Fun fact, at high speed launches (above mach 1.15), the aim-9M will outpull the AAM-3 (only slightly, but still). That being said, the AAM-3 does pull noticably sharper from lower speed launches (especially sub mach 0.6).
But yeah, the AAM-3’s biggest strength is deffinitly its range. It is the third longest range IR in the game (behind only the R-24T and R-27ET), and can hit targets at up to 11km in good launch conditions. Being limited more by lock range than kinematic range in many scenerios.
which, if we figure for a moment that its performance should be at least comprable to the 9M (i.e dechirped) then its probably wrong in-game. I dont know if there is known information regarding AAM-3’s lcok range or what it looks like in-game, but 9M is missing a lot of potential lock range currently, I wouldnt be surprised if the AAM-3 was in the same boat
Yeah, so 9M is like 14km in front aspect against an AB target, so AAM-3 then should be able to lock within the full range of its kinematic range if the target is on AB
For a 12.0 the radar is decent, the mti on it is much better than on the mig 23s as it is toggable, has no angle restrictions and it works under 6000m, the only issue is the chaff resistance of the 530f,
It was likely in reference to the Matra Super 530F which is an okay sub 11.3 SARH missile, but very weak at 12.0+ compared to others available from other nations.
Please dont make posts on the forums based upon bad assumptions
At its core, this is likely a return to the debate of Mirage F1 being 12.0 which has 2x Magic II and 2x R530. If it had decent SARH, then its limited missile count might be mitigated
Thats an issue with the missile, not the radar, since the r24r has a CW seeker they will ignore chaff, even if the radar is “chaffed” as long as you mantain the lock the missile will still go agaisnt the plane, the radar itself on the M1 is better, the mig radar changes automatically into/out of mti depending on the antenna angle, the plane has to physically be looking down and only works under 1500m
For a reliable platform you need to have a reliable radar AND a reliable missile.
F-4S and Mig-23 both have missiles that track better than S530F.
Radar or missile, the end result is that i have to notch to evade a R24 or an AIM7F, but the enemy can just charge straight at a S530F slinger while chaffing.
MF1 with Magic II is like Maus, too unbalanced to go down because this feature would make it too strong (like Maus’s armor), but too weak in the SARH and FM department to really be a serious threat otherwise in higher Brs (like Maus’s mobility and protection against heat)
Removing Magic II, putting MF1 at the same Br as Mig 23 MLD and making S530F a bit more chaff resistant (because it is IRL, CW or not) would be a decent start, i’d say
