Gomig-21
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I just wanted to clarify something, Egypt's F-16s do not lack BVR capabilities, in fact, the BVR capabilities are pretty decent, the AIM-7P Sparrow has a range of 70km, the earlier version of the missile 'AIM-7M' scored many kills in the Gulf War, out of 44 missiles fired, 30 (68.2%) hit their targets, 19 kills were obtained beyond visual range
AIM-7P is an upgraded version of the AIM-7M from Gulf War, with improved guidance and improved resistance to countermeasures and jamming, the AIM-7Ps have technology from the AMRAAM missiles, such as the midcourse datalink guidance:
"The AIM-7 Sparrow missile is a medium-range, all-weather, all-aspect, semi-active guided missile used in multiple roles by multiple services. Performance improvements in this combat-proven system include look-down, shoot-down in heavy clutter environments and much lower altitude engagement. Additionally, it is more time immune to the ever challenging countermeasures threat."AIM-7 Sparrow
www.globalsecurity.org
F/A-18 Air Dominance | Raytheon
With more than 35 years' experience supporting the F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet and the E/A-18G Growler, Raytheon's technology experts know that today's multi-role aircraft require multi-role technology to maintain combat superiority. From radars and electronic warfare to targeting pods and...web.archive.org
Many countries still operate AIM-7! Even countries that have AMRAAMs such as Turkey and the US, they still use the AIM-7s along with the AMRAAMs! For example you will still see the AIM-7s are still used on F-18 Hornets in US navy!
Marvin to provide 770 sidewinder and AMRAAM air-to-air missile launchers for Navy F/A-18 combat jet
Electrical interfaces between LAU-127 and F/A-18 air crew also supports preflight orientation and control circuits to prepare and launch the missiles.www.militaryaerospace.com
Of course all of that still doesn't mean that Egypt's F-16s are not at a disadvantage! they do have a disadvantage when it comes to the range of engagement, but it's not that big of a deal as some make it out to be! And it can be compensated for with tactics! Some of you even went as far as saying the F-16's are only good for ground attack! because instead of having a 100km range AMRAAM they rely on a 70km range AIM-7!
220 F-16's with AIM-7P Sparrows (90's technology btw) are still very capable of defensive and even offensive action, and taking into consideration all the defensive measures, warning systems, and everything fighter aircraft are equipped with today, including the limitations of the radar to actually pick up the target from a long distance, it will be easy to overcome the range disadvantage. The only real disadvantage is the Fire And Forget capability, missiles like AMRAAM which provide the capability to engage multiple targets simultaneously (if fired within the 20km fire and forget range), but otherwise AMRAAMs require radar lock from the launching aircraft until the missile is within the active seeker range. And Egypt does have the fire and forget capability for Mirage 2000, Mig-29 and Rafale, they only lack it in the large F-16 fleet.
Bottom line is, the US didn't deny Egypt BVR capabilities for their F-16 fleet, they do have BVR capability, but Egypt was denied the capability to engage multiple targets simultaneously, that's the reason Egypt was denied AMRAAMs, not to limit their engagement range, but to restrict their ability for major offensive action, you are not allowed to focus on 2 or more jets at once, you are only allowed to focus on 1. And again, this only applies if the target is within the active seeker range on the AMRAAM (20km), otherwise AMRAAM requires radar lock just like any semi-active radar homing missile.
I've been telling people this for over 10-12 years ever since an ex-USAF pilot told me the same exact thing. And those guys don't even like to admit anything good about the US Navy lol, because they're just type-A personalities that compete with one another.
Also, BVR or Beyond Visual Range is considered 20 nautical miles or 37 kilometers and more. Firing from 100+ kilometers puts the missile at the end of it's peak performance since it'll be at the end of it's maximum range. Not to mention all the EW and jamming and self defense features that can skittle a missile at the end of it's range. Another reason you always see most US aircraft that are carrying AIM-120s are also carrying AIM-9s. Mmm....makes you wonder. No escape zones are also questionable depending on the range the missile was fired from. The further it's fired, the lesser the NEZ is.
Even once the Rafales are equipped with the meteor, it'll still be challenging despite how terrific that missile is. The MICA's at 60 - 80 km are actually perfect for both functions, BVR and WVR especially when the MICA NG comes out and provided the training of the pilot is at its peak.
The only element aimed at Israel is to be able to defend against any aggression from THEM. Egypt has no intentions of breaking the peace treaty and going on an offensive war with Israel. Frankly it's had enough of that because since 1948/56 to 1979/85, Egypt has been mired in war with that damned state that it has set back the huge economic potential that is only beginning to show. So particular weapons, training, strategies and certain forces (such as the Rapid Deployment Forces which are in charge of quickly stopping the Suez Canal shipping and engineering bridges and moving massive amounts of armory across to defend from an invasion) are geared towards protecting from a surprise attack like they like to do. Part of that entire package is also 24/7/365 surveillance and radar monitoring with the huge radars Egypt (and Algeria) have bought from Russia and the creation of a quick defensive system to stop an invasion, the rest is simply a modernization and for being prepared for any other potential, regional threats.
Why? Care to explain? And please don't refer to 1967. That has nothing to do with the EAF's capabilities today.
They all have BVR missiles and just like the last 2 posts, BVR is not the end all be all. People are so enamored by the BVR concept and missiles that have 100-120 km range that they lose sight of tactics and the use of available SAM systems in the right hands and strategic depths etc. Why does the EAF need to be like most other air forces with only 3 or 4 types? Maintenance or logistics issues is just a convenient excuse and doesn't matter whatsoever, especially when all are tied into the same rapid data sharing and coms.
Egypt is in fact VERY focused on AWACs and EW with not just the 8 modernized E-2C Hawkeyes and 2 compass calls C-130s and there is even word about creating a special squadron of Rafales for EW. Currently the fleet of recently upgraded Beechcraft 1900s are tasked with the role of EW.
