pros and cons to gun based & missile based anti air?

[Plebian]

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[will79041]

Gun based (very fast aiming time and can shoot on the move):
Non-radar - cheap air units that do ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ alone, expectional when in groups against low flying aircraft or slow bombers in general
Radar - good in groups against bombers but since they are radar, a SEAD plane can take them out

Missile based (slow aiming time but significantly more range, cannot shoot on the move):
Infared - some can shoot on the move, excellent in close range AA, lots of ammo
Saclos - in the middle of the two, i think some can target ground vehicles as well
Radar - longest range of all AA, little ammo, always targeted by SEAD but if kept on the move are dangerous units

[Trench Rat]

Originally posted by RAZ3W1LL:

Infared - some can shoot on the move, excellent in close range AA, lots of ammo
Saclos - in the middle of the two, i think some can target ground vehicles as well
Radar - longest range of all AA, little ammo, always targeted by SEAD but if kept on the move are dangerous units

You’re right about SACLOS, some can target ground units. The stormer is one that definitely can. Very quickly too.

RADAR:
Yes SEAD will ♥♥♥♥ it up however it is easy to prevent. Just have it hidden in the woods with weapons turned off and assigned to a number key. When you see something come within range, keep it off until it is either past you, turns or hits evac. Then it’s just a case of hitting *assigned number + H* and then you get a few missiles sent up it’s arse. SEAD planes are easily avoided.

INFRARED:
I pair radar guided with infrared since IR is better against helos while RAD is better against planes.

One good technique when holding a location is a net of AA. After a while you will get used to eyeing up the ranges of each AA piece and will be able to make a net across the area you need to defend. With gun and IR at the front half and RAD in middle/back.

IR and gun based (unless radar) is also ideal to keep moving up with your tanks and IFVs as it’s less micro intensive and will ruin any helos.

I tend to use gun quite rarely but it’s a great anti helo/infantry tool.

[Ze_Wolf_O_Canada]

I like to focus on using a mixture of gun and missile AA. Gun AA is normally much better against helicopters and they are good for surpressing enemy planes and doing a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Then all it takes is one hit from missile AA to finish off any enemy plane. Gun AA is normally also able to do quite well at defending themselves from enemy inf or light vehicles and the Ottomatic can even kill super-heavies given the proper circumstances.

[Plebian]

this was very helpful :D thank you guys

[Ellemann357]

If you want to try out a dual purpose deck, make a commonwealth deck. You'll be able to try out some fun units;
Stormer HVM (SACLOS), M113 ADAT (SALH) and the Challenger Marksman (radar SPAAG)
Stormer and ADAT handles heli and ground vehicles pretty great, especially the ADAT due to its great range and 'decent' damage, albeit very expensive compared to the stormer. But sometimes you just gotta pay a little extra for the little extra

[Nero]

Missiles, especially heavy ones like BUK do splash damage. 1 missile will kill multiple helicopters when they're close together. Same goes for planes.

Guns which are called SPAAG will always hit (mostly kinda) it may take a while but they will. A missile may fly off and do nothing.

[gribelo]

Gun based can work as infantry\tank support vehicles (against ground targets), as they do in reality. This feature is castrated in this game for "balance" but still works.

[Ranger Jackson]

Not a lot to add onto anything anyone else has already said, however look out for the IR AA pieces that have around 3000-3300M range for helicopters. The Crotale, Chaparral and Tunguska-M come to mind.

These AA pieces out range Helos by a long margin, and are good counters to long range ATGM helos like Longbows, as they cannot outrange the AA piece, which is a common problem for the Strela series in the USSR units. It can also mean the difference between stopping a helo rush, and getting wiped out by one.

P.S I've seen that 7 HE missle on the Tunguska-M kill 4 helos with one shot before, you don't normally see that except on the bigger 9 HE missles from Hawks and Buks

[Trench Rat]

Originally posted by Ranger Jackson:

Not a lot to add onto anything anyone else has already said, however look out for the IR AA pieces that have around 3000-3300M range for helicopters. The Crotale, Chaparral and Tunguska-M come to mind.

These AA pieces out range Helos by a long margin, and are good counters to long range ATGM helos like Longbows, as they cannot outrange the AA piece, which is a common problem for the Strela series in the USSR units. It can also mean the difference between stopping a helo rush, and getting wiped out by one.

P.S I've seen that 7 HE missle on the Tunguska-M kill 4 helos with one shot before, you don't normally see that except on the bigger 9 HE missles from Hawks and Buks

+1

[Nero]

It can be a good idea not to use any radar missile units at all and instead use planes. Eurocorps with its 4 Rafale is a prime candidate for this.