The F-15C is one of the most advanced generation 4 fighters made by the USAF, It downed many MiG-21 fighters at the end of the Yom Kippur War ( sorry if I misspelled that ) And was the reason why many Iraqi fighter pilots flying downgraded soviet MiG-29s and french Mirage fighters never retured to base, or fled to Iran.
And the MiG-29M a more advanced version of the MiG-29A, is very manouverable with advanced RADAR and effective missles compared to the F-15C.
So what do you think is the better plane? the Russian MiG-29 or America's F-15?
I would say the F15s combat record speaks for itself as none have been shot down. However there are many other factors when considering the first Gulf War. The MiGs were at a HUGE disadvantage, both numerically and strategically. It was not nescessarily down to the deficiency of the plane itself. The MiG 29 does however have a serious deficiency. If you fly at a 90 degree angle to the radar beam emitted you will be invisible. The Dopplar radar is excellent in every other way, but that is a serious weakness.
If i could choose which plane to fly in a dogfight it would be the F15, but i am still a big admirer of the MiG.
Although right now, he is at the B-52. You see he wanted the F-15e, because it is two seater, but he got the F-15c. So after like a year he decided to go to the B-52 because he did not want to do the c fighter because of it's lack of...support.
I dunno what really drove his decision.
All i know is that he was able to easily transfer because they are adding more B-52's to the USAF, and even another squadron. So they needed more pilots and bam, a volunteer. So yeah, he is down is Barks dale, Louisiana.
Although right now, he is at the B-52. You see he wanted the F-15e, because it is two seater, but he got the F-15c. So after like a year he decided to go to the B-52 because he did not want to do the c fighter because of it's lack of...support.
One of the rare occasions i have heard of someone choosing bombers over fighters.
Well its radar is fantastic. It has AESA which counteracts ESM(the device the raptor has), so that means it no doubt wouuld be able to detect the F15 before the F15 could find it on radar. That is a big advantage. The MiG pilotrs are also equipped with OLS generally making their job easier leaving them to fly the p;ane and focus on the mission, something the F15, the c variant at least, does not have.
Its armament is pretty decent, the Vympel being its primary AA weapon. Its a meduim range weapon, but is very accurate depending of the angle of attack on release. I would say the MiG wouldn't have too much trouble downing an f15c in a BVR dogfight, but in a WVR dogfight it depends more on the pilots.
This would be a much closer contest, but leaving all other factors out of it and just focusing on the aircraft themsleves i would still say the MiG and heres why.
For starters the MiG is a 4.5th generation aircraft and the F15E is a 4th generation aircraft, basically meaning the MiG was designed more recently and therefore utilises better technology.
Its main strength is that it is a 2 seater and that the pilot in the backseat has controls too, so whilst the main in the front is focusing on dogfighting the man in the back can be targeting ground targets. However in a pure dogfight this is a moot point.
The improvements in its radar system mainly help with air to ground attacks not dogfighting, although having someone in the backseat contantly watching the radar and informing the pilot frees the pilot to focus on the flying. Whilst this is a big advantage like i said before the MiG's radar has a longer range and so knows where the F15E is before it does. The F15E carries AIM 120s which are of similar design to the MiGs and are also extremely accurate.
However the radar advantage in a combat situation is invaluable. You have time to gain height on the enemy and gain speed, thd two key factors in a dogfight, he who has the most height has the advantage, and he who has the most speed has more of it to use in manouvres. So it would be a close run thing. However pilot skill also comes into it, and you can never know what can haoppen, but generally i would say the MiG still wins.
However as the MiG is the most up to date Russian fighter, it seems unfair to pit it against the comparably old F15. An f22 would be a much better contest.
I don't think either are more advanced, but i would say the E model is better because it is two seater, so you have eyes to watch behind the plane for you.
