Top Tier BR Decompression to 15.0 Proposal

Game Discussion Realistic Battle
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Introduction

Hello Everyone,

In this thread I would like to discuss BR decompression for top tier aircraft in Air RB. I made a post at the very end of last year (Dec. 31st, 2024) discussing decompression to 14.7, but now that we have progressed 3 months into 2025 I feel that it is time to up the ante.

Gaijin has done decompression in the past, but recently they have taken steps towards re-compressing BRs. For example, Gaijin moved the F-16A Block 10 down to 12.3 and added the F/A-18A at 12.3. These two planes are exceptional for their BR, they outshine other 12.3s and absolutely dominate planes just 0.3 BR lower than them (eg. F-4J, Phantom FGR.2/FG.1, etc.). This recompression is not healthy for the game and its balance.

My goal is to reverse some of this compression while also addressing issues at top BRs. The compression issue at top tier becomes readily apparent once you observe the F/A-18C Late being the same BR as vehicles such as the Rafale and the F-15E. However, the F/A-18C Late cannot go down to 13.7 since 12.7s have absolutely zero business facing a plane that can carry 10x AMRAAMs. This is a classic case of BR compression.

As a result, I have made a spreadsheet that goes over the more intricate details surrounding what planes should go up and by how much. Please note that these are just suggestions, and I am open to discussion. These are not set in stone and can easily be argued for or against (that’s the whole point of this discussion). Please be respectful, these are more just an example of what I think would be good changes – not attacks on your favorite aircraft.

Proposed Changes

Click here to view the BR proposal spreadsheet

I will now briefly explain what the changes are and why I think they should be made. This section shall follow each set of planes according to their current BR in game (eg. Rafale, Eurofighters, F-15E, etc. are 14.0). Again, this section gets into the nitty-gritty, and each individual plane’s BR placement and balancing choices are open for discussion. I will remind everyone to please remain respectful. If you would like to see something be done differently, please explain what, how, and why – do not just say something along the lines of “Rafale at 15.0?? YOU SUCK!!!”.

Decompression: 14.0 → 14.3, 14.7, and 15.0

For 14.0 there are five major airframes: F/A-18C Late, F-15E, Eurofighter, Su-30SM, and Rafale. When making balancing decisions here, I wanted to consider the differences in flight performance, available weaponry, and avionics kits.

Here we have 3 distinct groups:

  • 15.0 - All Eurofighters and the Rafale
  • 14.7 - The Su-30SM and F-15E
  • 14.3 - The F/A-18C Late and F-18C

I would like to note that if 15.0 is not possible, the Eurofighters and Rafale would be fine at 14.7, but ultimately I feel as though they are more capable than the F-15E and Su-30SM. The Su-30SM lacks the speed to keep up with the EF/Rafale, and the F-15E lacks avionics. I am of course open to hearing about alternative ideas, this is not something I am 100% set in stone with.

Furthermore, I personally find the F/A-18C Late and F-18C to be more on par with the current 13.7 vehicles like the F-16C and F-15C MSIP II. We will see in that section that the late Hornets join those vehicles at 14.3.

Decompression: 13.7 → 14.0 and 14.3

For 13.7, there is only one vehicle that does not go up two BR steps – that being the J-11A. The rest of the 13.7 vehicles make their way up to 14.3 as they are still very capable of holding their own against 15.0s. As for the J-11A, it has only gone up one BR step due to the fact that it is worse than the J-11B and Su-27SM in every way. As a result, the J-11A joins the current 13.3s in their decompression to 14.0.

Decompression: 13.3 → 14.0

For 13.3, every single plane goes up to 14.0, joining the J-11A. These planes are still somewhat capable against the new 15.0 (previously 14.0) jets, but they are not so close in BR that they might be able to see a few more down-tiers against less helpless opponents.

Decompression: 13.0 → 13.3 and 13.7

For 13.0, there are a few interesting questions as to what should be done. Firstly, what should we do with Fox-3 carriers that are on the lower end of the spectrum in terms of flight performance? Secondly, what should we do with non-Fox-3 carriers that have incredible flight performance? And thirdly, what do we do with planes that are somewhere in-between?

All of these questions lead to difficult answers. I am no paragon on this topic, so I made relatively arbitrary decisions on where each vehicle should go. Here is how I decided to balance things:

  • Non-Fox-3 carriers only go up one BR step (ie. 13.0 → 13.3)
  • Early Fox-3 carriers go up two BR steps (ie. 13.0 → 13.7).
  • Some exceptions can be made, such as with the Sea Harrier FA.2.

There are a few planes that I am unsure of. The J-8F, Tornado F.3 Late, and Kfir C.10 could join the Sea Harrier FA.2 at 13.3, but I decided to throw them up to 13.7 since they are supersonic with very good missiles/radars. The AV-8B Pluses are subsonic, but they have such great weapon kits that they should be higher than the rest of the early Fox-3 carriers. The F-4F KWS LV is the best of the early Fox-3 carriers, so it should absolutely be above the rest, but it is not 14.0-worthy (we need more decompression lol).

Overall, the main point of these changes is that 12.3s more than likely should not have to face these aircraft. The only exception here being the Sea Harrier FA.2, which has a very limited kit. The rest of the changes are planes that do not have access to Fox-3s (eg. F-15A/Js, Su-27/33s, etc.), and they are quite limited because of that fact. Non-Fox-3 carriers should not have to face the new 14.7s (ie. previously 14.0s) in my opinion, which is why they are only 13.3.

Another issue that I wanted to discuss is the F-14B. In the spreadsheet I placed the F-14B at 13.7 but gave it AIM-9Ms. The reason for this is that while AIM-54Cs are okay, they are definitely not as strong as Fakour-90s or AIM-120As. The air-frame and the addition of AIM-9Ms should serve the F-14B pretty well here, even though it is higher than the F-15A. Not to mention gszabbi99’s datamines for 2.45.1.32 shows that the AN/AWG-9 will be getting a buff in the near future (probably making it all-aspect PD?).

Another issue with 13.0 is the MiG-29G. I have it not changing BRs due to the fact that it is worse than the Su-27/33s in every way – having less missiles and CMs, and a much worse FM. An alternative here could be to have the F-15A/Js and Su-27/33s move up even more to 13.7 as well, but I would also argue that those planes should not have to face 14.7s (previously 14.0s) and do not hold 12.3 hostage in a down-tier.

Finally, the last issue with 13.0 is the Belgian F-16A. This F-16 has access to AIM-9Ms, which pushes it higher than its contemporaries – the F-16A ADFs, F-16AJ, and F-16A MLU. However, it is lower in BR than the JAS39A due to the fact that it lacks BOL pods and does not have HMS. As a result, it joins the MiG-29G in staying at 13.0.

Decompression: 12.7 → 13.0

For 12.7, there are only two planes that I chose to move up. The F-14A Early and F/A-18C Late are moving up here to make room for the F/A-18A and F-16A Block 10 to move up to 12.7. I mentioned in the spreadsheet that the F-14A Early should receive the AIM-9L with this BR change to match its peers more.

Furthermore, to comment on the F/A-18C Early, we can think of it as an analogue to the Su-33, being slow but having a ton of missiles, but it lacks IRCCM missiles and HMS. As a result, it is a lower BR, but not so low that moving the F/A-18A up does not make sense. Furthermore, the volume of missiles available to it allows the F/A-18C Early to keep up – having access to a 6x 9L + 4x 7P loadout, which makes it more on par with the MiG-29G and Belgian F-16A in my opinion. The main question in my mind is whether the MiG-29G and Belgian F-16A should be higher in BR or not – not whether the F/A-18C Early should go up in BR.

Decompression: 12.3 → 12.7

For 12.3, there are also only two planes that I chose to move up. The F/A-18A and F-16A Block 10 both have FMs that are far too strong to be 12.3. They are both stronger than their 12.3 contemporaries like the F-4EJ Kai and F-20A, and they are more akin to planes that are currently at 12.7, like the MiG-29As and other F-16As with Sparrows.

Conclusion

Overall, there were a lot of vehicles discussed here. More decompression is still needed, and I definitely did not do things in the most efficient manner. However, the point still stands that BR decompression is undeniably necessary in the current high tier matchmaker. Gaijin severely needs to reconfigure the current BR spread, and accommodations need to be made to account for new vehicles that will be added in the future. For example, the F/A-18E Super Hornet will have to be a higher BR than the F/A-18C Late, but there is currently no BR available for it. Is the Super Hornet equivalent to the Rafale and Eurofighter’s performance? Who knows? All we know for now is that the current BR spread is unsustainable and needs to change as soon as possible.

While I have highlighted many BR changes and made decisions on specific vehicles, I am open to hearing what everyone else thinks about these things. Here is a list of vehicles that I am unsure of for their BR placements and why I am unsure about them:

  • F-15E/I – Should these go up to 15.0?
  • F-14B – Should it receive 9Ms and be 13.7, or should it go to 13.3 with only 9Ls?
  • F-14A Early – Should it receive 9Ls and go up to 13.0, or should it stay at 12.7?
  • F-15A/Js and Su-27/33s – Should these only go up to 13.3 as I have it, or should they go to 13.7 with planes like the F-4F KWS LV?
  • J-8F, Tornado F.3 Late, Kfir C.10 – Should these go up to 13.7 or 13.3? Is there enough room in this decompression spread to do this?
  • MiG-29G and F-16A (Belgium) – Should they go up to 13.3 or stay at 13.0?

Please feel free to discuss these questions down below. I am interested in hearing feedback with this.

To Gaijin, please implement more BR decompression. It is sorely needed.

Also, special thanks to @GeneralLee2000 for helping me make the initial BR spread.

Would you like to see BR decompression?
  • Yes, I want BRs to be decompressed.
  • No, I do not care for decompression.
0 voters
What do you think about these BR changes?
  • I like them!
  • It’s on the right track, but I would change some things.
  • I do not like these changes.
  • I voted no to the first poll
0 voters
What BR do you think Gaijin should decompress to?
  • 14.3
  • 14.7
  • 15.0
  • 15.0+
  • I voted no to the first poll
0 voters
11 Likes
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Nah, F-15C, F-15E, Rafale, Typhoon and Su-30SM should all be the same BR. 0 reason for them to be any different at this moment in time. At most the F-15s could get some minor buffs.

With BOL fixed and/or Phimat pods added, it could quite happily join the 13.7/14.0 Fox-3 slingers you have in your decompression. Only thing that is notably handicapping it currently is the state of the F3s CMs . F-4F ICE should be virtually the same BR as it.

Could also be noted that both the Viggen DI and Sea Harrier FA2 could also manage with being 0.3 higher with BOL fix , but I do agree, FA2s loadout limitations should restricts its BR to a degree, though hopefully some major harriers buffs are on the horizon

Tornado F3 could also move up with the same fixes.

But overall, good decompression, would work.

5 Likes
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maximum d e c o m p r e s s i o n

4 Likes
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You decompressed too much at top tier, because you don’t need 0.7 BRs for planes that are almost completely equal. I could probably make a better and more in depth list, but that might take a bit.

Ideally it would go something like this:

15.0-EFT, Rafale, Su-30, F-15E
14.7 F-15C, F/A-18C lates, J-11B, and the better 13.7s such as the Gripens/F-15s
14.3 you get the F-16Cs and other planes that are just missing the extra something to be 14.3
14.0 you get the current 13.3s, alongside the J-11A
13.7, you move the best 13.0 planes, such as the F-15A, Flankers, Tornado, Phantom
13.3 you get the worse 13.0s, such as the Mig-29G, J-8F, Harriers, Viggen DI, F-14B and IRAF, and other things.
13.0 can get some of the better 12.7s, with the best 12.3s moving to 12.7 like the F-16A.

Yes. It and the Su-30 are all top tier equivalent planes, with each one having distinct advantages and disadvantages over each other.

It should have 9Ms.

It should have 9Ls.

I’d keep them on par with the worst early ARH slingers.

Only the Tornado, both the J-8F and Kfir lack IRCCM missiles, and both have less missiles.

10 Likes
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Why are your gripens that Low?

The kfir missiles are also a Joke
Worst Fox 3 I had the displeasure to use
Take the aim120 and give it the same Speed characteristics has the r77 and you would still have a Superior missile

6

Give the F-15’s BOL, and add a C (late) for top BR with AESA and double racks, hell, maybe even quad racks bc why not

And this is all good

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My list wasn’t very in depth, because there is alot more vehicles that I didn’t mention.

Yes, which is why it should be the same BR as the worst early fox 3 carries. It has an incredible radar and good RWR/flight performance, in exchange for limited missile count and capability.

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As much as I’d like to see an F-15C Late, we’re sadly more than likely not getting dual-rack AIM-120s on the F-15C. From what I’m aware of, those were just mounting tests and never fully wired to handle that many AMRAAMs:

Amber-F-15

While cool, I just don’t expect to see them :/

1 Like
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That picture is more documentation than there was for Kh-38 on Su-30SM and double racks R-77 for Su-27/30SM

Just saying

2 Likes
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Thank you :)

I wouldn’t go so far as to say the F-15C should be up there. I’d argue the F-15E and F-15C would need their AESA radar upgrades to be on par with the Eurofighter and Rafale. And even then it’s iffy for the F-15C.

1 Like
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Gaijin add AIM-9X (Block 1) & AIM-120C-7 for F-15C MSIP II, F-15E, F-16C Block 50, and F/A-18C late if deompression battle rating to 15.0

EF-2000, F-2000A and Typhoon FGR.4 receive 5th gen IR missile AIM-132 (Block 1) & AIM-2000 and active radar homing BVR missile AIM-120C-5 after expand BR to 15.0

12

Yeah I was considering this as well. Putting the current 14.0s at 15.0 definitely leaves more room for other BRs to be helped out.

The main thing I worry about is future additions being better than the F-15E and Su-30SM while still being on par with the Rafale and Eurofighter. But for now we don’t have to worry about that, and it’s definitely better to leave more room below.

1 Like
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Absolutely not???

14

As much as I would like to see AIM-120C-7s and AIM-9Xs, that defeats the whole purpose of the decompression being done here.

The game is already woefully compressed with the planes at their current BRs. Adding new, more oppressive, weaponry is not the way forward.

I also don’t expect to see Gaijin adding new air-to-air weapons to the F-15C and F-16C we have in game. The F-15E may end up getting new weapons, but we’ll have to see. I’m expecting Gaijin to implement Late versions of what we already have in game.

15

maybe they will update IR signatures, countermeasures, and simple ECM stuff like towed and disposable decoys

some of those are applicable to F-15, F-16, F/A-18, and F-14

1 Like
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Game could use decompression but in all reality, a simple change to .07+/-BR difference instead of 1.0+/-BR difference could change the game so vastly that being up tier wouldn’t make everyone hate the game so much.

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The only 2 things I dislike about going to +/- 0.7 are:

  • it’s hard to explain to new players
  • it looks awful (imo).

In theory it should absolutely work, but I’d argue the BR scale needs to change to +/- 0.5 to both look better and make more sense to new players. That way it can also still be +/- 1.0, having bigger numerical jumps, but having smaller jumps in vehicle capabilities between BRs.

For example, starting from 1.0:

  • 1.0 = 1.0
  • 1.3 = 1.5
  • 1.7 = 2.0
  • 2.0 = 2.5
  • 2.3 = 3.0
  • 2.7 = 3.5
  • 3.0 = 4.0
  • And so on…

Having +/- 0.7 means we have 3 BRs in one match (eg. 1.7, 2.0, 2.3). Using the +/- 0.5 scale, we get the same thing under a different name (2.0, 2.5, 3.0), and it looks much better imo.

Edit: Sorry for any confusion. When I said +/- 0.5, I meant to say +/- 1.0 with 0.5 BR jumps.

3 Likes
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.05 will and never work. Yes it’s simple for face value. But since gaijin did off numbers like 1.3 and 2.7. .07+/- is the best decision. It isn’t complicated at all if you just know that 0.7 is the BR spread, the game isn’t new player friendly from the get go so using that as an excuse for difficulty or negating the idea is as bad as saying it looks ugly. So does the X.3 or X.7 BR on various vehicles. lol.

If you wanted to change the BR spread to X.5+/-, decompression has to completely be overhauled, the values of vehicles has to all be changed to .0 or .5 values instead of the off numbers they use as .3 or .7 values. Not to mention it would vastly limit different vehicles you’d see in a match very small, and make finding games in weird BR ranges harder to play and find games without changing servers or meshing them.

The simplicity of changing the code for .7+/- instead of 1.0+/- is much easier through and through without altering any vehicle BRs and get a better win/loss graph for future vehicle BR changes. And less chance for Gaijin to fubar something as per usual when altering something.

Thus, less changing the overall BR stats, shrinking the up tier that everyone hates and overall better even games across the board that won’t be so vastly one sided. This would also help the ODL games as well since people will have an easier time staying out of that BR range in ground. And lighten the craziness of high tier Jets missile spam.

1 Like
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Or as I’ve mentioned on the forum before, make BRs more specific so planes can be 7.2, 9.9, 10.5 and etc so ±1.0 wouldn’t be as much of a problem.

But any decompression is fine by me, I just don’t want to fight full aspect missiles in a F-4J anymore.

20

Sorry, I miscommunicated what I meant. I was saying +/- 0.5 when I meant to say +/- 1.0 with 0.5 BR jumps. This would be the exact same system as +/- 0.7, it’s just with the numbers shifted.

New players don’t simply just know things. These things have to be explained, and +/- 0.7 with 0.3 BR jumps simply isn’t as intuitive as +/- 1.0 with 0.5 BR jumps.

No it doesn’t, the BRs just have to be converted from 0.3 scale to 0.5 scale. As I showed before, that’s not hard to do. You just make equivalent BRs starting at 1.0, increase them by their respective rates, and now you have a conversion table for every vehicle to be converted.

Changing the BRs to +/- 1.0 with 0.5 BR jumps is the same exact system as +/- 0.7. The only difference is cosmetics. +/- 0.7 allows you to face the same exact number of vehicles as +/- 1.0 with 0.5 BR jumps in any given match.

Sure? But that doesn’t mean it’s hard for +/- 1.0 with 0.5 BR jumps to be done. Like I said, each and every vehicle would get a new converted BR.