From: eoahmad@ntu.ac.sg (Othman Ahmad)
Subject: Re: How good is the Mig29 vs F16/F18 ?
Organization: Nanyang Technological University - Singapore
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 16:48:13 GMT


From eoahmad@ntu.ac.sg (Othman Ahmad)

I think Mig29 is vastly superior to F16/F18 and even F15, even when we
include weapon system.

First airframe superiority:

		F15D	F18A/B	F16A/B	MIG29
Gross wts(lbs):68000	51900	37500	60000
Speed(Mach):	2.5	1.7+	2+	2.3
Thrust/weight:	?	?	?	1.2
Rate of turn:	8G	8G	8G	9G/16degrees/s(snap)?
Angle of Attack:			highest?
range(nm)				200
Weapons:	4xAIM7	2xAIM9	2XAIM9	6XAA10	
Look down
radar range(nm):			60

Missile specs:

AIM9 Sidewinder: short range missile
AIM7 Sparrow:	24+ nm
AA10:		probably like AA-7 which is 15 nm and 12 for look down.

Data is from AW&ST, March 16,1992.
If someone can expand on the data by quoting Janes, it will be most
appreciated.

The airframe therefore can carry a lot more missiles and therefore the
avionics must be more powerful as well.
	In terms of weapons carried, it is more like F15D. Performance wise
with 2 engines is also more like F15 but I believe with even higher angle of
attack making it able to have a high rate of climb and manoevrability.

In the interceptor role, to compare it with F18 is obviously in the Mig29 
favour given its higher speed which implies higher thrust/weight ration and
manoevrability, quick interception capability.
	Manoevrability is in the class of F16 and F15 but with high angle of
attack capability which makes it even more superior. The airframes of the
F15 is very old, the F16, although newer are not in the class of the twin
engine Mig29, which ensures it higher rate of survivability compared to F16.
	From data that I read about Mig25 caputured a long time ago, the soviet
equipment were crude but works.
	If a radar is capable of look down capablility, it means that it has
pulse dopler capability, which makes it harder to jam.
	However the success of a plane in combat depends on its pilots. The
lack of Mig29 equipment is exaggerated given the availability of HUD. The
pilot training may not be as comprehensive as the US pilots but with better
equipment, it may be compensated. The success of the Israelis against the
arabs may be due to tactics and preparations such as the use of AWACS,
rather than the superiourity of F15 over Mig29. Also the arabs(Syria) do not
have a lot of Mig29.
	Iraq may have a small number but they have never used it or rather
no chance to use it when it is bombarded by stealth bombers. Did the
stealth actually target the Mig29 bases more frequently than others?
	Did any Mig29 actually took off? If they took off, they may knock off
some Allied planes.
	Malaysia had bought an undisclosed number of Mig29. With 28 Hawk200,
Malaysia could be the best air force in Asean, if the Mig29 is proven to be
much superior to F16 with long range attack capability, but those AWACS from
Singapore are formidable opponents, especially if they are protected by the
SAM umbrella of Singapore.
	I'm not sure of the strength of Thai and Vietnam air forces. The
chinese have a lot of air planes but I'm not sure if they can cover the
spratlys. Maybe the Hawk200 can be a match for Mig21 chinese derivatives, if
they can land on those tiny islands.

	
--
Othman bin Ahmad, School of EEE,
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 2263.
Internet Email: eoahmad@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg
Bitnet Email: eoahmad@ntuvax.bitnet


Newsgroups: sci.military