AI Air Defense

[scJazz]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

scJazz,

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(Note: Considering their relative value in game I have no clue why fixed wing air costs so much ... but that's another issue)
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Helicopters however are another case entirely.

While they can't travel with relative impunity vs anything other the the sort of rudimentary air defenses the VC (or NVA in the south) had they can be very useful.

Keep a couple with decent EW at the edge of MPAD range and pop them up to high altitude to soak off the hordes of MPADs the AI buys (never less then 9-15 for a battalion size battle), and spot any other AA weapons. Then use artillery to suppress any AA-Guns. After 3-4 turns of this you can do your air assault.

Attack helos can also be very useful. Personally I never allow then to op fire. During my turn I use them as airborne snipers to pick off opposition tanks and ATGM vehicles. And always, always buy ammo vehicles as battles vs the AI virtually guarantee you will run out of ammo long before you run out of targets. I tend to purchase one ammo vehicle per company and rotate one infantry platoon at a time back to rearm.

Now that you mention it I agree. Considering the worthlessness of Air Strikes they are too costly. Wanted: 50% off sale on Air Strikes for holiday season!

Ohhh how I wish I was fighting against rudimentary air defenses of the NVA and VC. I said Vietnam era, not Vietnam Actually, I'm fighting Cuba and USSR in a Cuban Invasion campaign. They have approximately 8 ****tons of AA units per platoon.

Sadly, none of these are MPADs, all guns. I don't have enough Helos to get them to run out of ammo OPFiring at me and since Vietnam gunships, if we could call them that, don't have EW even if I did it would be insane.

I try very hard not to use ATGM gunships vs the AI as I consider it kinda sorta cheating