Star Wars comparison to Modern US Aircraft

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-03-27 01:18pm

What would you compare the Star Wars fighters to with modern day US aircraft?

F-4 Phantom – Z-95 Headhunter
The Headhunter is an older fighter, but it has been constantly upgraded as time and technology allows. It still performs well enough to stay in service for many organizations and it can deal with most modern threats. It is however outclassed by the newest weapon systems. Because of this I felt it is best compared to the F-4 Phantom.

F-16A Falcon – A-Wing
This is a different comparison. The newest version of the F-16 is almost meant for ground attack. However the original F-16 was designed as a highly effective cheap, but modern and effective single seat fighter. It can deal with most threats, is fast and very maneuverable. I find the A-Wing compares best to the F-16.

F-15C Eagle – X-Wing
The shining image of the Rebel Alliance and then the New Republic. The X-Wing. It could get most jobs done though it shines in the role of superiority work. It is highly adaptable and has been upgraded over the years. Where the Z-95 has tried to keep pace, the X-Wing continues to perform and stay with the pack. As such it compares nicely with the F-15C.

F-15E Strike Eagle – E-Wing
A fighter primarily designed as a strike craft. Heavy weapons load, modern systems using a combination of old parts, some problems with the first craft. The E-Wing is an effective strike fighter capable of doing its job. It might not be as effective as a dedicated strike craft but it is fast and can also perform quite well in the fighter department. Sure the E-Wing is probably relatively equal to the X-Wing in superiority work, but it beats the X-Wing in strike.

F/A-22 Raptor – XJ-Wing
This is the cream up the crop. The XJ-Wing takes the basic frame of the X-Wing but massively improves upon it. Almost pure fighter. Sure it can work good as strike, but the fighter is almost purely optimized for superiority work. It will outclass any E-Wing or X-Wing when it comes to superiority, though the E-Wing will still have an edge in Strike.

F-5 Freedom Fighter – T-Wing
A smaller and cheaper fighter. Export design used for situations that don’t call for front-line fighters. It can do its job effectively, though it is typically used in numbers. For the most part the T-Wing is superior to the Z-95 and is cheaper.

A-10 Warthog – B-Wing
A flying strike platform with the single purpose of destruction. It has a massive load-out of guns and has a decent warhead load-out. Compares to the A-10 quite nicely.

FB-111 Aardvark – Y-Wing
Older strike craft used out of necessity more then anything else. It is capable and can deliver its package and get out. More useful for its ion-cannons and warheads rather then its guns in general.

Other fighters to consider for comparison would be the F-35 JSF, F-14, F/A-18, A-6, A-7, AV-8, or the F-117.

Well, comments, suggestions, agreements, death threats?

Isolder74 · Post by **Isolder74** » 2003-03-27 01:23pm

nice but what about the Imperial fighters?

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-03-27 01:31pm

Isolder74 wrote:nice but what about the Imperial fighters?

Anyone who wants to can. I just prefer they compare them to US aircraft.

Isolder74 · Post by **Isolder74** » 2003-03-27 01:41pm

Alyeska wrote:
Isolder74 wrote:nice but what about the Imperial fighters?
Anyone who wants to can. I just prefer they compare them to US aircraft.

I see Imperial fighters better compairing to Russion fighters.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-03-27 02:37pm

A-Wing: The F-104 Starfighter. It's fast, but not exceptionally well-armed and both were intended for the point-defense intercept role. The F-104 was greatly improved under Italian service (the F-104S), however, much as the A-Wing's role expanded.

B-Wing: F-111 Aardvark. An excellent heavy strike craft though with teething issues.

B-Wing/E2: FB-111 Aardvark. An expanded, more capable version of the original.

K-Wing: A-6E Intruder. A powerful attack craft, what more can I say?

Y-Wing: F-105 Thunderchief. It's a pig, yes, but it keeps on ticking.

X-Wing (T-65AC4): F-4 Phantom. And old, dependable bird that keeps on going and often upgraded to stay current.

X-Wing (T-65XJ3): F/A-22. The superfighter with additional strike capabilities. I don't quite like splitting the T-65AC4 and T-65XJ, but there are enough major differences to warrent it.

E-Wing: F-15E Eagle. A technically excellent fighter capable of the strike role.

Z-95 Mk. I: F-5 Freedom Fighter. Cheap, able to be built in numbers but not incredibly capable.

Z-95 late model: F-20 Tigershark. Later-day, updated version of the original with some major improvements.

TIE/LN Fighter: MiG-21.

Able to be built in absolutely enormous numbers and capable in the right hands.

TIE/A Avenger: MiG-29. A fast, maneuvrable and generally excellent aircraft that excells in space-combat.

TIE/D Defender: Su-35. A demanding and very powerful heavy fighter that outclasses almost anything else.

TIE/C Clawcraft: Su-37. Superfighter, an exceptional craft.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-03-27 02:57pm

I personally believe that "XJ" and "XJ3" are simply short for "T-65J X-Wing" and "T-65JA3 X-Wing" respectively.

The Clawcraft is not produced by Sienar Fleet Systems, lacks the radiator panels, and does not even have the infamous "Twin Ion Engine". It is no TIE.

I'd also like to remind everyone that in it's nonupgraded state, it is inferior to the T-65J is most respects save agility and manuverability. It even lacks a dedicated navicomputer and must rely on fixed-place beacons to get anywhere.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-03-27 03:03pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:I'd also like to remind everyone that in it's nonupgraded state, it is inferior to the T-65J is most respects save agility and manuverability. It even lacks a dedicated navicomputer and must rely on fixed-place beacons to get anywhere.

Really? That's absurd! You'd think they'd put an astromech core in it or something (hell, one company pirated the R7 core for similar use) to at least hold a few coordinates.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-03-27 03:36pm

The Chiss are technologically retarded in comparison to the rest of the GFFA.

EDIT: moved to new thread The Inferiority of the Chiss Compared to the Galaxy Proper

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-03-27 03:50pm

Uh...Good points all IP, but don't you think you should have started your own thread for that?

Still, if you were to give the Chiss some backing from the Empire, their military genious would really come into play. Heh, if you just remove all the top Imperials from the Remanent (I'm looking at you Pellaeon), and replaced them with Chiss Admirals, they'd be a force to be reckoned with.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-03-27 03:51pm

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:Still, if you were to give the Chiss some backing from the Empire, their military genious would really come into play. Heh, if you just remove all the top Imperials from the Remanent (I'm looking at you Pellaeon), and replaced them with Chiss Admirals, they'd be a force to be reckoned with.

Are you racist as the Chiss?

Post any evidence that Thrawn was just not aberrition like any of the human Grand Admiral were.

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-03-27 04:13pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:Are you racist as the Chiss?

I hardly find it difficult to believe that a race of aliens would be superior tacticians than humans.

Post any evidence that Thrawn was just not aberrition like any of the human Grand Admiral were.

One must consider that Thrawn was one of the Chiss's most skilled tacticians, but wasn't regarded with a high ranking status. He patrolled the backwaters of Chiss space IIRC. This could mean that he, while brilliant, is outclassed by numerous others (which would be these "Chiss Admirals" I alluded to earlier).

But most the above is speculation on my part. Just some things to consdier, really. To that end, concession granted.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-03-27 04:17pm

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:
Illuminatus Primus wrote:Are you racist as the Chiss?
I hardly find it difficult to believe that a race of aliens would be superior tacticians than humans.

Yes, but you must have evidence.

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:
Illuminatus Primus wrote:Post any evidence that Thrawn was just not aberrition like any of the human Grand Admiral were.
One must consider that Thrawn was one of the Chiss's most skilled tacticians, but wasn't regarded with a high ranking status. He patrolled the backwaters of Chiss space IIRC. This could mean that he, while brilliant, is outclassed by numerous others (which would be these "Chiss Admirals" I alluded to earlier).

He led the Chiss Expansionary Defense Force on patrols. Given they couldn't really leave their territory, I don't think it was a low posting. He was a Syndic, or Phalanx leader for one of the 29 Household Phalanxes. And even if it was true he got lower posting, it may be due to the fact he held ideas about pre-emptive actions that the Chiss military establishment deemed unacceptable and have nothing to do with his tactical genius.

The Dark · Post by **The Dark** » 2003-03-27 07:27pm

Z-95: F-4 Phantom II. The classic fighter still capable of putting up a fight, but not a front-line unit.

X-Wing: F-14 Tomcat. A relatively heavy fighter that took over the fleet defense role and eventually became capable of ground attack.

A-Wing: F-16 Block 50 "Viper". Lightweight dogfighter. I was tempted to say YF-12, but resisted.

E-Wing: F-15 Eagle. Big fighter, heavily armed.

XJ-Wing: F-22 Raptor. I'm basing this off capabilities.

Y-Wing: A-37B Dragonfly. Slow, but capable of inflicting damage.

B-Wing: A-10 Warthog. The nastiest single-person attack aircraft out there.

T-Wing: F-5 Tiger II. Cheap. That's the only good point.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2003-03-27 08:06pm

I always viewed the Y-Wing as the A-10 of the galaxy. Especially with engine placement. Not only that, but those two ships can take a kick in the nuts and keep pounding.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-03-31 01:00am

K-Wing would really be A-10, IMHO.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2003-03-31 01:32am

By the description and by the illustrations in the Chronology, I think the K-Wing is the B-52 of Star Wars.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-03-31 01:36am

But the Y-Wing is definitely not anti-armor ground attack.

Judging from how the emphasize its airspeed, not acceleration in space and ability to strike down hardened vehicles with its missiles, I'd say the Scimitar Assault Bombers is the A-10 of SW.