Over the decades I have learned that the hype starts 1 or 2 decades early on expensive weapons programs and it seems momentum just keeps growing and growing until every state gets a piece and then, voila!.....the program, proven or not, is unstoppable with the USAF seemingly being the worst practitioner of this political scheme.
135 million for one freakin plane!??? Come on!!! If it were unanimous among experts that the plane was a show stopper and thus war winner that would be one thing but, alas, it’s far from that!
Unlike some, I admit I don’t know what I’m talking about but it seems to me that a typical Israeli Fighter Pilot could sweep the sky’s of a typical jihadi fighter pilot flying a Single engine Cessna armed with a 1911 .45 caliber pistol!
Regarding your last paragraph, sometimes it helps to have older equipment, as the pilots KNOW the limits of their rides and hone their skills. (My opinion, based upon observation only, not hands on experience.). From what I’ve read, RCAF pilots more often than not, beat out all NATO pilots in most combat drills. Winning, despite flying CF-18s received between 1982-1988.
Combine the above with the fact that the ‘Kheil HaAvir’ pilots KNOW that if they DON’T win an airwar over the Holy Land, they will have NO ONE to help them and no place to land! THAT is a very strong incentive to succeed! And yes, the Israelis are using older equipment (like the RCAF), but they are likely upgraded with systems the US, especially with O’Venal running the show, has little clue of.
Thirdly, and most importantly, is the fact that while EVERYTHING is owned by God, Israel is ‘the apple of His eye’. It is unwise and unhealthy to try to snatch His country from His chosen people! The last person, or country to ‘win’ against God is...
um... NO ONE... A lesson that O’Venal, Heinz-sKerry, ValJar, and other muzzies would be wise to learn.
However, the Russian MiG-31s and SUs are flown by Russian pilots usually and especially if things ever got hot in that direction. Admittedly things went badly for the Russians last time they tried that, but then things have changed: the Israelis would somehow have to get off the runway without the S300 seeing them and shooting them down before they were engaged by the Russian AF.