The one saving grace of the SU-27/J-11 at 13.0 - at least they get the beloved R-27ER/ET. Imagine being stuck with AIM-7M at 13.0. Still, it can’t go any lower - it’s a sacrifice you’ll have to make.
Now lets be real - take a look around at what else is at 13.0. You have jets that don’t even have all-aspect IR missiles at all (Iranian F-14). Some jets don’t even have IRCCM on their IR missiles (J-8F). Be thankful for what you do have. It’s not all smooth sailing for other jets around that BR. It’s not exclusive to F-15J.
When you are using a practically older technology obviously you’ll not enjoy, at least in the Drip Battle most late Japanese airplanes get a easy win, such cool camouflages, at the moment I believe only the JAS39C is the most capable aircraft in the Japanese tech tree for air-to-air engagements.
Yeah, yeah, big bad compression. We all know the problem, it has been discussed to death. That’s your real problem - not being uptiers. Nothing wrong with up-tiers when things are not too compressed. However, some vehicles will still keep doing good even with the compression, hence I mentioned Ayit. I would never want them to change the up-tier mechanic, though. Sometimes you’re not the top-dog, that is okay.
I don’t disagree. People go on about its speed, but the slowness can be an advantage when the enemy jets have to slow down to try get behind you. AIM-9D at 9.3 is just chefs kiss. Eats F-104A for breakfast.
The F-15J is fine at 13.0, the problem is the ridiculous BR compression in that range and the dumping of bad platforms with fox3s at 13.0 that ruin the whole bracket even further.
F-15J is one of the best legacy 13.0s, along with the su-27/j11.
I’d argue that F-15As (and J) and those flankers should be moved to 13.3.
The current 13.0 fox3 capable jets moved to 13.3-13.7
The current 13.3 to 13.7-14.0
Current 13.7 to 14.0 to 14.3 (some are way better/worse than others)
And 14.0 to 14.7
The F-15s are probably still some of the strongest 13.0s in the game. Only beaten by the ICE and F3 Late and tied with the Su-27. Its ultiamtely a compression but the F-15 is stronger than most at that
My opinion is to carry a max load of them with 1-2 SARH’s. Flank wide and outside and come to the furball perpendicular where you can get close and make sure.
I have decent luck doing this with full 9L’s loadout on f16aj.
The SARH I recommend is only to force any stragglers defensive and allow you to close on them. Or an enemy running away but still within like ~5km you can sue em to shoot em down.
I’d recommend a strategy of trying to merge after the furball has started form the outside and just spray your load all over every target you can as fact as you can when they’ve all done the big merge furball.