Our aircraft

EB2 has an ersatz assortment of aircraft, taken from airplane graveyards the region over. Surplus MiG-15s and -19s fly alongside Mustangs and Mirage F1s. While the planes are long since past their sell-by date, we keep them in service and use them in their best contexts in the present day. Realistic? Not really, but it's admittedly incredibly fun to see a Mosquito flying in combat in 2024.

The P-47, for example, makes for an excellent COIN aircraft with its wide assortment of rockets and bombs, to say nothing of its eight .50 cals. After all, it isn't going to go up against modern SAMs, and the worst it'll face is a technical or 23mm cannon. On-station for hours, it can guard a firebase or CSAR operation until help can arrive.

We fly the following planes:

A-4 Skyhawk: As both a land-based aircraft and carrier aircraft, flying from our modernised Colossus-class carrier. Carrying with it some nice bombing and nav systems, it makes for a great long range striker thanks to its aerial refuelling probe. In the carrier role, it takes on the fighter role, where it most likely encounters Tu-142s or SH-60s rather than F-14s or Su-33s. Amusingly, because it can only carry bombs, rockets or Shrikes, our land-based aircraft have supplemented it in the maritime strike role.

AJ-37: Missing the weaponry of the "S" upgrade, our Viggens nevertheless still serve as our strike package leaders thanks to their very comprehensive nav-attack systems and weapon options. Our most capable anti-ship unit, as well as an excellent bomber leader. Escorting a flight of F-5s, F1s and MiG-19s into the target area, when in close formation it can use its own avionics to precisely tell them when to release their bombs, effectively quadrupling weapon effectiveness for the flight.

AV-8B: Hideously old units lacking all modern capabilities, our Harriers mostly serve as rapid-response aircraft at dispersed land bases or point-defence interceptors on ships. Nary a guided bomb or TGP graces them. With space on the carriers at a premium, we've instead modified numerous cargo haulers to have helipads to operate them. Not a terribly common sight in the group, but certainly a welcome one in niche scenarios.

C-101: One option for our lead-in trainer for jets, the C-101 is an excellent training aid for those seeking to fly NATO-type jets. Able to remain airborne for almost half a day, it also works well as an observation and light attack aircraft. When attacking a ship present at a known location, it can even take anti-ship missiles, although their effectiveness is debatable in any other situation.

F-4E: A gift from the IRIAF, yet limbering and incredibly difficult to maintain. We really can't be asked to keep it in top shape- there's only so much we can do. Though barely staying in one piece, it has a nice assortment of weapons, and is the premier ground and maritime strike aircraft for our unit. Due to high flight costs, we keep them in reserve for the big battles. Firing AGM-12s from sea skimming level at an enemy warship is an experience rarely seen elsewhere.

F-5E: With a slightly-too-limited radar and slightly-too-poor manoeuvrability, the F-5E remains a modest air to air machine. We like it in the air to ground role, where it can carry a nice complement of rockets, bombs and illumination flares. The 20mm cannons can really tear into a convoy of trucks, and with AP rounds can even take on light APCs like the BTR-80, but the HEAT rockets and conveniently-employed bombs are where it shines. We'd love to use it as a trainer, but so far haven't found any F-5Fs. The only downsides are that it's slower than any other jet we have when loaded, and can't aerial refuel.

F-14: This time brought here by an IRIAF defector, the F-14 is in even worse shape than our Phantoms. Unable to acquire more AIM-54s, we're stuck with Sparrows, and mostly use it for the air to ground role- when it isn't grounded. Until recently, the sole TGP-equipped plane in the unit. It's also too large to fit on our carrier... and trust us, we've tried to fit it.

F-86F: An excellent attack platform for its era, with a lovely automatic bombsight and punchy HVARs. A common enough airframe for the group, it mostly forms the strike flights we escort. Nimble in a dogfight and able to carry AIM-9Bs for interception duties, and a truly gargantuan external fuel capacity for either loitering or long-distance work.

JF-17: A very limited airframe, our JF-17s were put into storage almost as quickly as they entered service due to an international incident. To afford them, we couldn't bring GPS-guided weapons, or indeed most guided weapons in general, but it's certainly capable. Only recently have we taken them back up to the skies- and we forgot just how much we love them! The numbers just aren't there to replace our other airframes, but the two we have on hand are praised for their ease of handling and ability to take on any mission as necessary.

Mi-8: Our workhorse helicopter, ferrying troops or supplies to remote bases on a daily basis. Widely loved and widely used. A frequent member of our flights and deservedly popular helicopter with our group.

Mi-24: Escorting those of us in Mi-8s, the Mi-24 can make short work of any armor we come across short of a brand-new M1A2 or Leo 2A6. Since at the most we're at risk of encountering M60A3s and Leopard 2A4s, this hasn't been a problem for us. Yet another joy to fly, and those who fly them are the most enthusiastic of the group. There are some of us who'd take them on air to air missions with R-60s, if only for love of the airframe.

MiG-15: With no RWR, no radar, no missiles or rockets and basic radio and avionics in general, the MiG-15 doesn't have much to excel at. However, it makes for an excellent strafer with its 23mm and 37mm cannons.

MiG-19: There's always someone who wants to blast from 0 to 35,000 feet in moments.

MiG-21: A solid all-rounder, it has the systems to be at least modestly survivable on the modern battlefield. Carrying a small, if varied, amount of weapons, it can employ them effectively with a CCIP-type aiming point. It also makes for a fine all-weather interceptor, complete with onboard IFF and an equally varied amount of air to air missiles. It has since been eclipsed in specific roles by other aircraft, but it remains a workhorse of the group.

MiG-29: Occasionally on loan from our sister units, MiG-29s are among our most modern aircraft. Fitted with modern radar and weapons, it's really a shame we don't have more of them.

Mirage F1: Since discovering a number of airframes on an airfield taken over by a breakaway extremist sect, these have been the mainstay of our unit. Whether air to air, air to ground or training, they've made for a great addition to the unit, and we almost always have one or two on flights. With SARH missiles; INS and aerial refuelling on the -EE models; ILS receiver; and nice RWRs; they are excellent for our purposes. The only thing lacking is a computed air to ground gunsight, which we hope to rectify with some upgrades to our airframes in the future. Solid 10/10.

Mirage 2000C: A bit of an oddball, it's sat in our hangar for quite some time, yet nobody's been able to find a great use for it. By all accounts it should be our best air to air fighter, yet people almost always prefer the F1. It has a reasonable bomb or rocket payload, but is restricted in how it can use them. Maybe someone can really bring out the best in it some day...

Mosquito FB Mk VI: Twin engines, twin seats, quad .303s and quad 20mms, quad bombs or quad rockets really end the argument there, but what's even better is just how much payload and fuel it can take. It can loiter for longer than the pilots can comfortably stay in the plane! The only problem is the wooden construction- it almost seems like it'll break if there's a stiff breeze.

P-47: Speaking of things that won't break if there's a stiff breeze, the P-47 is a lovely aircraft which is both docile to fly and potent in its mission. The engine controls are a little finnicky for the inexperienced, but treat it right and it'll fly you across the Levant and back again. Excellent payload, endurance, visibility and survivability. My personal favourite during normal COIN ops.

P-51: All that, plus a simple engine and cockpit that's clean and well-laid out. It burns less fuel than the P-47, which always makes the maintenance crews happy, but their smiles soon fade after they find out yet another bullet went through the engine coolant system.

Sa-342 Gazelle: We're still stuck with older L models, but there's one of us who swears by it, and routinely plinks tanks from kilometres away with their drop-down optical sight. Excellent for recon, on which we rely heavily.

Su-25: A very rugged ground attacker, but unfortunately very unwieldy to actually use- while we always have some on station, we tend to prefer fighter-bombers. Still, it has guided air to ground weapons and can take many hits that other planes wouldn't recover from.

Su-25T: The same situation, but with modernised cockpit and weapons carriage. We can't afford the stars of the show like the LLTV pod or Vikhr missile, but it still makes for an accurate weapon delivery platform.

Su-33: We may have encountered some... "Privateers" who had managed to get a Kuznetsov-class carrier on their hands, but that's a story for another time. Currently not in use.

UH-1: An acceptable cargo hauler, but it has difficulty keeping up with the faster Russian helicopters. Mostly used as a convoy escort weighed down with rocket pods and miniguns for this reason.

T-45: As we have never been able to acquire TA-4 Skyhawks, we may have pulled some diplomatic strings to bring aboard modern T-45s as our carrier trainers of choice.

Yak-52: Our basic trainer, and a good liaison or artillery spotting aircraft.