The F-16s would’ve had a pretty hard time in dogfights against massed Mig-23s and Mig-21s, and not only that but they’d have problems at first in BVR against Mig-23s. The F-15 was available in such small numbers. When the Su-27 and Mig-29s came in large numbers, or any decent numbers, they’d have slaughtered the F-16s hands down in dogfights, because the F-16 simply had no BVR weapon, and as we all know well, the Mig-29s/Su-27s with HMS+R-73 would’ve slaughtered any F-16s in dogfights, especially Mig-29s.

It was such a mistake not to give F-16s Sparrows early on. Also you must remember that USSR had quite a few Mig-25s, Su-15s and others while Mig-31s were starting to enter service.

NATO not only had such a huge problem with being outnumbered, but their biggest problems was massed WARPACT bombers and interdictors flying over and bombing the crap out of NATO’s airfields and in process destroying everything on them and around them. In first few days of war, NATO would’ve been pretty much on it’s knees struggling, which would force it to go nuclear.

And you forget the huge numbers of F-4s that were still around as Sparrow shooters during the cold war. And then there would be the 530 armed Mirage variants. So NATI had quite a huge number of BVR equipped planes in service.

The F-16 was never meant to operate in the fighter role by NATO. It was to be a point defense fighter and ground pounder. Ad for the still numerous MiG-21 it would have done just fine.

Now I can show you my latest additions.

Or heaven’s phone number…
Dead pilots don’t give first hand accounts… :rolleyes:

I quote from the ACIG article :

“Both Syrian pilots, Maj. Arshad Midhat Mubarak, and Capt. Ahmad al-Khatab, ejected safely and were recovered by Syrian ships.”

So may I ask how you do know that both pilots were killed, especially if the engagement did never happen.

The BVR capabilities of the MiG-23 were limited at that time. The F-16s on the other hand would have the AIM-9L. It would always depend on who achieves surprise.

Both articles are fakes. 😡

If you say so.

Without any comment to a possible outcome, is it really logical that you, as a pilot of either F-15 or Su-27, have an opportunity of a lifetime to fly in a formation with the counterpart just three years after the fall of iron curtain, and you DON”T WANNA TRY SOME DOGFIGHT , even just for fun?

Nah, don’t tell me this. The jocks surely were eager to show who’s got bigger balls. Who of us would not?

That is plain wrong. Those are pilots and not cowboys. If the mission order said formation flying, then they did formation flying, unless they want to fly a desk for the rest of their very short and unpromising carreer.
Real life is no action movie.

And btw there are certain RoE for pratice dogfights with non allied nations, that have to be followed by the pilots. Not following those will also result is a desk flying job.

Would be better to cancel the order completely.

Yes it does. Can you check if we will be allowed to attach images agan.