AJS-37 In War Thunder : A Quick Review

[@mey.tomhero4876]

Sounding good today! Hope you are doing good!

[@ItsBasil]

I fly the AJS-37 in DCS from time to time, and knowing how this thing is "supposed" to be flown, the fact that it suffers in WT's meta doesn't surprise me at all. The Viggen's entire thing when running ground attacks is flying fairly strict pre-planned routes, ingressing to target at basically sub-treetop level, making a single pass on your target(s) at supersonic speed, and then booking it back to base, MAYBE pulling away to come back for another pass if you're using the Rb05 or the Maverick. The WT meta of flying really high and diving in on your target is exactly what the Viggen is NOT meant to do. Love watching these though! Even if I hardly play WT and will never touch a T7 jet.

[@Tacticaviator7]

Well you are talking about Air-Ground here, Air-Air as a strike craft shouldn't really happen at all... but imo we could asume it would be similar ti JA37.

[@zanaduz2018]

Another serious issue with the AJS-37 in WT is that there isn’t any anti-shipping ordinance options, or indeed any ground radar (which would be used to guide said anti-ship missiles). The lack of ground radar hurts its prospects of being able to select targets at maximum standoff (and thus, being able to realistically defeat a Pantsir).

[@ItsBasil]

@@zanaduz2018 The issue is that the AJS37's ground radar doesn't have any ability to highlight probable targets. If you have a sharp eye you might be able to pick out a speck on the scope that might be a vehicle, but the radar won't do that for you unlike more advanced radars in the F-16C, F/A-18C, F-15E, etc etc. While its ground radar is perfectly usable against ships, finding a Pantsir on it would be kinda tricky and idk if Gaijin should model it as being able to do so.

[@zanaduz2018]

It’s (relatively) easy to pick out a ship at sea because there’s no terrain clutter (a ship stands out over the otherwise generally flat sea surface). As for the ground radar being unable to function in WT in that fashion, I expect it would be fudged anyway; ground radars in WT don’t function in any way close to the way they do in DCS.

[@TheSkipjack95]

I'm just here to see the wild WT takes on specific aircraft at this point. the CI actually being a moving map and the RWR lights not working + the usual BS air to air modes is just funny at this point.

[@collander7766]

Great vid as always Tim! Thanks for highlighting the pain that is the AJS37's loadout options, it makes me feel validated. 6:26 Additionally, I've found that especially with Mavericks, and *especially* without a targeting pod, the best way to use them is by flying low and utilizing terrain to quickly pop out, fire a Maverick, and then dive away. This method didn't used to work very well because the Mavericks would often hit the ground or end up too low to see the target, but now that they loft automatically it actually works really well! Being close and low limits the enemy SPAA's reaction time, helps you see the targets better, and makes potential incoming missiles easier to dodge. Also, I don't think you mentioned this, but the Rb05A is actually extremely unique for a MCLOS missile because it features a proximity fuse. It works against both air and ground targets, making them much more effective than Bullpups and other similar missiles. I've had one fly 10 feet over a TURMS because I missed, it proxied above it, and sent shrapnel straight down into the turret and ammo racked it. Near misses end up being lethal much more often. They're seriously nutty, and can also be used against planes and helis with pretty good success.

[@Oliepolie]

My friend ‘recently’ unlocked this plane, i think he’ll be excited to see this and maybe a little relieved hes not the only one running into problems… :p

[@collander7766]

unfortunately, just like the AJ37, the AJS37 is also extremely limited by its horrible secondary weapons combinations and lack of internal flares or gun.

[@thelaotianaviator]

@@collander7766yep. Until we get the Gripen, the Swedish air will be lacking in CAS for the most part.

[@joten70]

7:25 That map display was actually the radar screen, not just a digital map. It had a terrain mapping radar, so it showed both a "map" of the earth ahead of you, and any vehicles on the ground and in the air that the radar was capable of picking up. And those six lights in a circle around it were the rwr-indicators Edit: 8:20 Also, the ajs never carried amraams. Rb74 was its most capable air-to-air missile. The ja37d was an upgrade of the ja37c specifically made to carry the amraam until gripen was ready and approved to carry it instead

[@jaredfredericks1460]

I enjoy that you give us some history on the jets first. Another great vid man.

[@garrisonchilds2610]

Hey Tim! A new suggestion for your videos: when you test the vehicles, are you able to determine speeds such as best rate of climb and best angle of climb? A big problem I've had in the past and in some cases today is figuring out how to most efficiently climb in most aircraft. Having a section in your videos where you talk about climb performances and how to most efficiently climb in the aircraft at hand would be super useful. Keep up the good work!

[@black_thunder2159]

its kinda depends honestly, War Thunder has a mechanic that different weather & maps affects how well ur plane flies. it even affect bullets & missiles too. sometimes significant.

[@garrisonchilds2610]

@@lolprobob pretty sure thats not how it works. Just because your airspeed isn't decreasing in a climb doesn't mean you are climbing in the most efficiently manner. I can climb with a super high AOA but the induced drag on the aircraft is going to severely affect performance. This is why airplanes have Vx and Vy speeds that they use to climb, instead of just using a pitch angle.

[@garrisonchilds2610]

@@black_thunder2159 regardless of temperature your IAS will remain the same.

[@sherlocksinha2435]

There is a climb charts for props . For that search war thunder climb chart . For jets you're best at high subsonic speeds (M 0.9) . Early jets are a little better at around (M0.75) going supersonic entails an energy loss breaking the sound barrier. Going slower means your wings are gonna suffer from lift induced drag

[@_ace_defective_]

Angle of climb is generally going to depend. Rate of climb would be useful... the problem is it's a little tedious to calculate since best rate of climb is not necessarily about time to altitude but rather the highest specific excess power. *Generally* speaking, climb speeds around 250-300 kph are generally good enough (lower climb speeds for lighter aircraft). It's also not really relevant for higher tier stuff anyways because while those jets have optimal climb speeds too, - You climb and accelerate fast enough that it's irrelevant - Speed becomes more important than altitude in jets past a certain point

[@ericpeterson541]

Super secret AJ/AJS tip to spade: carry the 16 mini bombs, drop them all on 1 base, rinse and repeat. (These things make bank when you destroy a base)

[@rickdubbink]

When I first saw this on the dev server i was a slight bit excited. I didn't know about the secondary weapons it carries yet. I used the AJ37 quite a lot with the CV90 lineup at 10.0, nerfing myself with it honestly. I'd carry 2 Mavericks, 4 100kg bombs and the flare pod. The RB75, I don't know which exact model of the Maverick it's based on, but I'm convinced it's either the A or B variant. It would only reliably lock onto targets within 3-4 kilometers, which rapidly closes because this thing is still quick in a dive with airbrakes on and no throttle. You are also as you said, extremely limited by the camera of it which makes it incredibly hard to find targets and keeps you tunnelvisioned that even Stingers will catch you off guard. And even if you manage to get one off, it most likely won't kill the tank, unless it's a Leo 2 or an Abrams, the T72, T80 and T90 all soak these up, never get hit in the carousel or even worse, only hit the barrel. Hence why I use the bombs, they are more effective with a 2 time drop on a single tank, where you need to slightly offset your CCIP to the side because of the offset too As for the flare pod, I find it extremely unreliable, it sits quite a bit of distance away from your humongous powerful engine which is hot as hell and you will need to do a weird snap roll to get a chance of your flare catching a missile. And even then, you only got a few shots of flares which doesn't help in air RB. Talking of air RB, it's torture. You got a horibly offset gunpod with no tracers, and it's angled down slightly too, so your previous knowledge of the somewhat simular DEFA/ADEN cannon velocity goes into the bin. You then face r60m's and aim9l's which love to eat your burning booty of an engine too, but you are usually way quicker than most aircraft at your battle rating. Bombing in Air RB isn't really viable either, because even with a full load of 16 100kg bombs, you can't take out a full base, and then you even sacrifice a flarepod or gun. So yeah, I'm never ever grinding out the AJS, it only got RB74's, which do not warant a full 1.0 BR raise over the standard AJ37. It's still limited to the horrible 2 Mavericks, 100kg bombs and a hopeless flare pod. Also, as you said, the upgrade program for the airframes allowed the JA37D to carry AMRAAM's, Idk why everyone is so focused on the Gripen when this probably will be the aircraft getting it first, unless they add both the Gripen and the AMRAAM to the Jaktviggen

[@ErdenizS]

AJS 37 wasn't capable of employing AMRAAMs, and only has a very basic mode for air to air use with its radar. AMRAAMs were a thing on JA 37D. Attack Viggen probably doesn't fit that well with War Thunder's gameplay, as it was heavily built around the idea of pre-planned missions, penetrating potential enemy air defense by flying very low, delivering all of their ordnance in one go at the planned target, and go back home. Two main new weapons added with AJS upgrade over the AJ were RBS15F advanced anti ship missiles, and BK90 Mjolnir gliding submunition dispensers, but anti-ship isn't something in high tier WT I guess, and BK90 type weapons aren't implemented yet. Also BK90 would be targeted either at a pre-planned point, or by inputting a new coordinate, or using air to ground radar to pick a new point for it to target, none of which are possible in WT yet afaik?

[@hybrid_grizzly]

Could probably use the spi function for that, similar to ccrp ('activate target point' or 'sight stabilization' controls)

[@wingsweep69]

This is such a cool plane, ive seen it irl and it is HUGE

[@vaultraider1]

Havent made it to this one yet, those a29/j29 series jets.... lord have mercy on me... as frustrating as the .50cal versions of the g.91 haha... Excellent review as always sir.

[@lordwintertown8284]

G'day Tim. As mainly a ARB player (soon to be again a ASB player), I've found that these aircraft are better off not going for bombing points but specifically going for the ground battles and bombing points are a secondary option mainly to clean up other strikes. As such with the AJ37 the current loadout is 8× M/71, 1× RB24J, 1× CM pod, 1× droptank. I invision once I unlock the AJS37 it'll be an increase in 4× more M/71's & 1× more RB24J. These loadouts are effective at destroying tanks and even heavy pillboxes while carrying an AAM as self defence but with the AJS37 could make it a stopgap fighter post ground attack. It's a shame that the outter pylons can't take RB74's as they would be useful but this jet might as well get a BR reduction due to such a limited armament setup atm but later if the AIM-120 was added then it's BR would go up again. Hopefully one day the sweds either get the SAAB 39 in an attacker configuration or some other aircraft for a high rank/BR attacker maybe even a Finnish one at that.

[@baderq8ty99]

the viggen's engine is a development of the B-737's engine, that explains the thrust reverser and the massive fuel consumption because it wasn't originally designed for supersonic flight or having an afterburner, at least that's what i think

[@DieErsteKartoffel]

Love to see the Viggen, hope this guy gets some buffs or gets put to 11.0

[@minininja9322]

I think it should be 10.7

[@DieErsteKartoffel]

@@minininja9322 I mean there’s a chance it gets AMRAAMs and I think adding more Aim-9Ls/RB74s to 9.7 lobbies is a dubious idea

[@Monkey_Spunk]

This is the best thing I ever saw.

[@TimsVariety]

and there's a playlist of almost 200 of them .... ;-)

[@Sagaleon14]

I literally just died to this thing and was wondering how to beat it. Thanks Tim!

[@legendbee9579]

What? How to beat it, it’s kill it it suck at its br I would argue it’s the worst jet in game for the br it sit in

[@mylifeisajoke1]

We need anti-radiation missiles to check the power of the Pantsir and TOR, then a lot more aircraft will be viable in CAS.

[@ninjamice7319]

cant wait for the jas 39

[@Sgt_Whiskeyjack]

Great video as always! 👍

[@LOLOtheFNG]

Thanks, Tim!

[@WRoark]

love the vids tim!

[@NukedCloudTTV]

Love the vid Tim, would you consider when making a video on the F-4J Phantom 2 to have it compared to all the other phantoms, though i asume you will be busy with irl and the new upcoming update

[@g09h]

Viggen my beloved

[@DragoneyeVII]

How do you feel about this now going to 11.0?

[@brianquinlan8891]

Great review Tim, maybe the Gripen will be a better option for Sweden CAS when it rolls around? Also side note: very excited about the new F-16C block 50 they announced :D

[@Timothyyyy.photog]

nice vid tim

[@FirstDagger]

AIM-120 AMRAAM aka Rb.99 was for the JA-37 Jaktviggen our JA-37D would already be capable of using it, not this AJS-37. AJ AMRAAM capability was only theoretical. AJS was a stopgap until the JAS-39 Gripen (pronounced something like Gree-pen). 6:11 It basically is hilarious that 1980s jets are fighting against a modern Russian SAM system. Though Viggen wasn't designed for high altitude attacks. Well we also are missing cluster glide bombs which would make this thing truly formidable.

[@finaldesert]

In normal maps (not EC) the loadout with 16 small bombs can destroy a full base. I know that it works at 10.3 with the standard AJ37 at least...

[@DieErsteKartoffel]

Why is the seeker so big in the clip at 2:00

[@TimsVariety]

It looked normal sized.

[@DieErsteKartoffel]

@@TimsVariety Honestly I just realized that's the J, thought it was the L and the gimble limit indicator was the seeker lol.

[@Charlie-III]

3:00 nice disconnect XD

[@ODST_Parker]

Well, F-16C Block 50 is now coming... without AIM-120s. Looks like we're not getting them this update. Means the meta surrounding this plane will get even worse.

[@tomsmith7207]

Huzzah more Sweden content!!!!

[@ChrisVesgo]

Tim, would it be better to grind the Apache then? now that we can use tanks to grind Helis

[@TimsVariety]

You know .. I've been trying to figure out how I want to review any/some/all of the Apaches, since they're spread out all over the place .. but IMHO the one in the Swedish tech tree is pretty effective and I've had very good results with it. It really just depends if you ONLY need it for CAS, or if you'd want to fly air battles too. (Plus some people just dont like flying helis).

[@ChrisVesgo]

@@TimsVariety I wouldn't use ASJ-37 in air battles if I ever get to it, but then again after Gaijin made it possible to do dailies/events on Simulator, I've been avoiding AIR RB, but thats me. But now we can get helis from tank grinding (I can ignore the italian huey THANK LORD), so I think the Swedish Apache can have a better chance than the ASJ but who knows we might get something better soon, but for now, I wouldn't even care to spawn with only 4 mavericks and that bad zoom and lack of thermals, such a pity. Anyway enough rant from me, thanks, love your content mate keep it up

[@fixit9844]

the viggening continues

[@0Ploxx]

Damn viggers

[@Ming-Chan]

The AJS-37 feels its largely inferior in all aspects in terms of speed, armament, payload, countermeasures, and survivability compared to other strike aircraft and fighter-bombers at lower battle ratings. It's slower than F-4s and Tornados while carrying twice the effective bombloads. They can also carry flares, all aspect/radar missiles, and have a gun. The better radar set and AIM-9Ls it can carry don't justify it enough as a 11.3 ARB plane, it should be moved down to 10.7.

[@collander7766]

I don't think it should go lower than 11.0. It's really not fair to face 9.7s in something with 4-6 missiles, including AIM-9Ls, and one of the best pulse doppler radar sets in the game. They could easily just put it at 11.0 though, and then decompress on the top end. F-16 and MiG-29 should be 12.3 at least

[@einar8019]

@@collander7766 ah yes the radar makes a huge difference on a plane with no sahr missiles

[@Ming-Chan]

@@collander7766 You'd realistically only take 3 aim-9l and 2 aim-9j so you can have flares to defend against su-25 and a-10. Sea Harrier has 4 aim-9ls at 10.7, not like 9.7 isn't already suffering from a fast aim-9l platform.

[@bpomowe224]

@@collander7766 "one of the best pulse doppler radar sets in the game" You're not confusing it with the JA 37 now?

[@collander7766]

@@bpomowe224 their radars are named differently but they are identical in performance. From the AJ37 to the JA-37D and AJS37, they all function the same.

[@DimentiaGaming]

Yes

[@vaapps]

Its so underpowered compared to other jets at the same br :( And remember this thing needs more than 800 points to spawn and a mig 27 needs only 500

[@baderq8ty99]

3:01 bebebop

[@gomes389]

I think this plane should be lower BR.

[@RedTail1-1]

Everyone’s been begging for the F-15A forever and there was absolutely no reason to think it wouldn’t be in the next major update. Instead we get ANOTHER F-16 with missiles it can’t even use irl(Sparrows). Gaijin are so lazy and incompetent it’s mind boggling. Instead of adding something everyone’s been waiting and begging for, they just stick to their copy&paste method of adding new aircraft.

[@RedTail1-1]

So yeah great. Now I have a THIRD F-16 to grind for after I grind the two already in the game. Thanks so much, Gaijin. It’s really what EVERYONE was asking for.

[@TimsVariety]

Its still possible we could see the Eagle - the devblogs just barely started dropping. Hold out hope :-) .. but be ready for let-down just incase ;-)

[@TheGrace020]

Luv me SAAB planes simple as 😼

[@0Ploxx]

Day 2 of requesting a review for the American F-104s

[@TimsVariety]

F-104j is coming first (already done, actually).

[@samslar]

this thing should not be 11.3

[@Sonoran.Monsoon]

Strike jet with a 78 kg bomb load is sad. :( great fighter, but Jesus it’s worthless as a strike plane.

[@destwoy0110]

I think this plane is overpowered at 11.0, you can get a whole 16 bombs if you decide to not have any guns, flares, or advanced missiles. i dont think any other plane can combat this beast, even the f-16 which it frequently encounters

[@ja37d-34]

There should be RW in the cockpit.. Around the map..

[@ja37d-34]

That camo is.. Just wrong! They have used some re-painted museum subject in a foreign country, repainted by noobs.. Or something.. There are a couple like that. The AJS programme was started during the 80s actually. The RB 99 or AMRAAMs were for the JA 37D and Di, so not the AJS. In real life, the AJS were in four groups usually, so one plane could carry counter measures. Fucks it up in WT of course. In real life they were still there to launch RB 04E or later, the RB 15F, on Russian ships. So loitering was not a thing... WT is just dumb.. The RB 75 were mainly for ships as well so.. What was availble was fine, for aiming.. Rockets and bombs were for trucks, ammo dumps etc.. There was never any CAS planned.. But the Bk 90 could kinda do that.. RB 05As are decent on SAAB 105s..

[@ja37d-34]

You used to be able to bomb a base with those 120kgs.. WTF?