Aviation
In the early days of aviation, as the field of aircraft design was just beginning to take shape, engineers were constantly experimenting with new airframe concepts. Aerodynamic layouts ranged from groundbreaking innovations to outright oddities. Many were quickly tested, and while some faded into obscurity, others laid the groundwork for future advancements. Among these was the twin-boom design, which offered several advantages: streamlined engine placement, efficient landing gear configuration with a nose wheel for easier takeoffs and landings, and the ability to mount heavy armaments without gun synchronizers. This design also allowed gunners in the central nacelle a wide range of fire coverage.
The I-225 is a Soviet rank IV fighter with a BR of 5.0. It excels as a low-speed dogfighter but struggles at high speeds and isn’t ideal for quickly racking up kills. The aircraft demands experience to handle effectively, as its punishing flight characteristics leave little room for error despite its strengths. While unique and rewarding, the I-225 is best suited for skilled players rather than beginners.
The Mirage 2000-5Ei is an air superiority fighter for the Chinese Tech Tree. Due to the Chinese purchase of the Su-27 in 1992, Taiwan decided to order new-gen fighters capable of defending their country’s airspace. The choice fell on the French Mirage 2000 thanks to its BVR capability needed for its role as a frontline interceptor. This Taiwanese version of the Mirage 2000-5F primarily differs in its suspended armament: this Mirage can only be fitted with MICA-EM and Magic 2 missiles, making it a pure air-to-air fighter.
The F-4EJ Kai (F-4EJ改) was a vital upgrade for Japan’s aging F-4EJ Phantom IIs, extending their service life and enhancing combat effectiveness through the Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP). Introduced in the 1980s and first flown in 1984, the upgrade included advanced radar, improved avionics, and modern weapon systems, enabling the aircraft to remain operational until 2021. Sharing its radar and weapon suite with the F-16A, the F-4EJ Kai excels in long-range engagements using AIM-7Fs and dogfights with AIM-9Ls, though it struggles in close combat due to limited manoeuvrability. Pilots can exploit overshooting enemies by slowing down and using airbrakes, then striking with missiles or the gun, leveraging the ballistic computer for precise hits.
Since the dawn of aviation, the power plant has always been a key component of any aircraft. Sometimes, engineers would even design not an engine for a plane, but a plane for an engine — like with the very first jet fighters. Today, we’re here to tell you about the most outstanding aircraft engines in our game.
The Saab 39 Gripen, often called the JAS 39 Gripen, is a highly capable multirole fighter aircraft renowned for its exceptional maneuverability, advanced avionics, and cost-efficient operation. Since its first flight in 1988 and subsequent introduction into service in 1996, Gripen has become the cornerstone of the Swedish Air Force and has since been adopted by several other nations around the world.
Germany started the Second World War with no heavy combat aircraft at hand. Still, they’d been trying to build a long-range bomber capable of reaching targets in Great Britain and the Soviet Union since 1934. After a few unsuccessful attempts, the He-177 Greif took to the skies on November 19, 1939.
The MiG-23ML is an improved variant of the standard M version, developed in the mid-1970s. The primary and most impactful difference is the enhanced maneuverability due to the refined airframe (The L in the name stands for ‘’Lyogkiy’’, meaning lightweight). The MiG-23ML also received a more powerful engine, improving its flight characteristics even further. Overall the MiG-23ML is an agile and lethal aircraft, one which allows you to create a versatile loadout of air or ground weaponry to take on and defeat any contemporary enemy in the air or on the ground.
