-NO HMD
-NO thermals
-45 countermeasures
All it has going for it is airframe which is outdated because Typhoon/Raphale exist not to mention age of dogfighting ended long time ago. It is literally worse in every way both air and ground wise compared even to it’s sister jets in other nations.
And the funny part there is literally nothing that can save this plane, moving it down 0.3 br in ARB is pointless because of how matchmaker works, putting it on 13.0 would be criminal because THERE it would wreck absolute havoc, and ground wise - nothing can be done at all for the same reason, the closest"downgrade" is 12.0 which is also would be stupid because we can’t unleash that on 11.0 planes and SPAAs (oh wait, Thor is now 11.0, I guess at least someone could manage, but I digress)
As a cherry on top -
Game teases us to think it would AT LEAST be the first F-16 capble of carrying 8 Mavs BUT SIKE, you can’t do that haha!
This plane is DOA, it’s just additional 400k to grind to get to JAS-39C (that is outdated too but still something). Funnily there are more modern modifications in service with more moder targetting pod and electronics that would fit wonderfully but as always, Japan can’t have too much fun, Gaijin will find way to screw Japan mains.