them but it was all about their speed apparently. few days ago i was testing them for the guide im working on with migoon and what do you know, they worse than 9M lol.
they are way too fast for their own good and dont really have the aoa to pull
bud at least you don’t have the a-10a early. That thing has 2 missiles
what the hell does the A-10 have to do with this?
god knows
no, not even he does
he came over from his post about A10 having only 2 9Ls
yes
Will be even more fun with the A-Darter on the South African Gripen.
Aam3 my beloved
AAM-3 always amazes me for the range comparison
100% more scarier IMO than the R-73 or Magic 2, it essentially is an all-around even better AIM-9M.
Truly is the IR missile I fear the most at 13.0ish. The F2 against sub 13.0 planes is very scary. Great radar for good battlefield assessment, and dangerous kit at this BR (obviously in up tiers it does suffer tho), combined with one of the best flight model
