The current Simulator Air BR system is not just unbalanced — it is fundamentally broken. Not in one BR range, not in one era, not because of one aircraft — but because the entire system is built on assumptions and data that do not apply to Simulator Battles at all.
From 1.0 to 12.7+, every BR bracket contains structural, mechanical, and technological mismatches that make fair gameplay impossible. This is not a minor issue. This is a systemic failure that affects every aircraft, every player, and every match in SB.
What follows is a full technical breakdown of why the current BR system cannot work in Simulator Battles — and what would be required to fix it.
This document provides a comprehensive, technically grounded analysis of why the current Battle Rating (BR) system is fundamentally unsuitable for balancing Air Simulator Battles (SB) across the entire BR spectrum — from 1.0 to 12.7+.
The issue is not limited to individual aircraft. The problem is systemic, rooted in:
- how BRs are calculated,
- how the matchmaker functions,
- how avionics and technological generations are ignored,
- how flight models behave differently in SB,
- and how SB gameplay mechanics diverge drastically from RB.
Below is a detailed breakdown of why the system fails from the very bottom of the BR range, and how it can be technically corrected.
1.0–3.0 BR Range — Early Prop Aircraft, SB‑Specific Technical Issues
1. Cockpit visibility and canopy distortion
In SB, visibility is the primary survival factor. The BR system does not account for:
- canopy frame thickness,
- distortion,
- blind spots,
- rearward visibility,
- cockpit ergonomics.
An aircraft that is “fine” in RB can be effectively blind in SB.
2. Gun ballistics and aiming
SB has:
- no markers,
- no lead indicators,
- no aim assist.
Thus, ballistic quality, muzzle velocity, gun placement, and dispersion matter far more than in RB. The BR system does not reflect this.
3. Flight model stability and trim requirements
SB uses full‑real flight models:
- no instructor,
- no input smoothing,
- realistic stall behavior,
- constant trim management.
An aircraft that is “easy” in RB can be uncontrollable in SB.
3.3–6.0 BR Range — Late Prop Era, Compressibility, Energy Fighting
1. Compressibility
In SB, compressibility is fully simulated. RB’s instructor masks this.
This means:
- some aircraft cannot dive effectively in SB,
- others become dominant due to superior high‑speed control.
2. Energy retention
SB’s aerodynamic modeling makes energy retention far more important. Some aircraft outperform their RB BR placement by a wide margin.
3. Cockpit aiming ergonomics
In SB, aiming depends on:
- canopy clarity,
- gunsight visibility,
- cockpit layout.
The BR system does not account for this.
6.3–8.0 BR Range — Early Jet Era
1. High‑speed control authority
SB models:
- control stiffening,
- compressibility,
- pitch lockup,
- realistic roll behavior.
RB’s instructor hides these issues. Thus, BR values based on RB performance are inaccurate.
2. Energy management
Early jets in SB rely heavily on:
- acceleration,
- energy retention,
- drag modeling.
The BR system does not reflect these differences.
3. Lack of radar
In SB, lack of radar is a massive disadvantage. In RB, it is far less impactful.
8.3–9.7 BR Range — Radarless vs. Early Radar Aircraft
1. Pulse radars vs. no radar
In SB, radar provides:
- situational awareness,
- target acquisition,
- BVR capability.
Radarless aircraft are severely disadvantaged in SB, even if RB stats suggest otherwise.
2. Early IR missiles
In SB:
- poor seekers,
- low G‑limits,
- weak kinematics
make early IR missiles unreliable. Yet the BR system treats them as equivalent to later IR missiles.
10.0–11.0 BR Range — PD Radars, SARH Missiles, RWR Generations
1. Pulse‑Doppler radars and look‑down/shoot‑down
In SB, PD radars provide:
- superior situational awareness,
- reliable tracking,
- BVR dominance.
The BR system does not separate PD and non‑PD platforms.
2. SARH missiles
In SB, SARH missiles behave with:
- realistic guidance,
- realistic notch mechanics,
- realistic chaff interaction.
Yet SARH‑capable aircraft face IR‑only aircraft in the same BR range.
3. RWR generations
In SB, RWR quality determines survival. The BR system does not distinguish:
- analog RWR,
- digital RWR,
- modern threat libraries.
11.3–12.7+ BR Range — TWS, ARH, IRCCM, Modern Avionics
1. Track‑While‑Scan radars
In SB, TWS provides:
- multi‑target tracking,
- silent lock capability,
- BVR superiority.
The BR system treats TWS and non‑TWS aircraft as equals.
2. ARH missiles
In SB, ARH missiles have:
- realistic lofting,
- advanced seeker logic,
- high G‑limits,
- long‑range engagement envelopes.
Yet ARH platforms face SARH‑only aircraft.
3. IRCCM missiles
In SB, IRCCM:
- resists flares,
- maintains lock under maneuver,
- provides all‑aspect capability.
The BR system does not account for this.
4. Modern HUDs and avionics
In SB, HUD clarity, radar UI, and HOTAS workflow directly affect combat performance. The BR system ignores these factors entirely.
Why the Current SB BR System Fails Across All BR Ranges
Across the entire spectrum, the BR system:
- uses RB statistics that do not reflect SB performance,
- ignores avionics and technological generations,
- ignores cockpit visibility and ergonomics,
- ignores SB‑specific flight model behavior,
- allows excessively wide BR spreads,
- has not been updated to reflect new radars, missiles, or FM changes.
This results in systemic imbalance from 1.0 to 12.7+.
Proposed Solutions — Technically Grounded, Full‑Range SB BR Reform
1. Create SB‑specific BR values (1.0–12.7+)
BR should be based on:
- avionics generation,
- radar capability,
- missile capability,
- cockpit visibility,
- flight model behavior,
- energy retention,
- SB‑specific performance metrics.
2. Matchmaking based on technological eras
Instead of BR alone:
- early piston era,
- late piston era,
- early jet era,
- Cold War era,
- early BVR era,
- modern BVR era.
3. Maximum 1.0 BR spread in SB
Across the entire range.
4. Separate radar and non‑radar aircraft
Especially above 7.0.
5. Quarterly SB‑specific BR reviews
Not once every few years.
6. Publish SB‑specific performance metrics
Such as:
- average radar lock range,
- missile hit probability,
- time to first detection,
- time to first engagement,
- cockpit visibility impact,
- energy retention metrics.
This would make SB balancing transparent and data‑driven.
Conclusion
The current SB Air BR system is:
- technically flawed,
- statistically invalid,
- gameplay‑wise unfair,
- and fundamentally misaligned with Simulator mechanics across the entire BR range from 1.0 to 12.7+.
Simulator Battles are not RB with cockpit view. They are a distinct mode with distinct mechanics — and they deserve a BR system that reflects that.
This post is intended as a constructive technical analysis, not as a complaint.
I hope it can contribute to improving Simulator Battles for everyone.