Well I think as much as I really like the "complete package" the game offers (And I wouldn't want it changed.) maybe the modification of culling out the fighters for some countries is looking real good to me right now. It's really hard to get around the "vision" issue that these targeting pods such as Sniper, Litening, Raptor and DB-110 to name a few would have on the game. It's almost like the discussion that was brought up a couple of years ago concerning the Excalibur PGM in the SPA/SPAA Thread when some felt it was too expensive, it wouldn't be used and if it was in a limited capacity. Well now it seems with the realities in the field the only "dumb" round being used is a "broken" Excalibur round. Now these PGM rounds are being used down to the 81mm levels (Though more recently.) as a matter of routine. I won't do it, but if "you" want to it's posted and you where to find it. So we have the same situation with the Pods, Russia already and as far as I can determine is the only one, that has planes with a TI/GSR of greater then 40. I think the number was 5, 4 are what would be considered Fighter-
Bombers and 1 or 2 Recon jets whose vision was at 60. These Pods can "see" beyond that as again I've already posted. We've built in very good to excellent AA capabilities so the game is good there, my concern is the number of planes that would conversion to the Pods.
Just taking the USAF and three plane types the F-15/16 and F-15E. I understand the following...many smaller countries would have to keep the F-16 as it's in some cases their most advanced plane and the backbone of their AF, and the USAF does use them for COIN/SEAD roles so in these cases they should stay. But the F-15/16
PRIMARY ROLE is that of a Interceptor Fighter. Let them fly CAP and be removed as an FB. Let the F-15E do what it's designed for and be the Fighter-Bomber. You'd clear at least 50+ slots (And no I haven't counted them, but can.) easy from about the mid to late sixties to the present just in the USA OOB. But otherwise I'm prepared to do the work. But first what's it take to train in the use of these Pods? Well for the DB-110 a little over 6 months for the Greek AF.
https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&m...=core&_cview=0
More on the DB-110...
http://defense-update.com/products/d/db110pod.htm
http://www.paffalcons.com/news/2011/...ds_1212011.php
More from the USAF...
http://www.af.mil/information/factsh...t.asp?fsID=101
http://www.af.mil/information/factsh...t.asp?fsID=103
http://www.af.mil/information/factsh...t.asp?fsID=102
The Poison Ivy isn't looking so bad now!?! Just trying to reduce the over crowding, redundancy and the workload to get these issues up to date and in the game like any other piece of equipment we put in. It's gotta be a level playing field all the way around if it's going to be in the game.
Regards,
Pat