Pechs,

Plus, I wonder how often the Raptor will be deployed in a shooting war,
during the day, multibogey. Pretty expensive jet to be 'surprised' by a
Chinese Mig-21 variant.

This was the same type of groupthink that prevailed at the very end of the
VN war, with regard to sending the then-very new EA-6B into the North with
the strike package. Of course some of the reticence was due to the fear of
components falling into Soviety hands, but one theme that always came out
was, "Those jamming pods are $1 million a toss!" (1972 US$).

--
Mike Kanze

"Christmas is just plain weird. What other time of year do you sit in front
of a dead tree in the living room and eat candy out of your socks?"

- Maxine


"Pechs1" wrote in message
...
Jeb- I talked to an engineer from the Raptor program (anyone see the
rolling
AIM-9 launch videos? He set those shots up), and he said that they'd
thrown several different types up against it and it was eating everyone
alive. Didn't really elucidate much, but we had been talking agility
so you can infer what you wish. BRBR

I say-a big perhaps. The 'engineers' from the Grumman Iron works said the
same
things about the F-14A, even with the ****poor engines, even in spite of
taking
a ramp full of people to get the thing off the ground, in spite of losing
a few
to engine snuff departures/spins.

Plus, I wonder how often the Raptor will be deployed in a shooting war,
during
the day, multibogey. Pretty expensive jet to be 'surprised' by a Chinese
Mig-21
variant.
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye
Phlyer