Post title. I don’t fully understand the implementation of PL-12 in older plane for PLAAF, does J-8F sees a full PL-12 in all of it’s pylon during it’s service at all? I think just 2 is fine at 13.0 IN ISOLATION, however the PL-8 at 13.0 is very noncompetitive.
It’s compatriot of 13.0 ARH launcher have a better kit in F.3 Late with 4 AMRAAM and 4 9M plus BOL (Yes, BOL is only 1/4 effective when all things considered, still, 320/4 is 80 and extra 80 CM is a lot when added to the equipping plane base CM count although it is irrelevant in the bigger picture) despite bricky ass flight model, like it’s compatriot, Immigration and Custom Enforcement (Get it? ICE?) Phantom with brickier FM and 90 CM, but still with 8 missile and no HMD, they carry quite a load of weaponry to be competitive at their BR with the amount of ARH and IRCCM IRAAM that they carry.
While those case above doesn’t reflect something like Harrier (A case on it’s own, decompression issue rather than them being at 13.0 because of good stat or whatever), anything that could be done for J-8F? at least PL-8B instead of PL-8 and remove the PL-5B mod altogether?
J-8F should be more compared to the FA2, AV-8B+, Kfric C-10 and Viggen DI.
Some of those likely should be lower but are stuck at 13.0.
F3 Late and ICE might need to be 13.3 but are largely uncompetitve in an uptier for various reasons (in the F3 Late’s case, it is the state of BOL to blame)
Whether the J-8F is able to carry 4x PL-12s is largely dependent on IRL sources and bug reports I reckon. it shouldnt be a balancing issue if it can be done
If it can carry 4 PL-12 and 2 PL-8B I think making it 13.3 like MiG-29 SMT is fair. I don’t see the point of 13.0 ARH slinger without IRCCM IRAAM when other 13.0 ARH carrier all have those IRCCM IRAAM like Harriers, ICE Phantom and Tornado F.3, that’s all. either buff it massively and uptier it or give it PL-8B, keep the ARH to 2 and keep it at that tier.
Well, the Viggen DI has Aim-9Ls , and the Kfir C10 has Python 3s, the kfir is also limited to a max of 4 missiles. F-14B also only gets Aim-9Ls and the F-14A IRIAF only has Aim-9Ps, not even all-aspects
Whilst the FA2 does have access to Aim-9Ms, it rarely takes them and usually only 4x AMRAAM (no IR and no Canon)
So its not the only one with limited loadout or equipment.
Whether the J-8F can carry 2+4 loadout or whether it should have an IRCCM is a matter of IRL sources and bug reports. I have no idea
As I said, F3 Late and ICE likely should be 13.3 based solely out their loadouts but the F3 Late has one of the weakest FMs of ths supersonics at that BR and BOL is heavily handicapping it. ICE is better, but not by much, them being 13.0 is largely a compression issue, though bug reports for F3 at least exist that would buff it up to 13.3 again (like BOL overhaul and Phimat pods, let alone ARH buffs like Aim-120C5s)
From what I remember of the discussions when it was added, Chinese sources were adamant only pylons 2 and 5 had the wiring for controlling radar missiles (and only radar missiles).
It’s missing MAWS apparently (sensors visible on the vertical stabiliser), PL-8Bs are an option I guess. It’s just one of those planes stuck in uncompetitive limbo as long as it’s in range of getting clubbed consistently by Gen 4 planes.
ICE moved down because it was Germanys top tier. F3 Late moved down because the ICE moved down. Both though were pretty screwed in any sort of uptier and that was before the 14.0s were added. Especially the F3 Late and the fake nerfs and other issues it has to deal with.
With the right fixes the F3 Late could be quite happily at 13.3 again though. BOL flares are a fraction of the performance they should be and BOL Chaff is 1/4 the strength it should be. With BOL fixed alone, the F3 Late could actually manage at 13.3. Add on 1-2 Phimat pods for 216 large chaff each and it would be solid.
Throw in Aim-120C5s as well and it could even move to 13.7
but in game, if its comprable to any other IRCCM then I dont really think it would warrant a BR increase. I dont recall the J-8F being all that special in terms of FM and 2+2 is hardly a powerful A2A fit.
missed that it can carry 6 missiles. my bad. Though based upon what others have said, its 4+2 and that is accurate to IRL
Given you have F-16s and the Gripen with 6x IRCCM at the same BR with better FMs, the question becomes whether or not the 2x PL-12s close the gap or push it higher
It matches their perfromance since the two plane you mentioned also got fuckload of countermeasures while J-8F only have 84, that alone strategically balances the PL-12 Addition when you factor in J-8F not so great FM for it’s BR (the plane is fine, it’s the delta wing).
In the FA2s case with 60 standard + 320 BOL (so roughly 80), it is also a sub-sonic, with less missiles than J-8F and doesnt even have a gun without sacrificing missile count, so in this regard, the FA2 is still by far the weakest ARH slinger at 13.0 (maybe even the weakest aircraft overall actually, atleast with the fake nerfs)
Viggen DI has 40 large and 320 BOL (so roughly 80 in reality) but has one of the weakest RWRs at the BR (maybe actually the weakest)
F3 Late has few weaknesses other than a bit of a bus of an FM (probably the weakest overall FM at that BR) but as already discussed, should be higher if BOL had their correct performance. (Phimat is also needed)
I agree that PL-8B could very well be considered for the J-8F for its BR, but Id not fixate of CM count for this.