AHC: no F-15 Eagle
- Thread starter Otto Kretschmer
- Start date
Withould the McDonnell-Douglas MD-199, the USAF probably would’ve gotten the North American Rockwell NA-335 which was one of the F-X program contenders.
It's honestly hard to avoid either the Eagle or one of its F-X competitors, because not only are the MiG-25 panic and the Vietnam War (and even then the 6-Day War and Indo-Pakistani wars heavily influenced Air Force thinking of the time as well) things you'd need to handwave away, you also need to do something about the original F-X program for a 60,000-lb variable geometry fighter that's the most viable alternative.
That program foundered on not just combat experience telling the Air Force it wasn't a good idea - the program itself failed to produce a satisfactory design and is probably the biggest reason the Air Force was willing to listen to Boyd and his clique about reworking the whole thing.
That program foundered on not just combat experience telling the Air Force it wasn't a good idea - the program itself failed to produce a satisfactory design and is probably the biggest reason the Air Force was willing to listen to Boyd and his clique about reworking the whole thing.
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An Air Force F-14 as the High of the High-Low
Might get new engines and what else would the Air Force want to change?
Might get new engines and what else would the Air Force want to change?
The problem is politics. Absolutely nobody besides Grumman themselves want a Grumman monopoly on fighter production, especially with the supply of tactical aircraft contracts drawing down badly from the profusion of types in the 1950s and 1960s.
On the other hand McDonnell Douglas were the absolute worst of the aerospace companies and zero loss if they’re done for—plus we save Boeing to boot.
Also General Dynamics exists and Northrop is capable as well.
F-14 now, F-16XL later?
Also General Dynamics exists and Northrop is capable as well.
F-14 now, F-16XL later?
Sure, but how do you produce a point of divergence for that? Grumman themselves didn't bother to bid by the end of the process, simply because they knew they had no chance and had the F-14 in the hand.
Ok let’s say F4E soldiers on in usaf until 1991 until the end of the Cold War
How bad could it be? Esp if given upgraded radar and AIM7M
The soviets At the height of the Cold Warin 1980s only had 200 or su27 , while USAF could have upwards of 1200 F4s
Everything else F4E should be able to handle easily
There's also the MiG-29s, and even the MiG-23s could be a handful under the right (or wrong) circumstances. They got kills against Israeli F4Es, after all.
As well if there was no F-15, what would other countries that bought it buy?
Japan, keep with the F-4 or go with the F-14?
Israel, something from the US or look at what Europe has to offer?
Saudi Arabia, see Israel?
Japan, keep with the F-4 or go with the F-14?
Israel, something from the US or look at what Europe has to offer?
Saudi Arabia, see Israel?
I could see Japan going with the F-14.
But with the lack of a F-15, i can see the Mirage 2000s or F-18 Hornets rising up to somewhat fill the role.
Israel would be investing in both the Lavi and the Super Phantom.
Not sure US would cooperate. They would likely end up with F-14s too.
The French were trying to sell the Saudis Mirage-4000. This project might have gone forward. But given the continous downward spiral of French fighter exports since Mirage III, it’s unlikely to become a big export success even in a world without the F-15.
Riain
Banned
I agree, the USAF will buy something new, it's only a matter of what. They also faced the same pressures as the USN to deal with close range fighting of nimble opponents and the same opportunity to make this dogfighter a great BVR fighter as well.
It'd be replaced sooner or later, even if they have to paint a F-14 in USAF colors after EVERY other program fails to produce a replacement.