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.
