Indian Air Force orders 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

[Skull and Bones]

Iran was interested in them before the revolution

Iran is the only country operating F-14s outside US. You should take that into notice.

 

[untitled]

Iran is the only country operating F-14s outside US. You should take that into notice.

That is because no other country chose to buy it.
The UK seriously considered buying the Tomcat but then went ahead with its indigenous Tornado

 

[Skull and Bones]

That is because other countries did not buy it. The UK seriously considered buying the Tomcat but then went ahead with its indigenous Tornado

Both are totally different in class, F-14 is a dedicated air superiority fighter, and Tornado is a ground attack fighter, it has most advanced terrain following radar for low altitude flight.

 

[untitled]

Both are totally different in class, F-14 is a dedicated air superiority fighter, and Tornado is a ground attack fighter,

Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant) which is now replaced by the Typhoon

 

[Skull and Bones]

Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant) which is now replaced by the Typhoon

The Tornado ADV is an interceptor variant of the Tornado, developed for the RAF (designated Tornado F2 or F3) and also operated by Saudi Arabia and Italy. The ADV had inferior agility to fighters like the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, but it was not intended as a dog-fighter

Still sticking to what i said.

Panavia Tornado - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[untitled]

Still sticking to what i said.

Panavia Tornado - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And I am sticking to mine. True the ADV was not a dog fighter but it was designed as an interceptor. It could carry BVRS and WVRS. It was supplanted by Hawk aircraft fitted with air to air missiles (which were more agile)

OK If I am wrong then what aircraft did the UK use as an interceptor from 1987 - 2006 ?

 

[Skull and Bones]

And I am sticking to mine. True the ADV was not a dog fighter but it was designed as an interceptor. It could carry BVRS and WVRS. It was supplanted by Hawk aircraft fitted with air to air missiles (which were more agile)

OK If I am wrong then what aircraft did the UK use as an interceptor from 1987 - 2006 ?

Sorry, my reference was for Tornado Gr. But even Mig-27 and Mig-23s were being operated as an interceptor, but they were not exactly meant for that role, isn't it?

 

[janon]

And I am sticking to mine. True the ADV was not a dog fighter but it was designed as an interceptor. It could carry BVRS and WVRS. It was supplanted by Hawk aircraft fitted with air to air missiles (which were more agile)

OK If I am wrong then what aircraft did the UK use as an interceptor from 1987 - 2006 ?

Harriers?

I'm not saying you are wrong (I don't know much about the RAF), but I think they mainly used harriers for air defence and tornadoes for ground strikes. The ADV was not as capable as dedicated fighters/interceptors in air to air role, it was only a secondary mission. I could be wrong.

 

[untitled]

Sorry, my reference was for Tornado Gr. But even Mig-27 and Mig-23s were being operated as an interceptor, but they were not exactly meant for that role, isn't it?

Well it was the decision of the British government not mine.

First they make a jet for strike missions only to realize they needed a fighter too (Tornado)

Now they have an agile fighter which is currently lacking a bit in air to ground role (Typhoon)

 

[untitled]

Harriers? .

Harrier GR5 / GR 9 operated by the RAF were to optimized for ground attack. Notice the G in their names

The Sea Harriers can be described as fighters but they were operated by the RN Fleet Air Arm

 

[Abingdonboy]

Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant) which is now replaced by the Typhoon

Not competently replaced, the RAF still has quite a few (number being decreased significantly due to defence cuts by MoD) as the Typhoon in RAF has VERY limited A2G capability- during recent Libyan campaign Tornado flew more sorties than EFT and had to designate all ground targets for EFT as they didn't have that capability integrated.

 

[janon]

Harrier GR5 / GR 9 operated by the RAF were to optimized for ground attack. Notice the G in their names

The Sea Harriers can be described as fighters but they were operated by the RN Fleet Air Arm

Which then makes me ask a question, what did the RAF use as a proper fighter until 2006? What did they use for air superiority?

 

[Abingdonboy]

Which then makes me ask a question, what did the RAF use as a proper fighter until 2006? What did they use for air superiority?

Well the some RAF TORNADOs were upgraded with improved airborne radars for interceptor missions and the RAF/RN Harriers also had some (pretty limited) A2A capability.



I've heard that the RAF BAE HAWKs are designated fighters in war and can be armed with A2A missiles with and be brought into the battle by AWACs or Tornados as the Hawk has no A2A radar.

 

[janon]

Well the some RAF TORNADOs were upgraded with improved airborne radars for interceptor missions and the RAF/RN Harriers also had some (pretty limited) A2A capability.



I've heard that the RAF BAE HAWKs are designated fighters in war and can be armed with A2A missiles with and be brought into the battle by AWACs or Tornados as the Hawk has no A2A radar.

Sounds incredible, that the RAF didn't have fighter aircrafts in its arsenal until 2006. The hawks and tornadoes can definitely not engage in agile dogfights with other fighters. The whole world had F-16 or comparable fighters (migs, mirages etc). How did the RAF manage without any? Or am I missing something here?

 

[Kazhugu]

Sounds incredible, that the RAF didn't have fighter aircrafts in its arsenal until 2006. The hawks and tornadoes can definitely not engage in agile dogfights with other fighters. The whole world had F-16 or comparable fighters (migs, mirages etc). How did the RAF manage without any? Or am I missing something here?

being america's 51st state (okay that is debatable between canada and uk) has its perks...