Also depends on how many dogfights will go supersonic.. majority of fights that have occurred have stayed transonic.
TVC is a big help, there is no doubting that.. back when the F-22 was envisioned it was the best option to defeat anticipated opposition forces and allow for first shot. It was also envisioned that the stealth on the F-22 would couple with its TVC to allow for sudden surprise slash and dash attacks on unsuspecting enemy formations.
The same cannot be said for the high RCS sukhois, which are visible to the enemy from a large distance.. both electronically and visually.
Moreover, the current crop of missile systems with high pk's even at 60g maneuvering make the whole idea of TVC's less effective than previously thought.
The much maligned leak of the red flag brief also highlights a design flaw in the TVC used by the Russians. . it generates a lot more drag compared to the ones on the F-22.
TVC is a big help, there is no doubting that.. back when the F-22 was envisioned it was the best option to defeat anticipated opposition forces and allow for first shot. It was also envisioned that the stealth on the F-22 would couple with its TVC to allow for sudden surprise slash and dash attacks on unsuspecting enemy formations.
The same cannot be said for the high RCS sukhois, which are visible to the enemy from a large distance.. both electronically and visually.
Moreover, the current crop of missile systems with high pk's even at 60g maneuvering make the whole idea of TVC's less effective than previously thought.
The much maligned leak of the red flag brief also highlights a design flaw in the TVC used by the Russians. . it generates a lot more drag compared to the ones on the F-22.