Most stuff at it’s BR, like the J35XS, has more missiles, better FM and is faster too.
Planes at 11.0 have better missile sets and usually better FMs.
At 11.3 we have the F4J, 4S and the Mig-23s aswell as the Mirage F1sa, that get Magic 2s.
Overall, the plane is in bad spot IMO. The argument that it has a decent-ish flight model isn’t too strong anymore, as the meta at the 11.0 range has shifted from dogfights to missile spam. the main argument against the introduction was that it was “too powerful”, but with R73s 11.0 and Magic 2s at 11.3, 4 AIM-9Ls on a (presumably then uptiered) 11.0 airframe don’t seem that powerful.
Its really time for the F4F Phantom to get its real missile loadout of AIM9L because of no Sparrows on that aircraft but its GAIJIN they have the incentive to make the GRIND SUCKS due to money.
While this would be nice, bumping the F-4F to ~11.0 and giving it all aspect, I don’t have much hope of this ever happening considering how this was ignored when the issue was still hot.
I think I would disagree. I love the way it flies, and it feels very strong at 10.7 and below, having very good speed, retention, etc. Its interesting to play a plane, especially a phantom, that relies on good flying and skill over just launching missiles at high tier. And its current missiles are still quite good.
Its not good because most 10.7 aircraft in the game will be drag to 11.3 gameplay at due to the16vs16 match SARH hell and the 11.3 Premium Planes like the F4S Phantom and the Mirage F1C-200 due to be favorite grinders in the game today.
Im much happier fighting 11.3 planes sometimes than having to risk fighting 12.0 planes. In exchange for an all aspect missile, that works best fired in the rear aspect anyways.