How to survive campaign day 1?
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Which campaign, which difficulty?
Generally, it is normal to not always come home on day 1, especially in Tiger Spirit (MiG-29S and Chinese J-11/Su-30). In at least the first 2h, 30 min BARCAP is often impossible, you’ll be out of missiles after 15 min, especially in Rolling Fire (red has a LOT of aircraft).
Generally, I would advise to fly more defensively, stay near the frontline and avoid spending all your missiles, unless you have to (something like 2 AAMs as reserve). Fly home BEFORE you are out of missiles with a flight of MiG-29 behind you. Same for fuel, fly home when you still have the gas for the way home AND one more engagement.
Still, that won’t save you if there are two 4-ships of Flankers in BLUE airspace right where you are. It’s called “shit happens”. You can’t win in that scenario.Airbase destroyed is NOT normal, and something you should not have worry about.
For me, the problem is running out of weapons on day 1 (until resupplies arrive). Which really sad, because you’re out of AMRAAMS when there’s actually someone there to play with you. @devs, could you change that in future updates? It really breaks the fun.
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Actually, I find the first hour in the first 3 KTO campaigns not that hard… but it needs some “tweaks”.
What I do:
- I take control of everything (PAK, Missions and My Squadron). No HQ, I frag my squadron missions.
- Usually, the first 40 minutes wont be enemy aircraft in the air or they will be still on their way, so I frag my package to be one of the first to take off.
- I target the closest SAMs I have near the border, usually SA-2 or SA-3 with a full pack: SEAD, DEAD, SWEEP (not to long or they will be shot down easily), ESCORT. The idea is the package stay as little as possible in the area, just enough for you to shoot down SAM’s.
- Stand Off weapons, ideal Jsow. Shoot and run away (it is almost cheating, but I guess in RL they would do the same, less fun, more safety). Without SAM the other aircrafts will have “room” to do their jobs and things would be easier for you.
Cheers :yo:
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I prefer SDB because of its longer range and the because you can carry more of them. In TS and RF, SAMs don’t get resupplies, so it’s enough to destroy the FCR. Also, cluster bombs are completely broken.
In (at least 4.34) IF red gets resupplies, so better destroy as much as you can.
Even more important there is to keep their arbases down. At some point they get MiG-29S and if red isn’t at something like 5% airbases open when this happens, you can say goodbye to air superiority. -
I prefer SBD because of its longer range and the because you can carry more of them. In TS and RF, SAMs don’t get resupplies, so it’s enough to destroy the FCR. Also, cluster bombs are completely broken.
In (at least 4.34) IF red gets resupplies, so better destroy as much as you can.
Even more important there is to keep their arbases down. At some point they get MiG-29S and if red isn’t at something like 5% airbases open when this happens, you can say goodbye to air superiority.Agree, as long as it is a STANDOFF weapon it will suffice.
The point is to “clear the area” near the FLOT out of SAM within the first hour. Usually the first HALF or the first day will be full of Migs and Su’s and engage them with SAM popping up in your RWR is not advisable. Important to note that the Barlock (B) will track you as long as 150NM (I guess) so you can ignore most of them if you are near the FLOT, as they usually stay very far behind the line.
Like @Regev pointed out… Stay within the PATRIOT or HAWK umbrella or as close as possible AND keep your Wingman and element on leach. They will ask to engage every time and usually it is not a good idea if you don’t have the tactical advantage.
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Which campaign, which difficulty?
Generally, it is normal to not always come home on day 1, especially in Tiger Spirit (MiG-29S and Chinese J-11/Su-30). In at least the first 2h, 30 min BARCAP is often impossible, you’ll be out of missiles after 15 min, especially in Rolling Fire (red has a LOT of aircraft).
Lately it’s been Taiwan/Last Stand and UOAF ITO/Serpent Sting (Egypt). These campaigns get very busy early. I fly the hardest difficulty level.
Lorik KTO’s “Poseidon” starts off with lower intensity red air, especially if blue kills Kwangju AB early. Then there is a sudden spike in red air activity that makes for serious thrills…
Good idea to frag a bunch of short patrol BARCAP and fly one of them long enough to score some kills but still RTB with missiles under the wings.
@sasah I have tried to build packages similar to the one you describe but cannot maintain SA long enough to get anything accomplished once the red air onslaught turns my RWR to a Ouija board. Maybe with more practice I will improve in that category.
Does anyone use jamming AC (EA-18 Growler, etc) early in the campaign or are they too vulnerable to airborne threats?
Thanks all!
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I don’t know how these campaigns are, but since you’re flying on max difficulty, it’s not surprising that you often get shot down.
If your opponent has Fox-3 capable jets, you’re going to get “Shit Happens” situations, no matter how well planned your missions are. Getting outnumbered by red 4th gen jets in blue airspace or near the frontline is not your fault.
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Sometimes you have to ask yourself (ideally before briefing) is mission accomplishment desired, or required? Are friendly losses acceptable, or unacceptable?
Once you know the answers to those questions, you should have a good idea what your risk tolerance is like. I tend to tell my wingmen, mission objective number one is to bring the jet back so we can fly the next mission. Typically, the other mission objectives are secondary to that, although not always. If friendly losses are unacceptable, you might well end up having to hang back slightly, rather than over-extending and hoping.
If you are on singleplayer, you have a fairly limited wingman. In particular they might not prove so useful for maintaining high situational awareness. You need to deal with that somehow. That may mean by flying more defensively. Murphy’s Law of Air Combat: unsanitised airspace contains red air. If you need to fly into contested airspace, you need to sanitise it somehow. That might be by making turns to check L and R of track on occasion. It might be by planning an escort that does that for you. Somehow, you’ll need to account for the presence of red air. Waiting until there is an ‘M’ on your RWR is too late. Waiting until there is a ‘29’ on your RWR may be too late.
Remember: Its not paranoia, if they really are out to get you!
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Use AWACS. Use TWS. Use the TGP for target identification.
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Also, cluster bombs are completely broken.
How so? I use the AGM-154A JSOW with very good and consistent results…
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You should use those earlier days strategically. Think like a wing commander. Send your hot shit ace outthere in an ambushcap somewhere near some terrain and frinedly flights and packages that will entice enemy action. Be the hunter. not the hunted.
If that isn’t for you, same thing but sit on the perch up at angels 40 and lob sticks over the ingress and strikes. Float like a butterfly sting like a bee.