"Daryl Hunt" wrote in message ...
"phil hunt" wrote in message
. ..
On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 21:57:05 -0400, Brian
wrote:

"phil hunt" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 23:44:43 GMT, Matt Wiser
wrote:
I wonder why SA bought them? Certainly, if I was trying to buy
something and the shop would only sell me second-rate gear, I would
say "fine, I'll take my custom to Mr Sukhoi (or Mr Mikoyan or Mr
Dassault...) down the street".

Because at the time the Saudi's purchased the F-15's, MiG had nothing
even
comparable to a "second rate" F-15.

MiG aren't the only people making aircraft. Saudi Arabia could have
bought a Su-27 derivative such as the Su-30.

Sorry, but the same reasoning still applies--the F-15 was offered to
the world well before the Su-27 was. Service entry for the F-15 was
1976; the Flanker B (the first one that could rival (arguably) the
F-15) did not enter Soviet service until 1986.


It's not the same as the non export Su-27. Much like our Export F-15 has
some changes as well for export

They could have bought
the Mirage 2000.

Again, look at the timing--IOC in French service in 84, eight years
after the Eagle had entered operational US service with 1st TFW. ISTR
that the Saudi F-15's were entering service sometime around when the
French themselves were placing the 2000 into service?


Both the Su-27 and the F-15 would have it for lunch even in the export
version.

Yep.


If they wanted a bomber, they already operate the
Tornado so could have bought more of them.

Great little Tactical Bomber but not a frontline fighter. Better to
purchase the export F-16 from the US and save a bundle.


If they were willing to
wait a while, they could have ordered the Gripen, Rafale or Typhoon.
(For the last 2, Saudi money may well have accelerated development,
since defence cutbacks in European countries delayed it).

One reason the Saudis may have chosen US is they could have taken Military
Hardware for Oil.

Not to mention that the idea of waiting another fifteen to twenty
years was NOT a realistic option for the Saudis in the early/mid
eighties.

Brooks