Does it not defeat the point of DACT Agressors when you start equiping them with teh same aircraft that are in yoru front line squadrons!? Surely operating some F-7s and/or Mig-29s is not neyond the capability of teh USAF? Dare I say probably cheaper then operating F-16s and F-15s as Agressors!?

Well not really. The USAF has been using the F-16 for years very successfully in that role. After all, the F-16 is a very fine aircraft and more than capable of representing the F-7 and/or MiG-29.

Operating the F-7 and/or MiG-29 is beyond the capability of the USAF for a number of reasons, and suprise suprise – it is primarily a cost issue!

You can’t just buy the aircraft outright and train the pilots to fly them. Keeping any aircraft in the air is hugely expensive, and those expenses would blow out if the USAF had to support these aircraft over any length of time. Actually, any Russian aircraft in the DACT role would be a waste of time and money for the USAF and you only have to look at the Air Forces experience with ex-Isreali Daggers in the 80’s to see that.

Using the F-16 and F-15 allows the DACT squadrons to maintain and fly their aircraft using equipment and personell (not just pilots of course BTW) drawn from existing organisations and squadrons. Also, existing infrastructure doesn’t have to be changed or altered to allow for Viper and/or Eagle operations.

The two US aircraft are perfect in the DACT role and can more than adequately simulate any possible serious threat.

Then there’s the DACT US squadron pilots also recieve when abroad in places like the UK and Australia on top of the dedicated Aggressor programs.

If you’re still not convinced, do some research on the US Navy and Air Forces experience with the A-4 and F-5 aggressors of the past. They were fine for simulating 60’s era MiGs but didn’t “cut the mustard” for much else.

Simply having a different airframe doesn’t neccessarily equate to better training.