What kind of processing power is required in a modern radar? Why is it that there was been a huge increase in cpu speed, but only a modest increase in radar performance? For example when comparing the difference between the avionics of the F-15A which entered service in the mid 70’s, and the EF2000 which isn’t even in service yet.

I know this is out of the question given Serbia’s current economy, but just for fun, how much would it cost to equip a country the size of Serbia with a complete modern integrated air defense system? Assuming that you would have to start from scratch because the current air defense are too obsolete. I assume you would need at least 30 S-300’s, a hundred Tunguskas, etc. Or maybe an American or French solution would be better? I would think the price would be in the $5-10 billion range?

Before we go any further let’s list the prices of the respective aircrafts:

FC-1 – 8 million apiece
F-16 Block 50/52 – 35 million apiece
Mig-29 SMT – No price set, but I think 23 million a piece was quoted to a potential customer. Of course, if you already have Mig-29A’s, those can be upgraded to SMT and that would be much cheaper.

Considering that you can buy 40 FC-1’s or 10 F-16 for the same price, the choice is obvious. The fact is that no amount of “combat-proveness” or “adaptability” or whatever else the F-16 has that the FC-1 doesn’t can make up for pure quantity.

Also, you keep mentioning how the Mig-29 is dependent on GCI. Well, isn’t the F-16 kind of dependent on AWACS? The F-14 was the last American-designed plane which can operate independently, all later US-built planes were meant to operate only as part of an “offensive package”, and smaller/poorer countries, even if they can afford the F-16, won’t be able to afford all the parts of the package (such as AWACS), which means they will only be able to go to war together with someone like NATO/USA, they will be almost useless by themselves. Have we ever seen an F-16 in combat ALONE, without support by AWACS and other force multipliers? Not that I can recall, and I suspect that it is this “package”, not the F-16 itself, which is responsible for the F-16’s superb combat record.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you shouldn’t use force multipliers if you afford them, all I’m saying is that some countries can’t afford them. So is the F-16 still the best option for them in that case?

Also I think the JAS-39 (at 35 million per plane) is cheap enough to qualify for consideration.

I think people should be allowed to use reasonable force to defend their homes. For example if the burglar has a gun, you should be allowed to shoot him. If he only has a knife, then you should be allowed to stab him. If he is unarmed, you should be allowed to hit him with your fists. I remember reading about a burglar who broke into someone’s house, got electrocuted somehow, and then sued the home owner. I don’t have any weapons in my house since I’m a university student living in a very small apartment with not much worth robbing. I do know Brazilian Ju Jitsu though.