Quote:
|
Originally Posted by SUBMAN1
The two major faults with MiG-29 and SAAB Gripen is range. This may have a lot to do with it. F-15 is a big plane and carries a lot of fuel.
|
Both are also inferior overall in air-to-air combat to the F-15. Effectiveness in BVR makes up a huge chunk of overall ATA capability, and the F-15 has much more capability in this area, including a much more powerful radar, more endurance, and greater thrust-to-weight ratio. The MiG-29 and Grippen are anougalous to the F-16 in most regards (including pricetag), not the F-15. The Russians' F-15 equivilents are the Su-27/Su-30 series, and it's telling that the latest models of these aircraft are just as expensive as late model F-15s.
One other item to remember about Singapore's requirements is that they were looking for an aircraft with "ground pounding" capability, because these aircraft are replacing the ancient A-4s Singapore is using now for that role. The F-15T is essentially an upgraded F-15E Strike Eagle, and thus is outstanding in that area. The Rafale is good for this as well, but it simply lacks the payload and range of the F-15. The Eurofighter right now essentially has no ground attack capabilitity, because of the "Tranched" capability implementation schedule, and it's full capabilities won't be available until 2010.