Whilst this topic focuses on Exocet and to a lesser extent RBS 15, it is important to note that the limited proliferation of AShMs problem afflicts a number of trees, especially those with Typhoon as the capstone. However, Typhoon’s intricacies are for someone else to cover. That aside:
Nuclear Escalation as A Permanent Mode
It should be noted that Nuclear Escalation as a permanent mode is a positive, for the most part, in spite of the issues with SPAAG efficacy being overlooked. It provides a number of new targets for the expanding roster of munitions available to the player, as well as increases the range these munitions are deployed at to bring them closer to parity with reality. This opens up the game to provide targets for interdictors, and most notably maritime strike platforms. Therein lies the fault, the scope of objectives and available targets has expanded at a faster rate than the breadth of munitions available to engage them with.
Maritime strikes and the decidedly limited depictions of air to surface missiles will be the primary mode of complaint; however, it is worth noting that the expanded scope has left victims alongside it that I will briefly touch on as it will lead into later points. One of these victims is ESM and target identification for Western aircraft that do not carry ARMs, and to a certain extent those that do carry ARMs. Compared to Pact aircraft which feature ESM depictions with incredibly rapid rates of detection and update, Western aircraft that carry ARMs are afflicted with non-integrated ESM that has a glacial scan speed that leaves much to be desired. This is even less positive for aircraft that do not carry ARMs, as they do not have ESM present and thus have a notably less effective means of identifying relevant targets, with further frustration being caused by the limited stores of aircraft that fall into this category (in most cases).
This lack of presence in SEAD capabilities forces the player to defer to either air to air, or other modes of engaging non player targets. However, the efficacy of Air Defense Installations lead to difficulty for these aircraft to act on account of deficiencies in silencing those installations, as should be obvious. This leaves only really maritime targets as a reliable non player target to engage (carriers excepted for reasons that will be noted later). Unfortunately, a not insignificant portion of aircraft that fall into this bracket are poorly equipped for maritime strikes. At the upper echelons, this is Typhoon (which I shan’t be noting) and Rafale, followed to a lesser extent by Gripen. Below this, we are looking at Viggen, Etendard, etc.
The Absence of Exocet and RBS 15
Whilst a focus on non player targets may not be the standard approach to the game at present, the introduction of Nuclear Escalation provides a facet of the game that caters to that behaviour and therefore needs some level of focus applied to it. For a not insignificant stretch, there have been efforts to postpone AShM additions with the cry of “There’s no real reason to add them” in spite of efforts clearly being made to create a manner of gameplay around them. We recently faced an update that introduced a large number of AShMs to interact with the maritime targets found in the now permanent Escalation mode. Even in the current update, we see the addition of Kh 35; a not unwarranted addition, but an addition that furthers the point. An effort is being made to provide the tools.
Unfortunately, this effort has failed to provide Exocet or RBS 15, leaving 2 trees absent of their native maritime strike capabilities. Whilst this is less a problem for Sweden, due to the presence of the Finnish F18 that carries AGM 84, it is incredibly detrimental to the French tree as there are no platforms that carry munitions for the role. Whilst we have seen another AShM for a nation already glutted with them this update, we have not seen so much as an indication that Exocet is on the cards for a nation that has none. This leads to France generally being limited in engaging with DEAD activities, strategic target destruction, and maritime attacks. The absence of ESM is partially what forces Rafale/Gripen away from the DEAD role, and more towards the maritime / strategic strike roles, in spite of the generally questionable ability to engage in these aspects. Exocet should be provided to French forces to open up their options to engage with air to surface gameplay, not purely limited to Rafale, though it would be a beneficiary of the addition.
On the absence of RBS15, it is important to note that Gripen can engage with non maritime surface targets to a middling extent, and thus whilst would benefit from a munition such as RBS15 Mk4, the primary beneficiary of the RBS15 would be the Viggen which struggles with the current non maritime surface threat environment. There is a case to be made that this is unwarranted, as many trees have a number of aircraft that cannot engage in maritime attacks effectively, yet I feel this ignores the fact that the vast majority of trees have home grown AShMs present in the tree even if barely propagated. This makes it especially notable that both France and Sweden are missing their home grown AShMs, especially an update after the wide distribution of ASMs. To my mind, it is also quite concerning that this oversight has continued, even as we receive a new AShM to go with the many already available to Russia.
Why This Absence Ought to be Corrected
Even ignoring the notable history of Exocet, the presence of Nuclear Escalation as a permanent mode introduces a permanent maritime gameplay opportunity, and the missiles pointed to here are limiting the ability for the respective trees to engage in these opportunities, in spite of the missiles both existing and being deployed on aircraft across a number of ratings. There was a case made prior that we could expect these missiles when everyone else had them, at other times the case was when there was a use for them.
There is now a permanent use for them. The majority of trees have access to their relevant AShMs. The exception lies with France and Sweden, and we now have an update chasing the wide spread dissemination of missiles with nary a peep about Exocet or RBS15. This needs to be addressed, it is unreasonable to cut two perfectly capable trees out of the AShM loop when there are perfectly capable additions for them to receive. Even more so it is unreasonable to double down on adding Kh35 to a tree with so many already there to choose from.
Footnote
I will review this for legibility / spelling / extra concerns I missed tomorrow.