AI Air Defense

[Suhiir]

scJazz,

Yes, fixed wing air is pretty much a waste of points when playing against the AI. it's one of the "features" of the game. Artillery is far more effective and cost effective. (Note: Considering their relative value in game I have no clue why fixed wing air costs so much ... but that's another issue)

On reflection my comments a couple posts ago about how 99% of the world views and uses close air support makes how WinSPMBT handles the situation probably the best solution available.

Helicopters however are another case entirely.

While they can't travel with relative impunity vs anything other the the sort of rudimentary air defenses the VC (or NVA in the south) had they can be very useful.

Keep a couple with decent EW at the edge of MPAD range and pop them up to high altitude to soak off the hordes of MPADs the AI buys (never less then 9-15 for a battalion size battle), and spot any other AA weapons. Then use artillery to suppress any AA-Guns. After 3-4 turns of this you can do your air assault.

Attack helos can also be very useful. Personally I never allow then to op fire. During my turn I use them as airborne snipers to pick off opposition tanks and ATGM vehicles. And always, always buy ammo vehicles as battles vs the AI virtually guarantee you will run out of ammo long before you run out of targets. I tend to purchase one ammo vehicle per company and rotate one infantry platoon at a time back to rearm.