The introduction of premium vehicles at 12.0–13.3 has made technologically subsonic attack aircraft no longer competitive (e.g., the A-10C and Harrier GR.7). In addition, the extended base respawn time means that once these aircraft enter the battlefield, they often have no targets left to strike or the outcome of the match has already been decided.
Although the A-10C is equipped with AIM-9M missiles and a helmet-mounted sight, and the Harrier GR.7 also has AIM-9M missiles and a missile warning system.
this provides little to no help in medium-range engagements, where they are often left with no effective means of retaliation against weapons such as the R-27,AIM7P/F, AIM-120, or R-77.
Moreover, the Harrier GR.7 lacks GNSS-guided weapons, and carrying four AGM-65s offers little practical value in 12.3 air battles. While a loadout of GBU-24 + GBU-12 can destroy a single base, fighters are almost always able to destroy the bases before it arrives.
As a result, the Harrier GR.7 is unable to leverage any of its advantages as an attack aircraft at 12.3. The A-10C’s weapon loadout is reasonable at 11.7, but its low speed places it in a situation similar to that of the Harrier GR.7.