Another F-15SA Lost to Yemeni Air Defences; Is Saudi's War Damaging the Prestige of Western Fighters

[ashdoc]

Who gave funny name to this thread?? May be Gold plated F-15 might work for Saudia.
BANDER KE HAATH ME COCONUT
When Iraq amassed army on Saudia border in 1991 and CIA came to King and gave satelite pics of impending Iraqi attack After then Saudi started recruitment of army. before that Saudia didn't have even Army.
It is foolish to derive conclusion from Saudi performance

Saudi definitely had army navy air force. Also they had paramilitary national guard which was better motivated than armed forces but was more bothered about implementing strict Islam in the country.

 

[Snowcat]

AIM-54 is overrated. It's designed to kill a lumbering Soviet bomber from very long distances. It's not very good at killing highly maneuverable fighters at medium ranges. No wonder the USAF did not adopt it and the USN discintinued its.

I suggest you go and read hushkit interviews with Iranian pilots. It was in a league of its own. Confirmed BVR kill at the time at 50km.

 

[ashdoc]

I suggest you go and read hushkit interviews with Iranian pilots. It was in a league of its own. Confirmed BVR kill at the time at 50km.

According to this link at least the US air force never managed to hit any target with the missile.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/theaircache.com/2012/07/13/aim-54-phoenix/amp/

 

[vishnugupt]

Saudi definitely had army navy air force. Also they had paramilitary national guard which was better motivated than armed forces but was more bothered about implementing strict Islam in the country.

Then why Americans fought gulf war if Saudia had fully functional armed forces?

 

[mikael]

I suggest you go and read hushkit interviews with Iranian pilots. It was in a league of its own. Confirmed BVR kill at the time at 50km.

yes the AIM54/F14 was an awesome combination
more credit to iranian ground crew than to their pilots to keep it operational w/o US help

 

[Longewala]

iraqis only shot down 4 x F-14 in the whole war and iranians killed dozens of iraqi jets
however the f-14 has the advanced ARH AIM-54 which F-15 does not have
also how reliable are the iranian claims ?

The point being they don't need to shoot down the f-15s just like they didn't need to shoot down the f-14s.
All then need is to keep those few dozen fighters at bay while their numerically far superior air force, army manpower, artillery and armour stomps the Saudis into submission
And unlike Iran, Saudi were hardly likely to fight hard, the opposite really.

Which is also why the strategic impact of the f-15s would be limited and they would not be used for deep strike even if those earlier f-15s had the capability (which they didn't).
Saudis had neither the numbers trained pilots or guts to use them as anything other than local defense. Which shouldn't work given the disparity in strength in everything else.

 

[Longewala]

Then why Americans fought gulf war if Saudia had fully functional armed forces?

Read his last line, the answer is right there

 

[mikael]

The point being they don't need to shoot down the f-15s just like they didn't need to shoot down the f-14s.
All then need is to keep those few dozen fighters at bay while their numerically far superior air force, army manpower, artillery and armour stomps the Saudis into submission
And unlike Iran, Saudi were hardly likely to fight hard, the opposite really.

Which is also why the strategic impact of the f-15s would be limited and they would not be used for deep strike even if those earlier f-15s had the capability (which they didn't).
Saudis had neither the numbers trained pilots or guts to use them as anything other than local defense. Which shouldn't work given the disparity in strength in everything else.

i agree that shooting down all f-15c is not needed BUT
1-KSA is a vast country , iraq can only hope to occupy the oil rich eastern provinces
2-F-15c has huge range unlike the short legged iraqi airforces
3-saudis have 5 x AWACS giving them ability to hide and pick engagement time and place

 

[ashdoc]

Then why Americans fought gulf war if Saudia had fully functional armed forces?

Because saudi armed forces numbered less than 1 lakh compared to 1 million strong Iraqi army.

 

[mikael]

Because saudi armed forces numbered less than 1 lakh compared to 1 million strong Iraqi army.

but even those 1 lakh are not effective military force , if they were like 1 lakh gurkhas then iraqis would be in trouble