Strike Fighters An analysis of loaded performance in representative combat scenarios for top-of-the-line Western manufactured fighter aircraft in a mid-2020 timeframe by James “Spurts” Nicklin 1 Table of Contents 1 Aircraft ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Size ......................................................................................... 8 1.2 Load ....................................................................................... 8 1.2.1 Fuel .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2.2 Systems .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2.3 Weapons ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 1.3 Physical Factors .................................................................... 25 1.3.1 Wing Loading ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 1.3.2 Thrust to Weight .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 1.3.3 Stability .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 25 1.3.4 Drag Area ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 1.3.5 Lift Area .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 1.4 Aircraft Data ......................................................................... 27 1.4.1 F-15SA .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 2 Performance ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 2.1 Loaded Flight Configurations ............................................... 28 2.1.1 F-15SA .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 2.1.2 Su-35S .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 2.2 Loaded Flight Envelopes ...................................................... 29 2.2.1 Level Flight ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 29 2.2.2 Turn at 20,000ft ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 2.2.3 Acceleration 0.8-1.2M @30,000ft .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 2.3 Applied Performance ........................................................... 31 2.3.1 Rutowski Push ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 31 2.3.2 Combat Turns ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 2.4 Systems Performance .......................................................... 33 2.4.1 Detection of Aerial Threats .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 2.4.2 Avoidance of Aerial Threats ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 2.4.3 Detection of SAM Threats ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 2.4.4 Avoidance of SAM Threats ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 2.5 Mission Performance ........................................................... 34 2.5.1 Interception ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34 2.5.2 CAP ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34 2.5.3 Deep Strike ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 35 2.5.4 CAS ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36 2.6 Total Scores.......................................................................... 37 2.6.1 F-15SA .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37 2.6.2 Su-35S ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................