Quote:
Originally Posted by Mohoender
Now you know how the T2K conflict between Australia and Indonesia would turn. At least you retain the capability to strike Darwin and Port Moresby (and I'm not even sure of that one) 
I have a serious question, then. Is there anything on the current warplane market that could have replace them outside of the F-15E? Second hand Tu-22M may be?  |
I'm a little bit biased, I really liked the F111 - I don't think there is anything on the modern market that could replace it aside from types still in service such as the Tornado or older types no longer in service, such as the
Buccaneer.
I don't know for certain but I don't think the F-15 has the same ability for low-level penetration that the F111 had.
It seems to be very much a situation caused by the end of the Cold War, low-level intrusion is not believed to be necessary anymore so nobody is designing planes for that role. As they used to say when the Buccaneer was still in service - the only thing to replace a Buccaneer is another Buccaneer, that is to say, the low-level intrusion ability was something specific to that class of aircraft and it is not something that a "multi-role" fighter is very good at.
As has been mentioned, the desire to make new fighters able to do everything means they're good enough at everything but they're great at nothing.