Tycho, I don't know where you got the idea that I ever said the F-18's couldn't spot their own targets. In fact just a few posts ago I mentioned the Knighthawk FLIR pod. I have to say that the concept that the F-14 or the F-18 are unable to spot their own targets is absurd. Why on earth would anyone buy a FLIR pod that is unable to spot targets? The book Black Aces High that you are so skeptical about is primarily based on interviews with pilots and RIO's that flew over Kosovo in the late 90's, and they go to great length describing the operation of the LANTIRN in combat, including
spotting targets and
designating them. Please read the book before you challenge it's validity. As far as your opinion about phased arrays... lets not go there.
