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 second issue is the lack of countermeasures. At 12.3 BR and below, I never found the standard 60 countermeasures to be a major problem because Fox-1 missiles aren’t that difficult to notch. However, in full uptiers, you can run out of countermeasures pretty quickly due to the threat posed by more advanced missiles. One possible solution would be to give the aircraft access to ALE-40 wing-pylon countermeasures. While I understand this may not be historically accurate, it would significantly improve the aircraft’s survivability. I have similar problems with the F-4S and the F-4J (US). From what I understand, those aircraft were capable of carrying AN/ALE-37 countermeasure pods, which are already in game on the A-6E TRAM.
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.
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.
