After the patch I spent a little time online testing out the new but controversial AA enhancements and aircraft armor reduction. Let me state that this is only my opinion and experience from playing. My evaluation comes from playing several online matches in Gulf of Oman and Wake Island 2007 (two very air dominant maps).
- AA positions are not the “end to all air”. The AA missiles are significantly better in tracking and taking down aircrafts with little or no incidental team damage from wayward missiles.
- AA locks do not mean a confirmed kill. I had the pleasure of watching several well skilled pilots evade locked missiles with chafe/drastic maneuvers/afterburner combinations. Afterburners are now being saved and used for evade purposes rather than hurry to the target devices. Several times they evaded them without chafes. Does it always work, no, but it does work. Pilots have already been making adjustments to their flying skills to account for the balancing done to the AA and it seems to balance out pretty well to me.
- AA placements have now become more affective tools for keeping those pesky aircrafts at bay. It is not fool proof. I was still surprised and taken out several times from well crafted angle attacks and front gunning before I could achieve a solid lock.
- Aircraft’s armor still protects them a significant amount. I had single missiles hit on both planes and choppers that failed to destroy the aircraft. But it does get their attention and they do “bug” out fast.
- The AT rocket is now a much more effective weapon for detouring choppers. One hit is enough to have the pilot think twice about sticking around. Those that do must relay on their front gunner to find you and take you out fast before you can reload.
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