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What is the best fighter for ACM?

*Brain fault at page 103 Acronmen section

ACM?

Air Combat Maneuvering






dogfighting
Don't waste space unless its funny ~Mr Bean

Why the F-26 of Course, Space Suppiroity Fighter!

... Umm woops was not supposed to mention that until twenty years from now

The F-22 Raptor will be, when it's finally finished..Currently, I believe that it's the Tomcat.

Hehehehe.....with the ability to shoot down planes 100 miles away, I don't think there's much that can withstand a Tomcat.

Actually....I remember reading about some Russian fighters that have stealth technology...so...I guess maybe they could sneak up on a Tomcat.

Ah, yes the Russian "Raptor Killer"......it doesn't work. It's steath tech is undercut by a poor surface design.

Wasn't called the SU-31 or something like that? (looks around for Sea Skimmer)

Of fighters currently in active service and in relatively high numbers, it would have to be the F-15. This is an older fighter, but also a well maintained one at the same time.

Several Russian and European fighters as well as the F-14 are good, but not quite at the same level as the F-15.

When the F-22 finally enters multi squadron service, it will take the title as best fighter.

Saab Gripen




This 4th generation Figter/Attack/Recon is in active service TODAY

The Gripen's going to be a tough adversary in ACM; not only is it highly agile, but it's absolutely tiny. Tough at BVR as well, with its datalink capabilities and ability to engage multiple targets simultaniously with AMRAAMs.
Tough all round, in fact. It's the light fighter with bite.

RadiO wrote:The Gripen's going to be a tough adversary in ACM; not only is it highly agile, but it's absolutely tiny. Tough at BVR as well, with its datalink capabilities and ability to engage multiple targets simultaniously with AMRAAMs.
Tough all round, in fact. It's the light fighter with bite.

Indeed. It's the F-5/F-16 for the 21st Century - relatively inexpensive and highly capable.

The Russian forward swept wing uber fighter is the S-37, named Berkut which translates to Golden Eagle.





Today I would still rate the F-15C AMRAAM combination as ruling the skies when compared to other operational fighters, though the margin is now quite slim. However the F-22 outclasses all comers, nothing can compete with it, not even the Berkut, which will never enter service.

The Gripen is a mean little fighter, though by many reports it has proved underpowered. However it is little, it is a lightweight fighter and can't truly competent with the newest heavy weights because of that. However its modest price tag makes it an quite attractive buy for most nations. Its unfortunate that one of its export orders to the Czech Republic had to be canceled to pay for flood damages.

I would instinctily say that in a straight up close in dogfight, the F-5 would be a very good choice. It is basically a striped down fighter made of nothing but wings and engines. I have flown the AT-38 (very similiar to the F-5) and can personally vouch for it's performance.

Please note that my selection is based upon a close in dogfight (less than three miles, ie no Phoenix missiles) and does not include experimental or prototype planes that have not yet entered active service (ie no F-22, F-35, X-29, S-37, etc)

Wicked Pilot wrote:I would instinctily say that in a straight up close in dogfight, the F-5 would be a very good choice. It is basically a striped down fighter made of nothing but wings and engines. I have flown the AT-38 (very similiar to the F-5) and can personally vouch for it's performance.

Please note that my selection is based upon a close in dogfight (less than three miles, ie no Phoenix missiles) and does not include experimental or prototype planes that have not yet entered active service (ie no F-22, F-35, X-29, S-37, etc)

Close in I'd really like a SA-20 with a TV camera on it and a remote control, and hopefully a nuclear warhead. Beat that!

Ok now that we have ACM covered, what about intercepting duties? Is it the F-14 or is there something out there that can either dodge Pheonix missiles, has effective countermeasures, or has longer range weapons?

Alyeska wrote:Of fighters currently in active service and in relatively high numbers, it would have to be the F-15. This is an older fighter, but also a well maintained one at the same time.

Several Russian and European fighters as well as the F-14 are good, but not quite at the same level as the F-15.

When the F-22 finally enters multi squadron service, it will take the title as best fighter.

I have to agree with you. The F-15 has the best kill-to-loss ratio of any fighter in history bar none. It's an impressive fighter to see and by all account it would be a formidable plane to face under any circumstance.

The F-22 will, almost certainly, be a better fighter. Until then the Eagle rules the sky.

The F-14 is a sentimental favorite, hands down. It's an impressive thing to see that in the hands of a good pilot. At the Air Fair this year the pilot accidentally broke the sound barrier on the high speed run. Now that was a thing of beauty; to see that bird screaming across the field with it's wings in full after sweep.

At close range, I would say the differences between the F-16, F-15 and F-18 are small enough to be decided by individual pilot skill and tactics (or luck?). The F-5 loses 1/10 of a point on my scoresheet because I don't think they were ever fitted with a Vulcan cannon.

For standoff intercepts, probably the F-15 or F-14 due to the quality of their fire-control radars. Has the Phoenix missile ever been fired in anger? I couldn't think of an example. I suspect the AMRAAM might be more effective overall, despite its mere 40 mile range.

I agree with the F-14 being an amazing airshow plane, especially considering its size. The best I saw was from a dead stop, the pilot accelerated and pulled into a 60+ degree climb and made a full roll before leveling off at, oh, about 200 feet. Impressive, most impressive ...

Darth Paul wrote:At close range, I would say the differences between the F-16, F-15 and F-18 are small enough to be decided by individual pilot skill and tactics (or luck?). The F-5 loses 1/10 of a point on my scoresheet because I don't think they were ever fitted with a Vulcan cannon.

For standoff intercepts, probably the F-15 or F-14 due to the quality of their fire-control radars. Has the Phoenix missile ever been fired in anger? I couldn't think of an example. I suspect the AMRAAM might be more effective overall, despite its mere 40 mile range.

I agree with the F-14 being an amazing airshow plane, especially considering its size. The best I saw was from a dead stop, the pilot accelerated and pulled into a 60+ degree climb and made a full roll before leveling off at, oh, about 200 feet. Impressive, most impressive ...

The F-14 has a quite a bit of power, so it can pull off these impressive maneuvers (and the F-14D finally got reliable engines, too).

For interception, I'd prefer the F-14 as it has a fire-control suite designed for tracking and engaging multiple targets.

Not to mention the world's elite pilots fly the F-14.

Seems that in the interceptor class everyone is forgetting the F-104. Baisically an overpowered jet engine with stubby wings and some sidewinder missiles. Its old, but it can do the duty of interceptor VERY well. The Canadian, German, and a couple other air forces are using them as their main interceptors. I think that all US air guard and reserves have finally retired the old StarFighter.

Why do they call it a Starfighter? Was the term used in sci-fi back then, before they named it a Starfighter, or was it just an invention of their own which was a coincidence?

I think it was because Lockheed had a tradition of using astronomically related names (Vega, Shooting Star, Orion, Starfighter, Starlifter, Galaxy, Jetstar, etc.).
Lockheed hinted at one stage that the F-22 would continue this tradition with the name Superstar. The name seems to have fallen on stony ground, probably because - frankly - it sucks. Sorry, Lockheed PR people.