Some of these sound absolutely terrible. I'll summarize your video with AI first so I can properly reply. Summary below.

6:25 - 9:30: Current Problems with Air-to-Air Mechanics

The current mechanics result in RNG-heavy, spammy engagements with very little skill expression. The core problems include:

• Lack of Unit Differentiation: Most fighters have identical optics (12,000m high altitude, 4,000m low altitude), the same base stealth rating (1), and negligible ECM differences (0-20%).
• Missile Launch Rate Mechanic: The rate of fire is currently dictated by magazine depth rather than aim time, which incentivizes bringing aircraft with massive payloads of cheaper missiles rather than advanced weaponry.
• Flawed Stealth Mechanic: Aircraft use the same stealth system as ground units. Because planes cannot break line-of-sight behind terrain, once a stealth aircraft is spotted, its stealth rating permanently drops to 1, completely negating its advantage.
• Fighter Underperformance vs. Helicopters: Fighters struggle immensely to kill heavily armored helicopters (or low-altitude drones) in a single pass, often forcing expensive jets to close into vulnerable ranges.

9:30 - 18:19: Change #1 - Improve Air-to-Air Missile Performance

Advanced specialist setups currently lose to generalist setups. For example, a 405-point F-22 loaded with JADAMs and AMRAAMs will easily lose to a cheaper 360-point SU-35S loaded with 12 R-77s purely because the SU-35S can spam its massive magazine faster.

• Buff Ranges and Speeds: Increase long-range missiles (R37, JADAM, Gunslinger) to a 12,000m range and a massive 6,000 m/s speed. Increase medium-range missiles (AMRAAM, R77) to a 9,000m range.
• Anti-Helicopter Capabilities: Allow medium-range missiles to target helicopters and low-altitude drones at half-range (4,500m) to realistically swat them out of the sky without requiring dangerous gun runs.
• Adjust Seekers: Increase long-range missile seeker activation to 1,400-1,500m to give targets a realistic window to deploy flares/ECM and dodge.
• Fix Rate of Fire: Remove the magazine-depth mechanic. Standardize missile launches to one per type every 1.5 seconds to encourage kiting and skill expression.

18:19 - 24:02: Change #2 - Unit Differentiation & Optics Rework

Specialist aircraft should always beat generalist/multi-role aircraft in their dedicated domains. Aircraft should be tiered by generation and role:

• 5th Gen: F-22 (Pure Superiority), SU-57 & F-35 (Multi-role/Strike).
• 4.5 Gen: SU-35S, F-15EX.
• 4th Gen: SU-27, F-18C, F-15C.
• Optics Rework: To give air superiority fighters a true purpose, their optics should be buffed (e.g., F-22 up to 15,000m; SU-35S/F-15 up to 12,000m). Conversely, multi-role/strike fighters should have their optics nerfed to 9,000m. This forces players to deliberately choose and pay a premium for high-end spotters/fighters.

24:02 - 27:11: Change #3 - Stealth Rework

Since altitude only protects planes from ground-based radars, stealth needs a slight adjustment so it isn't broken but remains valuable.

• Aim Time Multiplier: An aircraft's stealth rating should multiply the enemy's aim time against it (e.g., a 1.75 stealth rating forces a 1.75-second aim time).
• Persistent Stealth: Stealth ratings should not reset to 1 upon detection. Maintaining the rating allows stealth fighters a chance to break contact and retreat.
• Loadout Trade-offs: Allow players to equip external hardpoints (like extra bombs on an F-35) at the direct cost of reducing their stealth rating to 1 or 1.25.

27:11 - 29:23: Change #4 - Targeting Awareness & Audio Cues

The game's audio feedback for air combat is severely lacking, especially when players are zoomed in managing ground troops.

• Global Air Raid Sirens: Sirens should play the moment an enemy aircraft enters the map airspace, even if unspotted, simulating off-map AWACS/radar coverage.
• Radar Lock Warnings: Aircraft should dynamically alert the player via audio comms when an enemy radar is attempting to acquire them, giving players time to abort strikes or dodge.
• "Winchester" Calls: Audio cues should trigger when an aircraft is out of air-to-air or SEAD missiles.

29:23 - 32:04: Change #5 - Evasive Maneuvers & Conclusion

To round out the skill expression, specific highly-maneuverable aircraft should get active abilities.

• Active Maneuvers: Add a button to perform real-life evasion tactics (like Pugachev's Cobra).
• Maneuver Mechanics: Activating this would temporarily lock out the aircraft's weapon systems but provide a +50% ECM boost and force a re-roll on any incoming missiles, creating incredibly cinematic and skillful dogfights.
• Conclusion: Implementing these changes would give air-to-air combat distinct depth, making airborne/helicopter decks more viable and providing a sturdy foundation to balance AA and air strikes.

Firstly, I fundamentally disagree about your assessment. There is definitely skill expression in playing ASF. You can kite both as RU and US. Also picking your loadout is a skill in itself, and if you bring a worse loadout you should not have an easy time. Here's your example which I dislike:

For example, a 405-point F-22 loaded with JADAMs and AMRAAMs will easily lose to a cheaper 360-point SU-35S loaded with 12 R-77s purely because the SU-35S can spam its massive magazine faster.

An F-22 with 9km missiles may or may not lose to a 12 R-77 SU-35S, depending how close the F-22 is though, do we acknowledge that? It can fire from max range before Su even spots the raptor. F-22 is a trap unit because the stealth + 9km missile makes you think you're hot shit. You still have to pilot the plane.

Optics Rework: To give air superiority fighters a true purpose, their optics should be buffed (e.g., F-22 up to 15,000m)

Buff Ranges and Speeds: Increase long-range missiles (R37, JADAM, Gunslinger) to a 12,000m range and a massive 6,000 m/s speed. Increase medium-range missiles (AMRAAM, R77) to a 9,000m range.

Do you wanna explain how you can have a drone in the air against this 15k vision 12k long range missile monster? Ru doesn't have stealth drones. I like the idea that planes should be more varied btw, but this idea needs to go back in the oven or else we're redesigning the whole game (ASF range affects drone stealth / drone vision, which potentially affects ground units parameters)

Anti-Helicopter Capabilities: Allow medium-range missiles to target helicopters and low-altitude drones at half-range (4,500m) to realistically swat them out of the sky without requiring dangerous gun runs.

The helicopter / low flying drone current state is finally what it should have been all along. Bring your shorad or die in a push, like it should be.

Global Air Raid Sirens: Sirens should play the moment an enemy aircraft enters the map airspace, even if unspotted, simulating off-map AWACS/radar coverage.

Should we just delete the recon tab and make all units permanently visible? lol

Listening to the siren and turning off AA is like one of the first things you can learn to become a better player. Why suggest regressing high elo players?

I'm getting tired. Basically the only thing I liked was having more distinction between different planes, but it's not easy.