MiGs and Sukois are tuff to kill. They are structurally supperior to our style of fighter. They are also damn near modular. A wing can be replaced in something close to half an hour. A Fulcrum can actualy sustain a short burst of 20mm and not go orange ball on you.
The Su-27 is more maneuverable than an F-15 and has a longer range multy-planar radar wich is digital scan not mechanical scan.
The MiG-31 has the strongest longest range radar in the air excluding AWACS and has some snarly long range missiles to match. It is the supreme Bomber killer, capable of downing individual cruise missiles and B-1 bombers. B-52s need not even try to exist when MiG-31s are on the hunt.
If we face an enemy who has these machines and TRAINS its crews, we will be in for it.
Such an enemy may already exist in the form of Mainland China. They already produce their own Su-27s. Their newer light fighters are far from useless as well. Currently, the PLA Airforce has 4000+ fighter type aircraft.
Some are being retired in favor of new types.
A formation of older fighter types being lead by a new type fighter with BVR capability is a dangerous thing. Your enemy then has you outnumbered and can see you first. Not only that, but the enemy has no ROE that forbid BVR kills.
I believe when China snatches up the Pacific rim in a few years our nose will be broken, in full view, on CNN.
The Su-27 is more maneuverable than an F-15 and has a longer range multy-planar radar wich is digital scan not mechanical scan.
The MiG-31 has the strongest longest range radar in the air excluding AWACS and has some snarly long range missiles to match. It is the supreme Bomber killer, capable of downing individual cruise missiles and B-1 bombers. B-52s need not even try to exist when MiG-31s are on the hunt.
If we face an enemy who has these machines and TRAINS its crews, we will be in for it.
Such an enemy may already exist in the form of Mainland China. They already produce their own Su-27s. Their newer light fighters are far from useless as well. Currently, the PLA Airforce has 4000+ fighter type aircraft.
Some are being retired in favor of new types.
A formation of older fighter types being lead by a new type fighter with BVR capability is a dangerous thing. Your enemy then has you outnumbered and can see you first. Not only that, but the enemy has no ROE that forbid BVR kills.
I believe when China snatches up the Pacific rim in a few years our nose will be broken, in full view, on CNN.