[Askhati]

Something I came up with a while back, after getting seriously bored with my endless fleets of identical aircraft (I'm a firm believer in air superiority). Anyway, the idea was this: you build the basic aircraft - a MiG bomber in this case - and then have a choice between two upgrades that can be installed, almost similar to the drone upgrades the US forces have. This particular aircraft could pick between an upgraded weapons computer (gives a propaganda effect to the carrying unit only, boosting firepower and range, and increases the rate at which XP is gained) and an ECM pod (basically like strapping an ECM Tank to the MiG).

The list of pods I have in use sofar is this:
1) Weapons computer - individual propaganda effect to boost damage and range; increased XP rate [sub-unit, Helix style)
2) ECM pod - localized jamming effect against missiles [sub-unit]
3) Flare pod - gives the aircraft anti-missile flares [object armor upgrade]
4) Sensor pod - stealth detection [sub-unit]

I was wondering if anyone else had some more ideas to add to the list maybe? I know weapon upgrades seem an obvious point, but I have reserved my weapon upgrades as player upgrades. Locomotor upgrades might be possible, but justifying them as underwing pods will be difficult methinks. Same with health upgrades - the Chinese already have that in the form of the MiG Armor player upgrade.

[Renaissance]

Surveilance pod - steal $$$, you can make it like Black Lotus where they have to circle for a second or two. Of course the amount would be less; maybe $100.

And about justifying locomotor
rocket booster - adds speed

[Askhati]

Maybe... Although I think implementing a flying cash hack could be interesting.

[beng]

Mine dispenser pod (see the helix bombs, OCL a cluster mines bomb instead of a helix bomb).

Leaflet pod (again, can use the Helix style of doing things, else use the smart bomb style. see below)

Smart bomb upgrade (loads the plain's transportcontain slots with smart bombs which you exit over the target area)

Laser target designator upgrade (adds a portable structure like the helix gattling, that fires the Avenger's laser designator, that makes other units fire faster at the target)

Your ECM pod upgrade could also grant stealth to the plane (since it jams enemy radar), in the manner of the GLA base defence buildings that can be upgraded with camo netting. It could also add a portable structure which fires a jamming beam like the Microwave Tank, to jam enemy base defences.

Decoy drone upgrade, spawns a decoy drone that flies near the plane, drawing enemy fire to itself.

EMP bomb upgrade, either helix style or container style, add an EMP pulse bomb. However either make the plane KindOf EMP_HARDENED, or make the bomb take several seconds to OCl the EMP spheroid else the plane dropping it will be caught up in the blast and crash.

Frenzy upgrade, spawns a frenzy marker at the plane.