COIN aircraft have traditionally used propeller driven propulsion. Their bane has been heat-seeking manpads. Why? Because they are huge infrared beacons. You have heat radiating from the cowl in almost every case simply because the engines are energy inefficient. For all-aspect seekers the propeller blades offer a tremendous target, as the propellers offer heat signatures akin to a leading edge on a high speed jet plus further enhancing the hot zone with induced airflow over the main body or wings. So from a survival standpoint, the jet is the better solution.

You seem to be ignoring the obvious with your boundary layer wake. You’re simply talking about a compressed air layer that flows as a fluid. A ducted fan can be used to avoid the wake. Are you just arguing to argue?

Looks more like they took the old C-1 and reduced it to two engines from the four it had.

Well, I would agree to a point……..the only problem is the shorter range AMRAAM’s brings the enemy within range of its own Weapons. With the Phoenix the Tomcat could at least in theory fire out of range of any opponent……..For the Mig-31E to be successful. Its missiles need the power and range of the Phoenix and the accuracy of the AMRAAM’s. Personally, I have my doubts……..:o

AMRAAM is the best solution once you exhaust the Pheonix option. Aim-9x would of offered some flexibility but none of the range advantages over AMRAAM. And Sparrow in any modification was never as potent as AMRAAM. In real use, AMRAAM has proven to be a much better weapon that the latters.

The MiG-31E would be successful with a long-range SARH missile complete with handoffs to wing aircraft good for plucking off any target at a distance, not just cruise missiles. While it would be nice to carry active homing missiles for self-defense, you hope to operate with support from aircraft designed for that role so these options are not necessary for MiG-31 in any form. The MiG-31M is integrated into the Russians battlespace management system built around a centralized ground controller, whose integration isn’t necessary for export customers. You also don’t need their datalink to AWACS for the Syrians as they don’t have one, which is itself a separate component from the ground control link. As a pure interceptor you can drop the electronic warfare system of the MiG-31M. I’d think you could lose the gun in the export model, too. You probably want to carry four archers rather than the S-60’s since they aren’t really designed for headon attacks on low-infrared signature targets. Taking out these two integrations are but some of the ways to cheapen up the price tag of the whole system. Don’t forget that the Russians have a surplus of their original Zaslon radars, which is probably the model going into these export models.

So, I take it you believe the F-14D was the ultimate interceptor…….;)

I did believe it, especially in packs of fours where they could perform a chain sweep together with their newer, digitalized radars. And if they had made the transition to AMRAAM, definitely the best until F-22 arrived.

You are right, the MiG-31E is a step up from the F-14 in Iran. It would make more sense for Iran than Syria. I just don’t see Syria having the ability to sustain any MiG-31 operations if tensions erupted. Iran on the other hand is a vast country with money to sustain this relatively expensive system. And Iran needs long range radars on its interceptors for the type of tactics they’ve grown to appreciate. Its their AEW.

The MiG-31E probably isn’t a real threat to Isreali air superiority. Its an export model, not the MiG-31M.

Don’t you guyz think Mirage 2K has still life left in it and shouldn’t it be upgraded to continue service besides rafale?

In which year the last Mirage Squadron willl be retired?

The problem with Mirage 2000 is that its already competing against the Gripen which is established its superiority in this market segment. If they modernize the Mirage line then they compete against both Gripen and Rafale. As we already know the Rafale has no export orders. Considering the Gripen export numbers are poor, it doesn’t leave much meat to chew.

OT – Dassault would of been better off to spend money on developing a single monolithic 40,000lb engine than to go twins with less than half the power like they did for the Rafale. A single-engined Rafale of that caliber wouldn’t of been such a bad option to throw up against the likes of a Typhoon, Flanker, and Super Eagle.