Welcome to the AI/NPC Missiles Project (AIMP) and Advanced Weapons Project (AI-AWP), where you will find proper rocket/missile models with their unique stats specific for the AI/NPC units in Ace Combat 7. As the mod name implies, the AIMP and AI-AWP's goal is to change the missile models found on enemy ships, ground units, and even UAVs, to their proper standards. AIM-9s are getting too generic these days, dunno why, but this seems to be the developers' attempt to save resources, even though the game itself is mid-high to today's standards.

Changes offered to AIMP is ranging from proper realism to undefined/fiction; the works that I did is limited to the current resources I have in possession while matching up with the references, so keep in mind that not everything is 100% accurate.
For the main changes of AIMP I have:

• FIM-92 Stinger (by default is loaded on Apaches, now can be found on enemy missile boats and allied SAMs, which is using the M1097 Avenger)
  



• 9M33 Osa (enemy SAMs using the 9A33 Osa missile launcher vehicle)
  



• M26 MLRS rocket (allied rocket trucks using M142 HIMARS - might have been smth else but this is as close as I can get as it's intended for M270)
  



• MIM-115 Roland (enemy XSAMs using Rapier-1 launcher system; missile model's an imitation to the Rapier SAMs - I may plan to create a Roland SAM/Radar vehicle soon)
  



• 9M55 Smerch (enemy rocket trucks using 9K58 Smerch)
  



• 9M311 Tunguska (enemy AD Tanks using 2S6M Tunguska tank; also used on enemy Destroyer)
  

• RGM-84D using base LASM model (allied Aegis ship w/ Mk141 launcher system)
  



• SM-2/RIM-66 VLS System (allied Aegis/Destroyer ship w/ Mk41 VLS launcher system)
  



• 9M31 Strela (special missile for Alicorn's SAM system)
  



• 48H6E2 and/or 5V55 VLS System (enemy ships with S-300F/FM VLS launcher system such as the enemy Battle Cruiser, Cruiser, and Alicorn; also used on enemy Aegis ship)
  



• 9M330 Tor VLS System (enemy ships with 3K95 VLS launcher system such as the enemy Battle Cruiser and Destroyer; also used on enemy Aegis ship)
  



• Unused Mimic QAAM that can only be seen in SP02 cutscene (now modified to be shown in mission instead of using generic Russian variant of standard missile/R-60M missile model)
  

The AI-AWP complements the AIMP, where it can be patched when used alongside mods that alter the general stats of either ground units or the weapons. So far, Enhanced Gunplay and Know Your Enemy mod have changes that affect the AI-AWP. The AI-AWP offers unique missile stats per missile type when used alongside the Enhanced Gunplay mod so that you will not just experience new type of difficulty due to the new missile characteristics, but also to have proper models instead of just generic AIM-9 missile. Beware, you will see kinks of the Rapier SAM System going supersonic in a short time, akin to standard HVAA.

As a bonus, the enemy PLSL on Ravens has its WeaponID changed so that it benefits the greatly reduced hitbox and and also proper hit sound (so that it doesn't sound like you're taking hit from a machine gun that isn't laser).


What's the deal with you doing this?



The simplest way to put it is that someone once mentioned about ships in Mission 19 cutscene that launches missiles into the air and he/she said that it's an AIM-9 missile that launched. I can't find the source of it but the internal assets confirm this, evidenced by the MSL_BaseClass asset using the w_msl_a0_SM as its weapon model and being inherited by a number of assets; missiles found on SAMs and ships are included.


How do I know if it's working? How can I see it?



Since this mod replaces the generic SAM models with proper ones, it's hard to tell whether the model changes take effect or not for an untrained eye. If you're using this mod together with the Enhanced Gunplay mod, you will see that it will take effect if you start a mission that has XSAMs or Aegis Ashore installations (their missiles will go hyper speed like the HVAA). To find out whether this mod works properly, you will either use a software that can allow you to use "Free Camera" or find a mission where the enemies can spam missiles on you, complete the mission, and during replay, fast-forward to the scene where the enemies spam missiles on you and play in slow mode (0.25x). If you see the missiles are changed to smth that isn't AIM-9 (like 48H6E2/5V55, 9M330, or 9M311), then it works properly.




To end this description, what I did is pretty much simple; you won't even suspect it unless you look closely. This mod does not impact multiplayer whatsoever as this is intended for AI/NPC units (unless you somehow include them in MP, which is another story).