US should get equivalent Air-To-Ground missiles.
The F/A-18 is now stuck fighting a jet with better missiles. Sure, the Su-30 has drawbacks, but that doesn’t change the fact that the R-77-1 consistently outperforms the AIM-120B in-game. The Hornet is already at a speed and acceleration disadvantage, and now it has to rely on weaker missiles while the Su-30 gets superior BVR tools. If the argument is ‘airframe matters more,’ then why is the F/A-18 struggling despite its supposed advantages? It’s because the AIM-120B isn’t competitive anymore, and that’s the issue.
I can’t find the source now, but I recall something about how lower beam-width makes it harder for an elevated target above the horizon to notch your missile.
The equation is something like Beam-width times half = anything above that cannot notch the missile.
So at 15 degrees, half of that is 7.5. It would require a target to be above 7.5 degrees in relation to the missile, for the missile to not be notched.
But if it is reduced down to 7 degrees, it would only require a target to be above 3.5 degrees in relation to the missile, for the missile to not be notched.
Unfortunately I cannot find the changelog that discussed this as it was old.
Yeah, exactly. The F/A-18 was already outdated the moment it dropped, and without better missiles like the AIM-9X or at least the AIM-120C, it never had a chance. Meanwhile, the Su-30 gets R-77-1s, and we’re supposed to believe that’s fair? The whole situation just proves that U.S. top tier keeps getting shafted in balance decisions.
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Range alone doesn’t determine balance. The issue isn’t just that the R-77-1 has similar range—it’s that in practice, it’s outperforming the AIM-120B due to better in-game performance. The Su-30 also has a better radar and more missiles, while the F/A-18 is stuck with AIM-120Bs, which are already outdated. ‘Same range’ means nothing if the missile itself is more effective in actual combat.
I want people to look over this graph very CLOSELY!!! the 77-1 is not better then the 120…the launch platform plays a BIG roll in BVR, it’s why the 15E and Eurofighter are still the best BVR jets in the game!!!
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TWR doesn’t mean much when the F-15E and F/A-18C are forced into defensive maneuvers before they can even fire an effective shot. The issue isn’t just positioning—it’s that the R-77-1 consistently forces AMRAAM carriers to go defensive, breaking BVR balance. If the F-15E’s TWR advantage made such a huge difference, we wouldn’t be seeing R-77-1s outperforming AIM-120Bs in-game. The problem is the missile imbalance, not just the planes carrying them.
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READ the graph above!!!
The AIM-120C-5 has a longer range than the AIM-120A/B/C, but not the C itself.
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Drag alone doesn’t determine missile effectiveness. Even if the R-77-1 has more drag, it’s still performing better in-game because of how War Thunder models missile guidance and retention. Also, launch platforms matter, but when F/A-18C and F-15E players are struggling to get effective shots off before Su-30s force them defensive, that’s a balance problem. The R-77-1 is still outperforming the AIM-120B in practical combat, and that’s what actually matters.
Lol this is cope, F-15E can easily go into a position to fire their Amraams faster than the Su-30SM, and being faster also means better conditions to actually fire the amraam
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Higher drag means more speed bleed when maneuvering btw
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in BVR the 77-1 DOES NOT out preform the 120…15E at Mach 1 30km 30SM Mach 1…both start defending after launch 77-1 DOES not win this fight!!! BECAUSE OF THE DRAG!!!
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Time to optimal launch parameters…the 15E beats the 30 hands down…it’s not even close!!! YouTubers are already making videos showing this!!!
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The r77 is hot garbage and the 77-1 should have been added a while ago. By all accounts it’s equal or a little better than the aim120 if the target does maneuver at all when you launch it and worse than the aim120 than a lot if they do maneuver, and seeing as most people maneuver……
Im just hearing skill issue, you can’t just ignore launches from Russian planes anymore and it’s throwing you off.
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In terms of engine performance the 30 is only better then the 15E at low speed!!! If you’re getting out BVR’d with this kind of platform performance…IT’S YOU!!!
Everyone knew F18 wasn’t going to be anything special. It’s to no-one’s surprise. Should’ve honestly been added 2 years ago. USA’s top-dog is the F15E still.
Only question you should be asking yourself regarding F18 is if it should be lowered to 13.7, if you consider it equal to SU27SM and others with that BR. USA already has an insanely good 14.0, the F15E.
F15E is a VASTLY better launch platform, if you’re referring to energy state. And R77-1 has worse retention due to drag.
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I ordinarily wouldn’t do this, but this is cope. Outside of subsonic, point blank launches, 77-1 is worse. The most immediate competitor that it outclasses is MICA, and plausibly the Israeli missile. The launch platform cannot get it fast enough to have an energy state that will grant it greater range and overcome the limitations drag imposes on the missile, as opposed to AMRAAM and the AMRAAM platforms of similar class.
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Please cry more. BluFor has been dominating matches so badly that I end up playing 1v6 to 1v8 as RU and GER because my entire team leaves, resulting in getting base camped until I realize everyone has already quit.
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The A-10s (and to a similiar extent, the Su-25s) became pointless after being denied the airspawn they were listed to be getting.
ARB kiddie detected