The problem with Countermeasures in modern combat BFs (especially 2042)

Thank you for the invitation! 

I was a proponent of something like you are suggesting back in the BF4 days however I've since come to a different line of thinking. The reason is that you're either looking at leaving a pilot totally vulnerable to one type of missile or you'd have to allow them both counter measures and then provide them with a warning that specifically tells them what kind of missile is being fired at them. That's another key bind you have to make so things get a bit more complicated. More importantly though, that's a lot of UI and coding work that has to be done and DICE has a less than stelar track record of getting these right on feature launch, especially anything missile related. We need only look at Below Radar and the ongoing problems with Jet Radar missiles as examples.

In terms of magic countermeasures, I understand that IRL it is not uncommon to have a countermeasure system that fires alternating bursts of flares and chaff since the aircraft may not always know what type of missile is inbound. So the current flare like system can be thought of more as a flare/chaff combo. And while the current system lacks a complete anti missile array like ECM, towed decoys, lasers and the like, it does confer the advantage of being simple to implement, understand and maintain/balance. And I think with the exception of the Nightbird and maybe toning down the 40mm on the transport helis, most of the aircraft issues are largely resolved and we're in a decent place balance wise.

With regards to countermeasures defeating laser designation. Yes, this is a bit far fetched, but for balance purposes it kind of needs to be in place. If not, then you'd have to add another CM system specifically for laser guided AA with all the potential baggage that entails. Or you could let the laser guided AA be detectable with a specific cockpit warning noise (but undefeatable in terms of CM) and then reduce the damage to compensate. I think this still ends up being OP though as players could effectively lock down areas with SOFLAM.

So back to the current system, for thematic purposes we can imagine that by 2042 aircraft are equipped with some sort of laser based CM that can detect the approach of laser guided missiles and overwhelm their guidance systems. I think ultimately that a streamlined system better suits Battlefield, especially given the problematic history DICE has had with missile/cm matters.

I don't play jets much at all in BF2042 so my opinion isn't worth much.

I did quite a bit of piloting in BF1, 2,3,4 and 5

One thing I'd like to see is more options for manoeuvres, ie - air brakes, forced stalls, thrust vectoring, with g-force effects to balance this and to prevent dog fights becoming a constant circling affair. As in constantly circling as tight as possible will eventually make you pass out.

Another thing I'd like to see is more layers of cloud cover - as in cloud cover at different heights to make a cloudscape.

In the games I have played as a pilot once you get above the storm clouds it is pretty clear - so there is basically just a barrier of clouds you can't see within and then open sky above.

Whereas dogfighting amongst the clouds would be pretty fun.

I am not a fan of the air vehicle gameplay as infantry at the moment, but to increase the complexity of the  counter measures through different missile types and different counter measures, I don't think the gameplay will benefit from it. 

Guided weapons are a problem in general, they don't need skill, so they are either too effective or useless. There is not much in between. 

So what I think would help, is gameplay, which is rewarding skill or Teamplay. And just one rocket, is not enough, more options would be great (something with more spread, but less damage for example, or something faster, something slower, fast firing, slow firing... There are plenty of options). Or if SOFLAM can't be countered so easy, or the tracer dart... 

Ok the other hand, all these explosives are a problem, too, no vehicle player has to aim properly, as ,you just hit the ground with something and every infantry dies. Not fair, while I have to hit you pixel perfect with very limited amount of ammo and endless reload times.

I think this would probably helping the game, make it less noob friendly, more skill based. 

@Captain_Tachi
Here is the problem. Modern era is the era of guided weapons.
So to work around that they need to add more non guided options that work.
The railgun rifle could had been one of them but then they nerfed it so that an entire team need to use it together to make it threatening to aircraft.

I would be happy with some modern version of the flak cannon emplacements.

@UP_Hawxxeye 

I agree, it is the era of guided missile but gameplay must come first and if they are a problem, I have to find ways around it. 

And yes, the railgun would be good, or the LMGs, they are capable to do damage to vehicles but they are so weak, nobody even tries to use them against it. Ever tried to kill a little bird with a LMG? Even if you hit every shot of all your magazines, I think you will do around 50 damage to it. It takes a fair amount of time of shooting, reloading and the effect isn't worth it. 

So the tools are there, but somehow DICE is defending the vehicles with everything they can, they seem to not see a problem with them. 

And yes, a modern flak would ve great... I loved the Fliegerfaust in BF5, because there we had the same problem, even without guided missiles. There, they finally gave a proper tool do defend as infantry, but DICE seems to not see any need in 2042 and I disagree strongly. 

@Captain_TachiI am honestly Puzzled by how pampered the helicopters are in this game while the heavy armor vehicles are made to be rolling coffins that can be taken care of very easily by anyone who is willing to use the primate part of their brain

I'm on board with most of this.

Lock on weapons are a natural choice for a modern setting, but they don't lead to good gameplay.  No one is saving clips of their sweet lock-on weapon kills.  No one killed by a lock-on will feel it was an earned kill.

Lock-ons suck and 'direct hit' weapons like the G-84 and tank shells require near perfect netcode/connections for a consistent experience.

My preferred anti-air solution is flak/dumbfire rockets that rely on proxy detonation.  Give me a BFV Fligerfaust or a Desert Combat Stinger.