From: megazone@obsidian.WPI.EDU (MegaZone)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.military
Subject: Re: *** AF F15 Eagle/Strike Eagle vs. Navy F14 Tomcat ***
Date: 12 Jan 1993 06:55:39 GMT
Organization: WPI Discordian Society, Undocumented Cabal
NNTP-Posting-Host: obsidian.wpi.edu

In article <1689@blue.cis.pitt.edu> nahst6+@pitt.edu (Nathan A Horstman) writes:
>Which one is better?  I KNOW the F15 is supposed to be better, but I have a

OK... Leaving the F-15E out, since it is a strike aircraft, compare the F-15C
and F-14D...

First: The F-14 is an interceptor, and the F-15 is an air superiority fighter.

>something like that) the F15A (Eagle) has a ceiling of 100,000 feet while
>the Strike Eagle it lists it as 60k something.  Is one figure or the other

100,000ft?!?! The official SR-71 figures aren't that high. The only F-15 to
even acheive that is the Streak Eagle. That was an early F-15 stripped down,
ie all non-essential systems removed, no paint, etc, and used to set time
to climb records. It did that after a ballistic climb, coasting to that
height, and dead-sticking back...

>Also according to the same source, the two engines of the F15 Eagle produce
>considerably more thrust than the F14, and the F14 weighs in heavier, but
>there is very little max speed difference.  What's the deal?

Actually, the TF-33s in the F-14A were weaker that the F-100s in most F-15s.
However, the F-14D has the F-110 which is in the same class as the later
F-100s in the F-15. (I had heard that the F-110 was also an option for the
F-15, since the F-16 used F-100s and later F-110 this is credible, but I
haven't heard anything for a while.)

The F-14 is indeed heavier from the figures I have. I had Mach 2 for the F-14
and Mach 2.5 for the F-15, but in another parrellel discussion it appears that
the F-15s figure is too high.

>How about radar?  The game I mentioned gives the F14 a considerably higher
>rating for radar than the F15...is it really more advanced?  How do they
>differ?  

The AWG-9 radar system is the most powerful now in use by a fighter. Iran used
the F-14 as a 'mini-AWACS' for a while due to the power. The F-15, I believe
has the APG_68 or APG-73, has a shorter range and fewer bells and whistles.
Of course the AWG-9 requires a dedicated RIO...

>Also, possibly due to size difference, the F14 has better armament options,
>WRT what missiles it can carry and what mix.  Specifically, the F15 can't
>carry long range active missiles, just medium range ones.  Is this true?

The Basic armament for the F-15 is 4 Sparrow and 4 Sidewinder. AMRAAM was
designed to fit in both Sparrow and Sidewinder positions, so it is conceivable
that it could be substituted.

The F-14 has 2 rails for Sidewinder only, conformal carriage for 4 Sparrow,
and two pylons for either. That is normal.

However, the F-14 is the only aircraft capable of carrying the AIM-54 Phoenix
Long-range missile. This can be carried in the tunnel, 4 on pallets, in lieu
of the Sparrows, and also on the pylons... You can mix the load up. Two pallets
will remove 3 sparrow, the 4th and aft sparrow can still be carried, 4 pallets
removes all four, etc... Again, AMRAAM can be carried.

>How about countermeasures?  Does the F15 have better or worse countermeasures
>to use to avoid missiles and the like?  

This is a tough question. ECM data is fuzzy and changes a lot.

>More sophisticated avionics?  More maneuverability?  Better weapons control
>systems?  

The F-15 is more agile at most altitudes, it was designed a fighter, the F-14
is an interceptor. Different philosophies. The F-14s radar has a longer range
and more power. It can also track more targets. In theory the F-14 can take
a shot at longer ranges, but the Phoenix wasn't designed to kill fighters.

In a dogfight I would favor the F-15. (Assuming equally skilled pilots) But
at long ranges the F-14 has a slight advantage.

###############################################################################
# I have one prejudice, and that is against stupidity.  Use your mind, think! #
#Email megazone@wpi.wpi.edu  Moderator, WPI anime FTP site 130.215.24.1 /anime#
###############################################################################