Today I’ll be discussing the F-4J in the British tech tree and several ways it could be improved so that it can better compete against the aircraft it regularly faces in full uptiers. This will be a relatively short post, as I only have three main issues with the aircraft.
My first issue with the F-4J (UK) is its inability to carry AIM-9Ls. I’ve found myself in many situations where AIM-9Ls would have been extremely useful, particularly when ambushing enemies while flying low to the deck. The aircraft frequently faces opponents with significantly more capable weaponry, and access to AIM-9Ls would help it remain competitive.
My final issue concerns drop tanks, and this problem applies to all Phantom variants in the game. They are currently missing their outer wing drop tanks, which would be incredibly useful in Enduring Confrontation matches, especially now that these matches are much more common. The additional fuel capacity would improve endurance and reduce the need to return to base as frequently.
Implementing these changes would help bring the British Phantom variants up to modern standards without making them overpowered. The F-4J (UK) would become a more competitive and attractive aircraft, making a return to the store a more appealing option. In the end, both players and developers benefit: players receive a more enjoyable gameplay experience, and the aircraft itself becomes a more desirable premium purchase.
Gaijin could always test these changes and monitor how the aircraft perform. If any of them end up overperforming, adjustments can be made later. However, I highly doubt any of these changes would make the aircraft excessively strong given the current state of the game.
The F-4J (UK) and FGR.2 could receive AIM-9Ls and Skyflash SuperTEMPs, while the F-4J (UK) could also receive additional countermeasures similar to those available on the FGR.2. The FGR.1 could then be moved down to 11.7. From there, Gaijin could evaluate the performance data and make further adjustments if necessary.
Do you want the F-4J (UK) receive AIM 9Ls and more countermeasures?
My experience with the Skyflash has generally been positive, and I don’t have any major issues with it. While Skyflash SuperTEMP missiles would certainly be a welcome addition, I believe they should be considered alongside AIM-9Ls to provide a complete upgrade package rather than as a standalone change.
A good comparison can be made with the Tornado F.3. Despite having slightly worse flight performance than the Phantom, the Tornado F.3 sits at 12.0 and has access to BOL countermeasures (x320), AIM-9Ls, and Skyflash SuperTEMP missiles. Given this, there is little reason why the British Phantoms should not receive AIM-9Ls as well.
Adding AIM-9Ls would not be game-breaking. The era of Phantom dominance has long passed; adding AIM-9Ls would not be game-breaking. The AIM-9L is still a solid all-aspect missile, but at the battle ratings where the British Phantoms operate, it would simply help them remain competitive rather than give them a significant advantage over their opponents. Furthermore, several aircraft already have access to comparable or superior weapons at similar or even lower battle ratings. The JA37D receives AIM-9Ls, while the Mirage F1 has access to Magic 2 missiles. Gaijin has previously made balance adjustments of this nature, so extending similar treatment to the British Phantoms would not be unprecedented.
As for the addition of ALE-40 countermeasures, this would be a sensible quality-of-life and survivability improvement. Other British Phantom variants already have access to ALE-40 dispensers, making it neither unrealistic nor inconsistent within the tech tree. The F-4J (UK) simply lacks the countermeasure capacity needed to comfortably operate in the current missile-heavy meta, where carrying sufficient chaff and flares is increasingly important.
Given the number of non-historical additions such as anime tanks and cosmetic collaborations already present in the game, adding additional countermeasure capacity to improve the viability of an underperforming aircraft would be a relatively minor and reasonable change.
Though there is the statement that they prioritise aircraft to get 1 more than aircraft that already have 1 to get a second. Which I get for the most part, except for exceptions like the F4
A lot of people already consider the F-4EJ Kai to be overtiered. Its main strengths are its missile loadout and improved radar, and I don’t think it would be out of place at 12.0 given its relatively poor flight performance and lack of the Agile Eagle package.
Likewise, I don’t believe giving the F-4J (UK) additional countermeasures, AIM-9Ls, and the missing drop tanks would suddenly make it overpowered. We’re talking about an aircraft that many players jokingly refer to as the “F-4 Junk” because of how poorly it performs compared to many aircraft at and above its BR. Against aircraft such as F-18s, its flight performance is already a major disadvantage.
Even DEFYN has advised players not to carry all four Skyflash missiles in an uptier because of the performance penalty, recommending only two instead. That alone highlights some of the aircraft’s limitations.
The main issue with your comparison is that the FG.2 and the F-4J (UK) are not equivalent. The FG.2 is generally regarded as the stronger Phantom thanks to its more powerful engines, and while you’ve played the FG.2, you haven’t actually played the F-4J (UK). As a result, you’re judging the aircraft based on a variant that performs noticeably better than the one being discussed.
That’s exactly why I believe AIM-9Ls would be a reasonable addition. They wouldn’t make the F-4J (UK) overpowered; they would simply help offset some of its existing weaknesses and allow it to compete more effectively in uptiers. Before arguing against changes to the aircraft, I think it’s important to have firsthand experience with how it performs in its current state.
I agree, the F-4J (UK) needs some attention from the game developers; compared to other BR 12.0 fighters, it unfortunately doesn’t fare very well. It’s probably not without reason that it was removed from the Gaijin store and can now be purchased with gold—well-selling fighters don’t get removed from the store; just look at the MiG-23ML or F-5C —to this day, they’re still able to compete with other aircraft in their BR.
It will be closed. Its not a bug issue, its a balance issue. You’ll need to wait for the Battle Rating change thread, or argue to the case in a dev forum thread and maybe it will get actioned. Though its rare Gaijin listen to community feedback.
Battle rating changes or not it’s still a bad plane you’ve never played and you just don’t listen. You don’t need to spam up and post this three times. You’re just like Cobra73
I simply pointed out that a bug report is not the right place to argue this change and instead where best to actually argue for it, including examples of what i have done in the past.
A report for missing Aim-9L? Yes
A report for missing Skyflash SuperTEMP? Yes
But whether or not they should actually get them, as you have done so, is just going to get closed as “not a bug” and you’ll be directed to the forums.
I have not played the F4J(UK), that is correct. I have played the Phantom FGR2/FG1, aircraft that gain advnatages over the F4J(UK) and suck in ARB. I can add 2+2 together just fine. I have thought about buying the F4JUNK before and ultimately decided it was a waste of money in its current state. Especially in ASB where it is 12.0 and not 11.3.
I stand by my opinion on the UK Phantoms.
FGR2 would be the most appropriate to recieve the full upgrades of loadout because that is what it got IRL. Aim-9Ls and Skyflash SuperTEMPs could be interesting on this airframe (would end up at 12.3 though)
FG1 should remain as if in FAA service with its current loadout and balanced appropriately. With current compression that is hard. 11.7 might be possible, but its probably stuck for the forseeable future
F4JUNK could either follow the FGR2 or follow the FG1. I largely dont have an opinion either way. I do think the better option if it does get upgraded loadout instead of a BR reduction is Skyflash SuperTEMPs and not Aim-9Ls, as the 9Ls are terrible and the Skyflash STs are actually quite good. But Im equally of the opinion that a BR reduction to 11.7 would be just as appropriate. Then there is also the entirely different argument about whether or not it should get Napalm. It could based upon every standard gaijin has ever set, but alas, it does not.
But at the end of the day. It is a compression issue. No aircraft, even the stronger aircraft at 12.0 like the Tornado F3 is doing massively well at the moment due to the extreme compression.
Continued harrassment is not going to change my mind and I will no longer be responding to you in this thread.
It’s honestly frustrating that this discussion has made virtually no progress. After only a few days on these forums, I’ve already learned that these ingame issues rarely seem to get resolved, and that’s not a good thing.
What makes it even worse is when people repeatedly derail discussions with the same arguments instead of helping move them forward. Individuals like Morvran_ and Cobra73 don’t appear interested in finding real solutions that work; they seem more interested in preventing the conversation from progressing.
