Anti-air vehicle | Vehicles Battlefield 4 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Available models
- TYPE 95 PLOT (CH)
- LAV-AD (US)
- 9K22 TUNGUSKA-M (RU)
Vehicles with anti-aircraft weapons have cannons and rockets and are designed to destroy flying machines. As they have only one seat, there is no turret in them.
You control them just like the other land vehicles. Direction of driving with WSAD and cannons are controlled by the mouse. In general, fight and positioning is a bit different than in tanks or LAVs. Armor is much more thinner so you should move carefully around the map. Lack of additional places makes also dangerous a situation where driver must deal everything alone.
Statistics
Health | 100 |
Time to begin the regeneration (from the last received damage) | 14 seconds |
Heavy damage threshold (control is temporarily made more difficult) | Shot dealing more than 39% vehicle's health |
Light damage threshold (control is temporarily made more difficult) | Shot dealing more than 29% vehicle's health |
Disable threshold (you lose control over the vehicle, you can be saved only by the extinguisher or burner) | 10% of vehicle's health |
Maximum speed | 56 km/h |
Number of seats | 1 |
Default respawn time | 60 seconds |
Basics of moving around the map
Settings
For drivers of the anti-aircraft vehicle, settings aren't the most important. Graphics should be adjusted in a way so you can play comfortable. Ultra mesh quality won't ballast the graphic processor to much and allow you to spot enemy flying machines with Q. And that's why the elimination will be easier. You should also pay attention for relative aiming, which may be more comfortable. As in the case of other land vehicles, the sensibility should be high enough, so you can keep up with the flying helicopter or plane but can't interfere with precise aiming. Recommendation:
In-game value of sensibility: 20%-30%
System value of sensibility: 8/10 (desktop>RMB>personalize>change mouse indicators>buttons)
Mouse values: 1200 DPI - 2000 DPI (information about your mouse may be found on its bottom, in the manual or in the internet)
Using the minimap
During driving in the anti-aircraft vehicles, don't forget about very important and useful map. You can enlarge it with M key or summon it with the option of "Battle Screen". It gives you information about enemy flying machines but also helps you define the danger from other enemy units like tanks or LAV. You shouldn't be interested in taking over the important tactical points (flags, transmitters). It's because your lack of armor and proper anti-tank missiles. Even if your team has little of key points, you'll support it more by eliminating the flying machines. Because of that, there is no need to talk about the offensive or defensive. But don't overestimate your skills, because light armored vehicle may be destroyed much faster than a tank by majority of other vehicles. Use your map to prevent it. Remember also, that many engineers, snipers and soldiers have explosives and rocket launchers. They will use it to eliminate you, but only when you make a mistake and bad moving. So avoid the situation where you for example meet too many anti-tank missiles. Anti-aircraft vehicles are quickly so you can try to flee, but try not to let the danger happen.
Finding the good position
In case of anti-aircraft vehicles, finding a good position is a key having a good game. Aggressive drivers riding from the edge of the map to the edge are rarely seen. The most frequent behavior is a passive one, due to the lack of armor and anti-tank weaponry. Finding a good place shouldn't be difficult. It should be next to the map's edge. Don't forget about the proper cover (buildings, rocks, trees). There is more than one such a place on the map, so as the driver you have to decide which to choose. You should also consider switching the place, because enemy pilots will try to hunt you down, as you're their biggest threat. Notice also, that you can set yourself on the water, as this type of vehicle can swim. Remember also about avoiding tanks, which are able to destroy you very quickly. When you see a heavy armored vehicle approaching you, speed up and run away.
Unlocks
Unlocking | Icon | Required points | Unlocking |
Thermal camo |  | 2500 | This upgrade increases the time required for lock in your plane. |
Thermal optics |  | 4500 | Upgrade which allows you to identify the thermal traces for small and medium distance. |
Autoloader |  | 6500 | Improved mechanism which speeds up reloading. |
Passive radar |  | 8000 | Ground-to-air missiles which requires locking an enemy. |
Proximity Scan |  | 10000 | Detects enemies around the vehicle and marks them on the minimap. |
Smoke screen |  | 11500 | Spreads the cloud of thick smoke, masking your vehicle and making impossible to get a critical hit with rockets. |
30 mm Cannon |  | 13000 | Fires the 30 mm anti-aircraft missiles. They have high rate of fire |
IRNV |  | 14500 | Black-white vision which show the thermal traces in full range. |
Reactive Armor |  | 15500 | It disperses the anti-tank missiles what makes more difficult to get a critical hit |
Extinguisher |  | 17000 | Extinguisher repairs the machine and allows it to begin the regeneration. You can activate it only when the plane is heavily damaged. |
ZUNI rockets |  | 18500 | Not guided rockets, effective against infantry, light vehicles, armored vehicles and buildings. |
Air Radar |  | 19500 | Minimap is replaced by the radar with big range, where you can see all nearby flying machines. |
Heat seekers |  | 21000 | Missiles which fly to the closest target just after being fired and explodes when near it. |
Active protection |  | 22500 | After activation, the system automatically detects the incoming anti-tank missiles and explodes them before they reach the vehicle. It goes to stand-by after eliminating the danger or after a long time without any danger. |
The best set:
Main weapon: 30 mm cannon is a must, much better than 20 mm cannon. Though it has lower rate of fire, it causes bigger damage.
20mm Cannon | 30mm Cannon | |
Damage to flying vehicles | 1.1% - 2.6% | 3.2% - 8.1% |
Damage to infantry | 5% | 7% |
Maximum cannon range | 1200m | 800m |
Rate of fire | 2000 bullets/min | 600 bullets/min |
Time of constant fire to empty the supply belt | 6 seconds | 3.5 seconds |
Secondary weapon: it turns out, that the best are active radar missiles. Although having small damage, they are perfect match for the powerful cannon. You can also consider ZUNI rockets in case of fighting against the heavy armored vehicle.
Heat seekers | Passive radar missiles | Active radar missiles | |
Maximum targeting range | 500 m | 500 m | - |
Number of available rockets | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Time of reloading | 30 s | 30 s | 25 s |
Damage to flying vehicle | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Damage to transport helicopters | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Damage to gunboat | 5 | 5 | 5 |
* - we assume that all missiles before reloading hit
Countermeasure:
Working time: | Reloading time: | Range: | |
IR smoke | 7.5 seconds | 17.5 seconds | 20m |
Smoke screen | 7 seconds | 5 seconds | 4m |
Active protection | 5 seconds | 25 seconds | Not applicable |
Extinguisher | Not applicable - works only once | 25 seconds | Not applicable - works when the vehicle's health drops below 37%. |
IR smoke is great against guided missiles, but they are not a big threat. Active Protection will be much better. It's able to defend you against 30 mm cannons of helicopters, as well as the assault jets.
Optics: I recommend 3x sight, due to the fact that enemy flying machine may be often to far away to use the standard optics.
Upgrades: there is only one choice, Reactive Armor to protect you against critical hits.
Fighting enemies
Fighting the flying machines
Eliminating enemy flying machines isn't difficult with anti-aircraft weapons. Switch between cannon and rockets to destroy enemies quickly and efficiently. Remember not to overheat your main weapon and fire with series at far away targets. Remember also that some vehicles move very fast. On big maps, you have to focus on assault jets because usually those ones will be the greatest threat for you. When you see an enemy pilot preparing to attack, try to slip out of his vision or stay mobile. It should make destroying you a bit harder. Beware also of TV rockets of assault helicopters, assault jets and crafts. Avoiding them is difficult, but possible. When using the active radar missiles, fire at the closest possible range, because those missiles easily lose target.
Fighting the land vehicles and infantry
Although anti-aircraft vehicles are not suited for fighting the land vehicles they can use 30 mm cannon if need arises. Destroying the LAV or a tank is virtually impossible, so you should consider taking ZUNI rockets. Choice should depends on you, but take into consideration which type of vehicles is more present on the map: land or air. When you're surprised by the enemy, exit the vehicle and scare him off with the rocket launcher. You can also set up mines and explosives, what will make your runaway easier.
In case of fighting against the infantry, both 20 mm and 30 mm cannons are great. But don't use all of your ammo against the infantry, to not let the flying machines destroy you.
Hints
Don't be aggressive, stay on position
Each good driver has to focus on finding a good position. Leaving it often ends up in death, so don't play aggressively. Flying vehicles may destroy you very quickly when you're not cautious. You should also remember that after using the Active Protection a red light appears on your vehicle what informs enemies that you're targetable.
Sometimes it's better to run
If you see an enemy tank nearby, try not to engage. In such an encounter you have no chances. So it's better to run away and wait for someone to deal with him. But you have to remember not to show your backs to the enemy, because your armor is the thinnest there.