[joe fonebone]

"A study of the history of defense weapons show that weapons systems designed from the top down to do everything and be the end-all, do-it-all system usually are crappy weapons systems."
F-4 Phantom???? I would call that one a resounding success.... hell, there are countries still flyin' 'em..

[Oztrich Boy]

"A study of the history of defense weapons show that weapons systems designed from the top down to do everything and be the end-all, do-it-all system usually are crappy weapons systems."

F-4 Phantom???? I would call that one a resounding success.... hell, there are countries still flyin' 'em..

A high altitude interceptor, 4 missiles, big radar and WO to fire them.

Weapons designed to ONE thing EXTREMELY well, usually can be adapted to do other things.

[Bryan24]

“F-4 Phantom???? I would call that one a resounding success.... hell, there are countries still flyin’ ‘em.. “

Success? The phantom was in service for 4-5 years before Vietnam broke out. We found out very quickly that the Phantom was a pig in combat.

It was a flying brick. And it performed in a dogfight like a brick.

By 1968, the US Air FOrce and the US NAvy wanted replacements for this subpar aircraft.

Out of those requirements came the F-16, a small, agile fighter for countering small Soviet block Migs. And the F-15 Eagle for Air Superiority.

The F-15 and F-16 are were still front line fighters 30 years after being introduced.