Right now the F-16A Block 15 ADFs and Block 20 MLU are the same BR as the JAS39A Gripen, F-15A/J, Mirage 4000, and MiG-29G. They lack IRCCM Fox-2s, have a low countermeasure (CM) count, and lack HMD/HMS. All of their compatriots have some of or all of these and better.
1.) Lack of IRCCM Missiles
The Gripen, F-15A/Js, Mirage 4000, and MiG-29G all have IRCCM missiles - either the R-73, Magic-II, or AIM-9M. The F-16A ADFs and MLU only have AIM-9Ls. At the very least the F-16s should receive their AIM-9Ms since they are a base-level requirement for 13.0. This is the most important aspect in my opinion. If the F-16A ADF/MLUs at least got their AIM-9Ms then 13.0 could be a justifiable BR. But without 9Ms, these planes are utterly sad.
Before anyone comments “but these get AIM-7Ms so that makes up for the AIM-9Ms,” I would like to remind you that the MiG-29G gets R-27ERs/R-73s/HMS and the F-15A/J gets the AIM-9M/AIM-7M/240 CMs, both of which are the same BR as the F-16A ADF/MLUs.
2.) Lack of BOL Pods and Low CM Count
The Gripen has access to BOL pods and the F-15A/Js have FOUR times the countermeasures of the F-16A ADFs and MLU (the MLU also recently lost 30 CMs, going from 90 → 60). The Mirage 4000 also has 112x CMs, which is nearly double the F-16A ADF/MLUs’ CM count. This is less of an issue than AIM-9Ms, but the addition of BOL pods would definitely help these planes if their addition is possible. Thankfully we have separate CM buttons and whatnot, so 60x CMs can get these planes a little further through the match.
3.) Lack of HMD/HMS
The Gripen and MiG-29G both have HMD/HMS while the F-16A ADFs and MLU do not. I am well aware the ADF and early MLUs cannot receive HMD, so I am not asking for them to receive it. However, it is worth noting that these simply do not have HMD, which counts against them when something like the Gripen or MiG-29G can point and click IRCCM missiles.
Solutions
There are multiple ways to alleviate this:
1.) Add AIM-9Ms to the F-16A ADF/MLUs. If BOL pods can be added, they should be added in my opinion.
2.) Move the F-16A ADF/MLUs down to 12.7.
3.) Decompress to 14.0 and move the Gripen-A, F-15A/Js, Mirage 4000, and MiG-29G up to 13.3.
It is also worth noting that the Belgian F-16A is 13.3 with AIM-9Ms yet the Gripen-A is 13.0. This makes no sense, the Belgian F-16A should absolutely go down to 13.0 to be with its F-16A compatriots.