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Hearts of Iron IV >  Workshop > Kondi's Workshop > Expert AI 5.0 > Discussions
Expert AI 5.0
Description Discussions130 Comments4964 Change Notes
Zango 5 Jul, 2019 @ 9:22am
AI Air Dominance
So, I will start this by saying I am no expert at this game.

The issue I am seeing is that I cannot seem to win any air engagements while playing as Germany. I have comparable numbers to the Russians, I have radar, static AA, fully down my Air Doctrine line, I have ME262 with moderate upgrades, and I am just get DESTROYED by Russia's Yak-3s. Like I will shoot down 13-20 and lose 45+ every tick. I have tried everything I can think of in multiple play throughs now. The same issue arises in the West too, I get stomped by any Allied AI planes. My other planes (CAS, Naval, Tac, etc) seem to perform well and do their job as long as there are not enemy fighters in the area. And oddly enough when there are enemy fighters in the area the other plane types actually survive BETTER than the jet fighters. And most of those planes are out of date by comparison.

I can only assume I am doing something wrong as I have not seen anyone else complaining of this issue anywere, but could someone tell me what it is I need to be doing?
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Showing 1-11 of 11 comments
Zango 5 Jul, 2019 @ 9:29am 
Ah, forgot to mention: When I hover over the Air Defence/Agility/Speed tooltip it says I am weaker in all stats.
#1
Vitoras 5 Jul, 2019 @ 12:38pm 
The AI Mostly buffs engine and weapons as ı see so thats what is kiliing your planes you have to upgrade engine and wepaons of planes or else theyre useless.
#2
Zango 5 Jul, 2019 @ 5:37pm 
I noticed that as well. I have rank 5 in both engines and weapons. Actually, rank 5 in all upgrades.
#3
Kondi  [developer] 7 Jul, 2019 @ 12:09am 
Jet fighters just aren't as good as normal fighters. It's the lower agility. Things like experience levels and being outnumbered can have a big effect too.
#4
Kaput Mundi 14 Jul, 2019 @ 4:24am 
Same here. Playing Germany, no matter how many planes or maxed out variants I have: I cannot gain the upper hand in the air. And it's not a matter of time, I'm just plainly losing air engagements.
Max radar, latest fighter with maxed out variant, full air doctrine and chief commander, aces and whatnot. Losing 3 to 1 in the best scenario.
#5
nordstern 3 Aug, 2019 @ 4:36am 
How do you upgrade planes? Which wing-strengh do you use? Is the range of your fighters high enough?
#6
xylow17 7 Aug, 2019 @ 11:02am 
same problem for me
#7
SugarAddict 12 Aug, 2019 @ 6:13am 
I experience the same thing, and additionally, the Soviet Union attacks me with about 10k aircraft :P Even when heavily focusing on aircraft and operational integrity, no chance to beat those.
#8
Ceorl 17 Aug, 2019 @ 6:48am 
I'm gonna support this after several runs with the mods. In my recent game as SU, at the start of Barbarossa, the Axis field over 6000 aircraft with Germany fielding 4800 (mostly upgraded Focke Wulfs). I field about 2000 fighters from 3 full 30 production lines (granted its elite difficulty).

Loading the save to check the other factions no-one else is even close to Germany's total # of fighters which is produced from a single 30 production line. For reasons I can't determine the air war isn't just difficult, its almost hopeless.
#9
Kondi  [developer] 19 Aug, 2019 @ 7:36am 
Originally posted by Ceorl:
I'm gonna support this after several runs with the mods. In my recent game as SU, at the start of Barbarossa, the Axis field over 6000 aircraft with Germany fielding 4800 (mostly upgraded Focke Wulfs). I field about 2000 fighters from 3 full 30 production lines (granted its elite difficulty).

Loading the save to check the other factions no-one else is even close to Germany's total # of fighters which is produced from a single 30 production line. For reasons I can't determine the air war isn't just difficult, its almost hopeless.
USSR should field 5k+ aircraft by the time the war starts but elite difficulty is going to reduce your production. I don't remember by how much but it is a fairly pointless setting in my opinion.

Here's Germany without any bonuses in June 41:
-4k fighters
-50 factories on fighters
-over half of them are highly upgraded FWs with improved engines
-about half of them are well experienced air wings but a few are rookies
-half of Battlefield Support researched (up to the most important techs like +20% air superiority)

USSR:
-5,5k fighters
-45 factories on fighters
-over half of them are LAGs but without any upgrades
-almost all are regulars
-only 4 air doctrines techs researched

German AI always crushes the Soviet AI's air force. I'd say most of it is due to a lack of upgrades. Lack of wing experience, doctrines and being outnumbered are going to cause a lot of damage too.
Last edited by Kondi; 19 Aug, 2019 @ 7:37am
#10
Ceorl 25 Aug, 2019 @ 9:07pm 
Okay, if it tracks with the mod design that makes sense then. Based on what I've been reading perhaps the issue has more to do with how the air war is currently designed though I don't remember this being such an issue in vanilla.

Regardless, thanks for the well designed mod!
#11
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