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The new MiG-25 Foxbat E with lookdown radar.
Soviets Develop Formidable Air Warfare Capability
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Russia’s New Air Power
Since the end of World War II, NATO has consoled itself with the belief that, although vastly outnumbered by the Warsaw Pact air forces in Europe, its technological superiority would always ensure victory in combat. Real life is never as simple as that.
The writer suggested to a General of the Egyptian Air Force, in Cairo last year, that he must be delighted at having exchanged his Russian fighters for new US equipment. The response was frank and unexpected: ‘We could kick the sides of our MiGs, jump up and down on top, and they would still fly- not so quickly, but well enough. If we sneeze near one of our shiny new American fighters, it is grounded for four days. ‘ An exaggeration, of course; but the Foreword to the 1980-81 Jane’s had recorded some dismal statistics concerning the serviceability of front-line combat aircraft of the US Air Force and Navy during the previous fiscal year.
Official figures released by the US Defense Secretary showed that an average 42 per cent of USAF tactical aircraft had been ‘not mission capable’ at any particular time. The relatively unsophisticated A-10 Thunderbolt II had shown up best, with only 32. 6 per cent of the 243-strong force grounded on average throughout the year. At the other extreme, 65. 6 per cent of the 86 F-111Ds were normally not mission-capable. Nor was the Navy in a much healthier state, with an average 47. 1 per cent of its 292 F-14A Tomcats unavailable at any time.
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