Yes… but the Avon’s superior dry thrust to both ATAR and J79 would mean that you would be using it less often, and for shorter periods.

Spey probably offered a better dry thrust especially it’s sfc.

They were probably better off integrating F135 into F/A-18 than spending huge sums basically redesigning the F/A-18 to be stealth. They may as well spread the engines out wider for an internal weapons bay even it it’s no better than F-35B sized, put the wings into a proper alignment, gave it a proper stealth nose, and just gave it larger internalized fuel tanks. Sounds like I’m describing J-31.

I would have been just as happy with a J79-powered Saab Draken derivative as the basic jet for NATO in the early 60’s.

not phond phriends phlying the phantastic phantom phighter?

Too many ph’s. It sounded too phlakey even for a phool like me.

In all fairness you should separate MiG-15 and MiG-17. They are different animals.

MiG-21 should be broken down by types, because there is a major difference between variants and manufacturers.

Same could be said of most aircraft. If a variant used a unique power plant then it’s a different animal. If it had a different generation of radar then it’s a different animal. Etc. Etc.

100 cluster bombs could have reeked havoc with the balance of land forces in that conflict. Both sides lacked adequate mobility, too. Neither side had comprehensive aerial footage. Neither side had adequate counter artillery. What Iraq lacked in bodies they compensated with in field engineering. What Iran lacked in tech they made up in quantity…

You will see warfare on the global scale within the next 20 years if the trends continue. You need to look at assets for strengths and weaknesses, use the proper asset in the proper situation. If a DC-3 is unobstructed as a bomb truck and the time schedule permits its use it probably can deliver the goods more cost-effective than an F-16. If resistance is expected in the form of Su-35 then an F-22A is probably the better route. Justify the costs put the whole experience into perspective.