Hello, Warthunder community. As many of you already know, there has been a lot of “drama” and arguing regarding the JAS 39 coming to Warthunder. I think we all can agree on the fact that the JAS 39C coming for the UK first is a stupid decision that no one wants, though that’s up to you to decide on.
The fact is, the JAS 39C is just way stronger, and more capable than the JAS 39A. There’s no reason to screw over the Swedish player base like this. After two years of waiting for a new airframe in top tier, this is what we get? a worse variant of the plane only to have to wait even longer for a better variant?
We’d like to say that we’ll be adding the JAS39C for Sweden in the first major update of 2024. For the upcoming major update we’re still planning the A variant for Sweden and the C for the British tree (South African), with both variants having very similar loadouts, being almost identical in many areas. - Smin1080p, Community manager
So, Sweden will get a plane that’s ALREADY going to be in the game ~3 months later? And both planes “having very similar loadouts”? Yes, the loadout is probably going to be close to the same with only somewhat competitive IR missiles (Cause if it had anything more, it would be able to compete, or even be BETTER than the US and Russia’s additions, AND WE CAN’T HAVE THAT NOW CAN WE?!)
A similar loadout does not change the fact that there are many key improvements with a Gripen C over a Gripen A. Such as HMD, A stronger engine (Very important upgrade for a plane like the JAS 39), Two more missile pylons, Better RWR, Better Radar, etc. But this is conveniently left out of the response to our complaints, and instead, the focus is on the missile loadouts being very similar (still, the JAS 39A is missing two missiles compared to the C version).
Keep in mind that the JAS 39 is an aircraft made to be able to both do dogfighting and BVR, yet Gaijin is forcing it into a light fighter, dogfighting role? There’s absolutely NO CAPABILITY FOR BVR unless you feel like being completely crushed by missiles that are way better suited for BVR than the RB71 (DF). (i.e AIM7M, R27ER, Matra super 530?) keep in mind that the JAS 39A is not getting HMD, thus it will be inferior to pretty much everything that has highly maneuverable IR missiles at its BR in a dogfight, the JAS 39C/UK Gripen gets HMD though.
These planes, the F15 and JAS 39 Gripen should not have been added without early Fox 3s, the AIM120 is no god-like missile, and the game is certainly ready for them. Especially with them adding the SU27, which can give out R-27ERs and R73 (the best short-range IR missile and best Radar missile in the game) like candy to kids on Halloween. But instead…
Gaijin is quite literally making the JAS 39 Gripen something it never has been and never was made to be.
The only way to figure out how much of the community wants a change is to do a poll. Kind of hard to know what people think with everyone throwing insults at each other in the replies of a thread. Please contribute with your honest opinion on this issue, if enough of us vote, we might just have enough to make them change their decision.
- 39A for Sweden and 39C for UK (39C for Sweden first update 2024)
- 39C for Sweden and 39C for UK
- 39C for only Sweden (No JAS 39 for other countries)
- 39C for Sweden, with the 39C for UK coming later (next update?)
- 39C for Sweden, with the 39C for UK coming way later, possibly as an event vehicle?
0 voters
And then a poll on Missiles, what missiles should the JAS 39 get as their best? Keep in mind that the current loadout planned is RB74 (M) and RB71 (DF).
- RB74 (Aim9L)
- RB74 (M) (Aim9M) (Czechoslovakia has used Aim9M on the Gripen)
- RB71 (DF) (Skyflash) (Unhistorical)
- RB99 (Aim120)
0 voters
Thanks for taking the time out of your day to read this, feel free to respond with your takes on this!
(note that fox3s should be added with these planes is fully my own opinion and not the main idea of this thread, although it is still relevant).