Can someone comment on the best aircraft for this job? My gut suggests that among the
planes a nation might be able to buy the best might be something like a Mig-21 or Q-5
Fantan with western radar or an F-5 (if they are available).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


WHAT IS A SOVERIGNTY PROTECTION FIGHTER?

It's a fighter that is available to political leaders to contest challenges to
the nations borders. They are not expected to engage in combat in the normal
course of operations.

WHAT ARE EXAMPLES?

During the cold war when Russian Bears would come close to Alaska, we
would send up fighters not to shoot them down, but just to remind them that
we protect Alaskan airspace.

Sometimes the pricipal purpose of the fighter is sovergnity protection. No
one expectsBrazil, Switzerland, or New Zealand's fighters to engage in air-air
combat. Instead we expect them to be available to political leaders and to
enforce border security and sometimes anti-drug operations.

WHAT ARE THE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

They should be able to catch opposing aircraft, typically at high-subsonic
speed and high altitude. At minimum there are lots of business aircraft that
can do Mach 0.9 at 50,000 feet.

They should be able to find the target aircraft. A radar with moderate range is
needed. Typically this radar will not face enemy jamming.

They should have reasonable endurance. Escorting an target aircraft
might require a half-hour or more beyond the flight to and from the
intercept point.

They should have a weapons system. Short range weapons systems are fine.
Guns are fine.

And ABOVE ALL ELSE, they should be low in total systems cost.