The earliest ARM GRB BRs for each nation are the following (please correct me if I am wrong):
- US: F18A - 12.0
- Germany: SU-22M4 - 11.0 Thanks MiGoon Fox-3
- Russia: Mig-27M - 11.0
- Britain: F18A - 12.0
- Japan: F18D - 12.7 Thanks Alpharius11348
- China: JH-7A: 12.0
- Italy: Tornado IDS MLU - 11.7
- France: Mirage 2000 D-R1 - 11.3
- Sweden: F-18C MLU - 12.7
- Israel: F16C Barak II - 12.7
The two issues that I see here is that these weapon systems should simply not exist at BRs below 12.0. 11.0 Aircraft can see Roland SAM systems which have trouble intercepting even straight flying aircraft at ranges past 5km due to them being nerfed to hell and back. Stinger launchers have basically no way of dealing with them.
The other issue is the balance between nations. Most systems such as ARH missiles, PRH missiles and IR missiles all start at around the same BR for all nations. Most nations get their AIM-9B (equivalent) missile at around 9.0. Some Nations get their ARMs at 11.0, others at top tier. Israel players get a whopping two missiles in the entire tech tree, the J15 gets 10 missiles, the Eurofighters only two.
The Tornado ASSTA 1 in the german tech tree at 11.3 doesn’t get access to AGM88s despite the ASSTA upgrade being made specifically to allow for employment of harms.
The balance (or better, lack thereof) is astounding. Half-assed research into what vehicle can carry these missiles, a random cutoff point (why no Shrike) and IOG that randomly decides that veering 25° off course at once is a thing.
Overall, ARMs are a mess and should be removed, but the cat’s been let out of the bag.
japan gets them at 12.7 on the F18D
U.S/CH both get Sidearm at 11.0 on the AH-1W no?
meanwhile I’m wanting Martels for the Buccaneer
truly the end of top tier
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oh no, the plane with 45 countermeasures has 10 AGMs that can’t see anything if their only target turns their radar off for 1 second while also having high TK probability
Narrow band seekers unlike 12.0 hornet for example. And due to targetting pod limits you can only use missiles of same band. So its either 2x I, 2x F G E, 2x (forgot bands, I just know its green icon and kills rolands). And due to abundance of clones and matchmaking mess, you will never be able to launch them at most of threats. Got green tips? There is osa. Red? There is roland or gepard a2.
And worst part is that those missiles occupy kh29t pylons. So you are left with kh25ml without kh29t tv camera for guidance on su17. Mig will have 2 kab500krs I think.
They could be useful if you could change bands on airfield I guess. But right now its just waste of slots for versatile kh29t.
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The S2B is a really interesting thought question.
As far as I am aware, the AJ.37s dont differ kinematically from the AJ.168s (I could be wrong, but they shouldnt be that different being the same missile with a different seeker I think)
So the question at its core is TV+MITL vs ARM seeker but for the same missile. Which is actually more impactful? ARM can only be used vs SPAA but does allow 4 to be taken in theory. TV can be used against any target, but can only take 3. Even if you ignore the quantity difference, does ARM automatically make them more powerful than the TV version?
That then doesnt also take into account that a LOT of SPAA at that BR dont even have radars, or dont need them, one of the main you’ll face is stuff like the Strela. At wich point ARM isnt even usable.
I genuinely dont know the answer here, but Im leaning towards the impact not being that meaningful overall and that its the fear of them being good, rather than them actually being good that is influencing this more than anything else
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