Is the B 11 good in GTA 5? Yes, it‘s an excellent and recommended jet, especially for skilled pilots
The B-11 Strikeforce is one of the most formidable and multi-role combat aircraft available in GTA Online. This guide provides an in-depth look at everything this powerhouse jet has to offer. Read on to see why skilled pilots can dominate the skies over Los Santos with the B-11.
Introduction to the B-11 Strikeforce
The B-11 Strikeforce, manufactured by Vapid, is a single seat fighter jet added to GTA Online as part of the Smuggler‘s Run update in 2017. Inspired by the real-world A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support jet, it carries an imposing profile and wide array of weaponry into battle.
With a $3.8 million dollar price tag, the B-11 is one of the most expensive aircraft in the game. However, you certainly get a lot for your money. The B-11 boasts:
- Cutting edge aviation tech and upgrades
- High top speeds comparable with the fastest jets
- Excellent maneuverability and agility for dogfighting
- Armor systems able to resist up to 6 missile strikes
- A diverse range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry
- Countermeasures to avoid incoming missiles
- Customizable liveries and performance tuning
As we‘ll see throughout this guide, those characteristics make the B-11 Strikeforce one of the most capable multipurpose aircraft for skilled pilots to purchase in GTA Online. It dominates in dogfights, provides great protection against attacks, and can excel at a wide range of missions and activities.
Detailed Performance and Features
Let‘s take a more in-depth look at how the B-11 performs in key areas and its full suite of features:
Speed and Mobility
- Top Speed – 163.75 mph fully upgraded, one of the fastest jets in the game
- Acceleration – Very quick, hits top speed smoothly in level flight
- Climb Rate – Can reach maximum altitude rapidly during vertical climbs
- Maneuverability
- Tight turning circle using aileron rolls
- Responsive elevators and rudder allow precision control during moves
- Highly adept at reversal maneuvers like the Kulbit
- Agility – Barrel rolls, loops and evasive maneuvers can be executed at high speed
These performance characteristics make the B-11 extremely competitive against nearly any rival jet in dogfighting scenarios.
Durability
The B-11 has the best armor of any jet fighter in GTA Online. With 100% armor upgrades it can withstand:
- 5 homing missiles
- 1 RPG rocket
- 2 explosive sniper rounds
- Over 70 bullets from a heavy sniper rifle
This degree of protection is on par with dedicated armored helicopters like the Avenger, allowing B-11 pilots to survive what would down most other aircraft.
Weapons Systems
The B-11‘s diverse offensive capabilities make it equally adept at air-to-air and air-to-ground combat roles:
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2x Explosive Cannons – High rate of fire cannons with 1800 total ammo capable of destroying vehicles in 1-2 seconds of concentrated fire
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Homing Missiles – 30 capacity. Very accurate with excellent tracking. Require short lock-on time.
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Barrage Missiles – Fires up to 60 unguided missiles continuously. Large blast radius to damage clustered enemies. Ideal against ground targets.
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6x Bombs – High damage cluster bombs effective against armored ground vehicles and structures.
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Countermeasures – Chaff, flares and smoke countermeasures help evade incoming missile locks.
No other aircraft has this well-rounded a payload. The B-11 has air combat superiority while also able to unleash devastating strikes on ground targets.
Handling and Control
The B-11 has extremely responsive handling that complements its speed and agility:
- Aileron turns allow tight rotation and aiming of the explosive cannons
- Rudder and elevators let pilots accurately maneuver during evasive actions
- Smooth flight characteristics at high speeds
- Landing and takeoff performance aided by thrust vectoring
- Upgrades further improve responsiveness in all areas
A pilot well-versed in the B-11‘s handling can fully exploit its capabilities in combat.
Customization
- Liveries – The B-11 has 5 colorful alternate liveries including designs with shark teeth and vintage pinup girls for unique looks
- Performance Upgrades – Engine, handling, and armor upgrades help fine tune the B-11 to your playstyle
Acquisition
The B-11 Strikeforce can be purchased from Warstock Cache & Carry for $3.8 million. It is delivered by Pegasus to the nearest airfield. Store it in a personal hangar to enable customization.
Dominating Dogfights
Let‘s look at why the B-11 is arguably the best dogfighting jet in GTA Online:
Speed
The B-11‘s top speed of 163 mph is fast enough to keep pace with any rival jet except the Pyro. High speed allows you to chase down enemies or escape pursuers.
Maneuverability
Combining high agility with tight turns gives B-11 pilots great advantage in close quarters combat. Aileron rolls make aiming the cannons easy while hitting the brakes and rudder can force overshoots.
Armament
The explosive cannons shred aircraft armor in seconds. Homing missiles are extremely accurate at medium range. Barrage missiles can surprise enemies on your tail.
Defense
Chaff/flares provide critical defense against missile barrages. Armor lets you survive what downs most jets.
Some ideal dogfighting strategies include:
- Go full throttle when jumped to create separation for countermoves
- Roll cannons onto target when chasing and dive away after firing
- Pop flares when hearing missile lock warning then break right/left
- Fire homing missiles at mid-range then follow up with cannons in close
- Use terrain like buildings to break line of sight from pursuers
The B-11 has the tools to counter the strengths of all other jets:
Vs Lazer – Match speed and outlast hits with armor
Vs Hydra – Outrun and outgun with missiles
Vs Pyro – Absorb hits while countering with cannons in turns
Vs Starling – Evade rockets with maneuvers and return fire
A talented B-11 pilot can quickly gain the upper hand versus any opponent.
Air-to-Ground Capabilities
The B-11 also excels at ground attack thanks to its payload:
Bombing Runs
The 6 cluster bombs have large blast radius able to destroy groups of enemy vehicles and personnel. After releasing bombs, pull up and circle around for another damaging pass.
Strafing
Sustained cannon fire can shred even heavily armored ground targets like the Khanjali tank in 1-2 passes. Strafe along the length of targets then pull away.
Barrages
A salvo of 60 unguided missiles lets you decimate clustered enemies like convoys from long range. Alternate firing to avoid overheating.
Ground targets have little defense against the B-11 pilot who utilizes these tools effectively from the air.
Recommended Missions
The B-11 is extremely useful for many GTA Online jobs. Here are some missions where it really shines:
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Motor Wars – Annihilate enemy teams clustered around objectives and vehicles with barrages.
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Survivals – Orbit the battle zone raining cannon fire and missiles on approaching NPCs from safety.
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Mobile Operations – Provide air support taking out enemies during Mobile Ops missions.
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Smuggler‘s Run – Quickly intercept rival smugglers with missiles and destroy their vehicles.
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Resupply & Sale – Fend off raiders during business resupply/sale missions using the B-11‘s dogfighting and air-to-ground capabilities.
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Headhunter – Track and destroy heavily armored target vehicles rapidly with the cannons before they can escape.
The B-11 is one of the most useful jets across PvE mission types thanks to its versatility.
Beginner Tips
Here are some tips when first starting out with the B-11 to help overcome the learning curve:
- Spend time in solo sessions mastering takeoffs, landing and control until comfortable
- Learn how missiles lock on and when to deploy flares/chaff
- Practice cannon aim on static targets like buildings before against enemies
- Get a feel for the optimal range and trajectory of the bombs/barrage
- Stay high and use hit-and-run attacks until you grasp dogfighting techniques
- Consider passive mode when in crowded lobbies to avoid being shot down
- Don‘t fret – skill comes with experience. Review your flight footage to improve.
Why Pilots Love the B-11
Having personally accumulated many hours and hundreds of kills flying the B-11, here are some of the reasons I feel it‘s arguably the best jet for skilled pilots in GTA Online:
Adaptable – With great air-to-air and air-to-ground abilities, you can succeed at any aerial combat scenario.
Survivor – The armor lets you correct more mistakes and withstand situations that would down fragile jets.
Intimidating – Seeing the agile, heavily armed B-11 approaching strikes fear into rival crews.
Rewarding Mastery – Given its cost and learning curve, taming the B-11 provides a very satisfying skill progression.
Earning Potential – Its capabilities translate into major competitive advantages across missions, dogfights and other activities.
While certainly requiring dedication to master, pilots who put in the time will find the B-11 Strikeforce a deeply rewarding aircraft that unlocks its full lethal potential. It offers an unrivaled combination of speed, maneuverability, protection and firepower to rule the Los Santos skies.
Verdict
The B-11 Strikeforce lives up to its reputation as one of the most formidable yet balanced jets added to GTA Online. While the $3.8 million asking price is steep, in the right hands this aerial beast can dominate dogfights and missions thanks to great flight performance, diverse weapons systems and tank-like durability. Providing equal parts defense, versatility and devastation, the B-11 is highly recommended for dedicated pilots who have the budget and desire to unlock its full potential. Once you get a taste of its capabilities, you may never want to fly another jet over the skies of Los Santos again!