[Blueflag]

I agree-- just depends upon what mission the flight is sent up for. If the mission is fleet defense, the Super Hornet just won't cut it when it comes to flying CAP. "Fighters" seeking ACM aren't a direct threat to the fleet. It's the missile carrying 'bombers' that are, and we want them splashed before they get in range. The Phoenix was designed for just that mission, and while the SOVIET threat is gone, the ALCM threat is as real as ever in Asia. An F-14D carrying Phoenix, AND AIM-7s AND AIM-9s AND 20MM is a better fleet defense and CAP platform than the F-18X. Why kill it except for finances? (BTW, I honestly don't buy the argument about the F-18 being insufficient for air-mud).

Question for you -- the flight profile of a Phoenix, as I understand it, is to fly very high above an approaching aircraft and plummet down on it at very high speed and frag with a wide lethality cone, whereas the Slammer is more hunt-you-and-kill-you, and can be physically evaded and defeated. Why do you think the Phoenix in actual use is easier (for a missile carrying platform)to evade?

[Poohbah]

The ALCM threat pretty much evaporated when the ex-Soviet space program collapsed. Those bombers were part of an integrated system that required satellite data to do long-range surveillance.

Question for you -- the flight profile of a Phoenix, as I understand it, is to fly very high above an approaching aircraft and plummet down on it at very high speed and frag with a wide lethality cone, whereas the Slammer is more hunt-you-and-kill-you, and can be physically evaded and defeated. Why do you think the Phoenix in actual use is easier (for a missile carrying platform)to evade?

Several problems: the radar is not LPI, so any fighter being attacked is going to have LOTS of warning. Second, it's a very large light-colored object against a dark background. Third, that high speed DOES limit its maneuverability. Fourth, and this is the really bad part, if the bogey manages to generate between 60 and 90 degrees of turn, his fighter will effectively disappear--because the bogey's Doppler will disappear. A bomber can't do it; a loaded fighter still can.

My objection to the Phoenix is in the dogfight role, not for splashing heavy bombers.