Eh… If we were talking about a 13.7 AMRAAM slinger, maybe. But something like the Sea Harrier FA2 or Viggen DI? Sure, you may be forced onto the defensive, but the moment you’ve defeated all the incoming missiels you can turn back and go get a free kill. Not exactly like a FA2 that was running 4x AMRAAM is going to do much against an Su-27 in WVR combat.
With the exception of the ICE, which the SU-27 will rarely if ever face. None of the Fox-3 slingers are actually very good and are all carried by the fact they have Fox-3s. They all have weaknesses and defecits that can be easily exploited. The main thing you will be fighting is F-18s, F-15s and Gripen As. I dabble at that BR a bit, and I never see many fox-3 slingers. Even myself, I cant be bothered to play the FA2 because you are so outclassed at the moment (its also a buggy mess)
If the Su-27 moves down, then you might as well move all 13.3s down, so that is aircraft like the Tornado F3 Late and Mig-29SMT as well, because there isnt much point leaving them be.
No? Its not just range and speed that R-27ER beat the Aim-7M and Skyflash SuperTEMP on. It also had IOG and DL. Those were and are 2 insanely powerful assets. Just look at the F-18s. Those with Aim-7M at 12.3 those with Aim-7P are 12.7. Same missile, just one as IOG the other doesnt. IOG and DL used right was and is an insane combo that cant be dismissed. The only thing that kept R-27ER in check for that entire year, was that the Mig-29 was limited to only 2 and had a poor radar.
That year sucked for me, trying to fight Mig-29s in the F3 as it was impossible for me to either BVR against them and obviously couldnt dogfight against them. Didnt get much better with the Gripen C.
So no… R-27ER wasnt hated because it wasnt on an american aircraft. It was hated because it was and still is the best SARH in game and by no small margin. There is still a place for them at 14.0 if used right
Prior to this ,you had the Mig-23MLD with R-24Rs that did and still do clown on basically anything they can find at 11.3 or 11.7. Only the FGR2 can even come close to fighting the Mig-23MLD and its not easy. R-24R will win below 8km and Skyflash DF isnt great past about 10km unless up high, so thats a tiny window of advantage for the FGR2. Its not until the 12.0 stuff like the F3 and F-4S that the Mig-23MLD can actually be countered. R-24R is definetly the best SARH below 12.0
As previously stated though, just moving 13.3s down to 13.0 just makes 13.0 even more unplayable than it already is for many aircraft. Instead. Add a 12.3 to 13.3 bracket and move several up to 13.3. Like the F4F ICE and maybe the F-15A, Gripen A and F-18C Earlys?
Also add a 11.3 to 12.3 bracket and then move a few 12.3s up to 12.7 or maybe even 13.0. and that entire BR range just becomes so much more playable. Because moving all 13.3s to 13.0 is just not an answer, jsut like how moving all 12.3s to 12.0 wouldnt be an answer either.