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Originally Posted by *[FOX
* Bort]
1. The F-14's performed precision strikes with LGB's in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, in addition to maintaining air-to-air capability.
2. In addition the F/A-18A/B/C/D's could designate targets for LGB's with their Knighthawk targeting pods. This is not a capability unique to the E/F.
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1. They dropped guided bombs, yes. But it was an EA-6B or an F-18, as well as infantry, doing the spotting. The F-14 has always had a FLIR pod capability, since they'd need it for interception, but when they were dropping bombs they had someone else spotting for them; sometimes it was the Airforce, sometimes the SEALS.
2. They can spot for other planes, but they cannot spot and drop. It was a limitation of the actual pod designed for the plane. It just couldn't handle the stress when the breeches fired and the plane jolted, and the avionics weren't programmed to allow it. The E's and F's can spot their own drops, which allows a lot more flexibility.
Wim: Phased arrays just cannot handle all of the modes that a slewed array can. It's just not versatile enough in a fighter or even strike aircraft. The world has just changed. No one is building massive bombers designed for 10,000 mile ranges. We've got the B-2 and B-1B, but good luck getting any kind of return off them.