January 7, 2001 at 1:13 am
i find this an interesting question (if i do say so myself) ;
Was there a period during the coldwar (1950-1990) when the Warchaupact had a suprior edge over the NATO-airforces ?
let us compare 4 timeframes ;
1) 1950-60
2) 1960-70
3) 1970-80
4) 1980-90
First the period from 50 to 60 ;
I guess at that time NATO-power was unrivalled. F-86 sabres clearly showed their supremacy in Korea over the MiG-15. Altough the Chinese didn’t have the same training as the Russians, tactics and armement were the same.
The USSR came back on the same levell with the MiG-17 in 1952. Some 2 years ahead of the mighty F-100 Supersabre.
Mid 50s some powerfull dedicated interceptors entered service ; the MiG-19 in 55, Gloster Javelin FAW1 in 56 with some years later the FAW7 equiped with Firestreak AAMs. The final version entered in 59. During this period better Hunter-versions made it to active service giving the RAF a potent fighterforce.
Also mid 50s the USAF introduced the powerfull F-106A interceptor and the fantastic F-101 Voodoo. On the other side of the curtain the Su-9 Fishpot joined the inventory in 59.
Not forgetting the huge numbers of F-84s of most NATO members and the SuperMystere in french service.
Some dates of entry into service ;
Swift F1 – 1954 ; Yak-25 flashlight – 56 ; F-104 Starfighter – 58 ; canberra B2 – 51 ; venom – 52 ; M-4 bison – 55 ; B-52 – 55 ;
Tu -95 – 56
any comments ?