Posted on 02/19/2007 4:03:22 AM PST by Fennie
According to an unreleased U.S. Air Force report, the F-15 Eagle - the most advanced U.S. fighter in service - is inferior to the latest versions of the Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker. According to Richard Fisher, a defense analyst and noted expert on the Chinese military, the Chinese Flanker fighters can beat the U.S. top jet fighters including the F-15 Eagle.
"Since 1992 the Pentagon has known that in a close-in dogfight the Su-27 would smear the F-15. That year Russian Sukhois came to Langley Air Force Base and showed us their stuff. What we appear to be learning from the recent exercise with India is that Russian radar, weapons and more importantly, tactics, have all reached a level in which the F-15 is on the verge of being outclassed in the long-range engagement as well," stated Fisher.
Looks like an order for another 500 Raptors is needed...
Cross circle weapons and HMS need to be fitted immediately. I think the USN/USAF have purposely drug their feet on this to make the F-35 and F-22 look more impressive (they are impressive enough on their own, but perhaps not for Congress).
However, now is the time to bring the legacy fleet up to speed.
I guess that means the Chinese should start supplying us with our jets, now.
Available soon at Walmart?
Even though the F-15 has been periodically upgraded, it is still a 30 year old weapon.
"Cross circle weapons and HMS need to be fitted immediately."
Can you expand on this stuff?
Wrong. The F-22 is the most advanced in service, although its numbers are limited for the time being. I am not so worried that a Sukhoi fighter would just now be able to outclass a fighter more than 30 years old.
Uh... Isn't the F-22 in service already (or at least the first squadron at any rate). F-22 is the most advanced fighter in U.S. (or any other) service.
Meanwhile, back at Lockheed,...........???
Note the date on the article.
The F-86 is also outclassed. (30 years, 50 years, old is old)
And time to find out just how much the RATS are willing to back up their tough talk about supporting the troops and making sure they have the equipment they need. The bill for all that carping about body armor and humvees is now coming due. Will the RATS step up to pay it?
Ahhh, but the other half of a combat aircraft is the pilot - and WE have the best pilots in the world.
"Since 1992 the Pentagon has known that in a close-in dogfight the Su-27 would smear the F-15"
Hasn't the pentagon decided that dogfights are a thing of the past?
Propaganda I tell ya.
Helmet mounted sights and missiles with gimbled seekers that can look 90 degrees or more off axis negate higher maneuverability to a very great degree. And if the other guy has them and you don't, you're toast once you hit the merge (real dogfighting).
The ability to look out at the aircraft at your 3 o'clock and fire a missile instantly is deadly.
Although we have had this technology for over 10 years now, we still haven't upgraded our fighters with it.
"The F-86 is also outclassed. (30 years, 50 years, old is old)"
The airframe may be 30 years old. Although parts of it have been upgraded. Its also a platform for systems are have been updated numerous times.
And lets keep things in perspective. They are saying that their brand new plane is better at dogfights than our 30 year old model. I'm not sure its time to panic since they have to get through our best of breed systems to work that advantage.
Everyone calls the F-22 a 5th generation fighter.
In my opinion, much of what it does is close to science fiction, and it should be considered the sixth generation fighter. Other nations are going to spend a lot of time and effort to get to generation 5 with their fighters and will only be able to produce generation 4.5.
Raptor technology must be protected.
Maverick and Goose to the flightdeck please. Maverick and Goose to the flightdeck
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