ab3o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Allan Bourdius) (09/14/90)
From: Allan Bourdius <ab3o+@andrew.cmu.edu>
The Su-27 as the world's best fighter?!?!?!
There's only one interceptor in the world that can engage its targets in
excess of 100 nautical miles and that is the US Navy's F-14A+/D. With
Sidewinder, AMRAAM, and Phoenix, coupled with the AWG-9 radar, the F-14
series is probably the most formidable air defense fighter in the world.
>From what I've read, the Su-27 is comparable in capablility to the
original F-16A, an aircraft that was never designed for air defense in
the first place.
MIDN 3/C Allan Bourdius
Carnegie Mellon University NROTCu714092@eagle.larc.nasa.gov (prichard devon ) (09/18/90)
From: u714092@eagle.larc.nasa.gov (prichard devon ) From: Allan Bourdius <ab3o+@andrew.cmu.edu> There's only one interceptor in the world that can engage its targets in excess of 100 nautical miles and that is the US Navy's F-14A+/D. With Sidewinder, AMRAAM, and Phoenix, coupled with the AWG-9 radar, the F-14 series is probably the most formidable air defense fighter in the world. especially at that range, isn't the crucial point "how well can the radar hop modes and still retain track and lock?" the return is probably so weak that jamming is easy unless frequency hopping is used. I think this is the reason for the Russian prediliction towards monopulse radar. you might want to check the stats on the F-15 and F-18; they both have 100+ mile radars... though realistically, the logistics of having enough 100 mile missiles (i.e. Phoenix) _and_ the ROE to use them _and_ the success rate thereof, are such that this is not the most important point in air defense. having AWACS airspace control, visual target ID (which the Tomcat _did_ pioneer), sufficient numbers of fighters and missiles; that is what is needed. -- |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| | Devon Prichard making the world safe for helicopters ... | | u714092@eagle.larc.nasa.gov | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) (09/20/90)
From: att!utzoo!henry >From: Allan Bourdius <ab3o+@andrew.cmu.edu> >There's only one interceptor in the world that can engage its targets in >excess of 100 nautical miles and that is the US Navy's F-14A+/D... Assuming, of course, that it has positive identification on the targets at a range of 100 nmi. Historically, this has seldom been possible in real combat. >From what I've read, the Su-27 is comparable in capablility to the >original F-16A, an aircraft that was never designed for air defense in >the first place. Uh, really? I wasn't aware that the F-16A was a heavy interceptor. :-) Last I heard, the Su-27 was thought to have the biggest radar dish of any fighter aloft, F-14 included, and range and warload to match. Are you thinking of the MiG-29, perhaps? Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry
jumper@shumv1.ncsu.edu (Michael Lanham) (09/24/90)
From: jumper@shumv1.ncsu.edu (Michael Lanham) ab3o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Allan Bourdius) writes: >...the original F-16A, an aircraft that was never designed for air defense in >the first place. Maybe I am misinterpreting what you mean by an air defense plane, but... The F-16A was originally intended as a tactical air superiority fighter with no all-weather capability, no radar, no hard spots for bombs or other ground ordinance, and without numerous other **improvments** the Air Force Systems Command has so ladened the bird with. The A version of the plane was several feet shorter than the current version, had a smaller wing span, high turning rate, faster climbing rate, and was all around what it was supposed to be---a dedicated air superiority fighter. Systems command got a hold of the bird and careers started getting attached to such a grand design. A brand new "high tech" radar was added in to make it have better interdiction capabilities. But to accomplish adding in the radar, an air conditioning unit for it also had to be installed. Then lift allowances called for a larger wing span and fuselage. Once they had that, Systems Command saw unused wing capacity so added additional hard spots for bomb racks and ground sights. But then the bird was too heavy so they added a bigger engine. Consequently we now have a plane that is *multi- purpose* but no longer the superb air fighter it was, the Isralies have found that it makes a poor tactical bomber, and it now costs (in real dollars adjusted for inflation) some 4 times as much then was intended. Sources: The Pentagon and the Art of War Author: forgot but it is in our library -- He who will not reason, is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave. --- Sir William Drummond What is morality in any given time or place? It is what the