Desert Storm Air Warriors

[GHOST RIDER]

USAF F-11 with Desert storm markings

 

[Super Falcon]

only F 15 had killed major iraqi airforce why F 16 and F 18 was behind

 

[Mosamania]

only F 15 had killed major iraqi airforce why F 16 and F 18 was behind

F-15C and the new Strike Eagle is a much more capable aircraft than the F-16. F-16 is more maneuverable that is a given but the reason behind the F-16 being so popular is because it is cheaper to buy and to maintain and it gets the job done.

the F-15 can carry more go faster reach greater distances and climb higher. It maybe a slightly harder to turn but on a higher battleground the F-16 doesn't stand a chance. Also F-15 is optimum for fighting Eastern jets and European jets.

---------- Post added at 02:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:23 AM ----------

F-18 although more advanced but it is a logistical and maintenance nightmare compared to even the F-15. And besides the F-18 is designed for the navy and the war is called "DESERT" storm.

 

[krash]

F-15C and the new Strike Eagle is a much more capable aircraft than the F-16. F-16 is more maneuverable that is a given but the reason behind the F-16 being so popular is because it is cheaper to buy and to maintain and it gets the job done.

the F-15 can carry more go faster reach greater distances and climb higher. It maybe a slightly harder to turn but on a higher battleground the F-16 doesn't stand a chance. Also F-15 is optimum for fighting Eastern jets and European jets.

---------- Post added at 02:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:23 AM ----------

F-18 although more advanced but it is a logistical and maintenance nightmare compared to even the F-15. And besides the F-18 is designed for the navy and the war is called "DESERT" storm.

Not exactly mate. Firstly the F-16 does stand a very very good chance. Just ask Chogi he'll tell you all about it. I believe it was him (if it wasnt then I appologise) who once said that the F-15 pilot never feared the F-14 or the F-18 the only airframe that he feared was the F-16. Im not saying that the F-16 is a hands down bet winner but it wont let anything be easy at all. Many records of DACTS are out there between the Viper the Eagle and the Hornet they all more or less speak of the same story. I believe the reason behind the F-15s scoring more kills was the roles the types were being used in. Usually the F-15s were the ones mainly playing out the air superiority and also the strike roles while the F-16s were mainly covering for the attack (attacking fortifications) and spotter (spotting enemy aircraft for other aircrafts to engage and destroy) missions. They were aslo used in CAPs but didnt see much combat there. Sir Chogi can answer allot better than me.

And as for the F-18s they were used for sure. One was even downed by the Iraqis. The F-18 is a carrier based aircraft which does not at all mean that its only role is naval warfare. Park a carrier besides the cost and keep sending them inland. That I believe is also the main advantage of having a carrier, a mobile AFB.


ps: The strike eagle i.e. F-15E is a deep strike optimized aircraft (A2G). Its not an air superiority optimized aircraft. The F-15Cs and the F-15Js are the air superiority fighters.

 

[Mosamania]

Not exactly mate. Firstly the F-16 does stand a very very good chance. Just ask Chogi he'll tell you all about it. I believe it was him (if it wasnt then I appologise) who once said that the F-15 pilot never feared the F-14 or the F-18 the only airframe that he feared was the F-16. Im not saying that the F-16 is a hands down bet winner but it wont let anything be easy at all. Many records of DACTS are out there between the Viper the Eagle and the Hornet they all more or less speak of the same story. I believe the reason behind the F-15s scoring more kills was the roles the types were being used in. Usually the F-15s were the ones playing out the air superiority role while the F-16s were covering for the strike missions.

And as for the F-18s they were used for sure. One was even downed by the Iraqis. The F-18 is a carrier based aircraft which does not at all mean that its only role is naval warfare. Park a carrier besides the cost and keep sending them inland. That I believe is also the main advantage of having a carrier, a mobile AFB.


ps: The strike eagle i.e. F-15E is a deep strike optimized aircraft (A2G). Its not an air superiority optimized aircraft. The F-15Cs and the F-15Js are the air superiority fighters.

The F-16 is a lot more maneuverable in a close dog fight in low altitudes. But take it up. Second even though the Strike Eagle is optimized for A2G role but it is also a multirole fighter. Yes I know that it is to be operated from a carrier but the geography of the land called for Land bases not naval and that is what I meant.

 

[GHOST RIDER]

USAF A-10 Thunderbolt (The pilot who flew it was awarded the Airforce cross)

 

[GHOST RIDER]

F-4 with Desert Storm markings

 

[GHOST RIDER]

USAF F-15 with Mig-23 kill

 

[Birbal]

I think there's a simple reason the F-15 might have scored more kills than the F-16: it carries more missiles.

 

[krash]

The F-16 is a lot more maneuverable in a close dog fight in low altitudes. But take it up. Second even though the Strike Eagle is optimized for A2G role but it is also a multirole fighter. Yes I know that it is to be operated from a carrier but the geography of the land called for Land bases not naval and that is what I meant.

Thats what im trying to tell you. The statement "on a higher battleground the F-16 doesn't stand a chance" is extremely incorrect. Ask former F-15 pilots here on the forum they have faced the F-16. It might not be as effective at higher altitudes (the HAF reported that tpo against their Mirage 2000s) but it puts up more than a good fight nonetheless. Second the air-superiority roles are taken up by the F-15Cs not the F-15Es. F-111 too is a multirole aircraft in essence. It was the assigned roles that determined the number of kills in the conflict. You wont find AA kills by the F-15E or at least I cant. Thirdly Iv already explained that the F-18s were indeed used in the operations and the geography did not hinder their use. They flew from the gulf attacked inland then came back.

 

[Chogy]

The F-15 vs. F-16 thing has gone on for a long time. The reality is pretty simple... the F-16 had a slight edge, very slight, in turning. It is not vastly more maneuverable. A well-flown F-15 can hold its own, or kill, an F-16, in a turning fight. But the huge difference is in the big stick and radar of the F-15, and very importantly, the fact that the F-15C pilots did not practice air to ground, ever. All they did was refine their air to air art. And they became very good at it.

The F-15 radar was (and remains) HUGELY superior to the F-16. It comes down to antenna area. To gain resolution, meaning you can break out and analyze individual aircraft within a formation, you need a tight beam width. And the only way to get that is with antenna diameter. This is why fighters dedicated for air to air tend to be large twin jets. Su-27, F-15, F-14, etc.

At 20 miles, the F-15 can see 4 separate targets, while the F-16 can see only one. We then "sort" those targets and assign targeting responsibilities to individual flight members. We arrive at the merge with much higher situational awareness.

If you get 300 hours a year, and the F-16 guy devotes 200 of 300 hours to air to ground, then they simply are not going to be as proficient.

When Desert Storm started, the USAF leadership, in its wisdom, said "The F-15's get the air to air missions. They are simply better at it. The F-16's get the bombing missions." The F-16's carried missiles and were authorized to defend themselves, of course, but they were not intentionally flown as counter-air forces.

 

[SQ8]

What about the F-16ADF guys.. those folks trained for intercepts and air combat a lot.
I still think that compared to the F-15(which I heard is a very touchy jet).. the viper is the one where rookie's can regularly push their jet to the limit in air combat and not worry about ending up in uncontrolled spins.

 

[500]

The F-15 radar was (and remains) HUGELY superior to the F-16. It comes down to antenna area. To gain resolution, meaning you can break out and analyze individual aircraft within a formation, you need a tight beam width. And the only way to get that is with antenna diameter. This is why fighters dedicated for air to air tend to be large twin jets. Su-27, F-15, F-14, etc.

Well actually APG-68v(9) is very capable radar, similar to APG-63.

 

[silko]

USAF F-15C which shot down IrAF Mirage F.1EQ

Islamic Republic Of Iran Air Force, IrAF?

 

[krash]

What about the F-16ADF guys.. those folks trained for intercepts and air combat a lot.
I still think that compared to the F-15(which I heard is a very touchy jet).. the viper is the one where rookie's can regularly push their jet to the limit in air combat and not worry about ending up in uncontrolled spins.

Sir isnt the F-16 ADF only with the Air National Guard (paramilitary).