cobalt pond
Currently, one of the main drawbacks (imo) for the Compass is it's lack of radar. Since it can be equipped with Fox 3s, the Sycthe, this seems like somewhat of a vacant hole. It can be fitted with BVR missiles but can't guide them itself. As a remedy to this, I'd like to suggest a radar pod.
Pictured is the AN/ASQ-236 SLAR pod for NATO jets, and the Kopyo radar pod for the Su-25TM/Su-39. For the F-15E, the SLAR pod was for reconnaissance, and is here as a visual example; but for the Su-25TM, the Kopyo radar was actually a multimode(?) radar that gave it the ability to detect air targets. This also made it compatible with the R-77, and I'd like to suggest a similar upgrade for the Compass. In exchange for the centerline/weapon bay hardpoint, Compass pilots could get a radar pod. This would make them more reasonably capable of independently using their Fox 3s, whereas now it seems as if they fire the Fox 3s in MADDOG mode. Aesthetically, it would just be like the 25mm gunpod except with radar instead of gun, and probably a bit more expensive compared to the gun.
tiny rose