During the early post war era there was some interest in purely point defence interceptors like Saunders Roe SR fifty three , they probably were motivated by search for a higher, faster and fast climbing interceptors and probably was dropped as better [but much more complex ] interceptors came into existence in the sixties and seventies
Was it possible to reverse this trend in the late seventies and eighties ? We saw a return to more basic fighter with the Freedom fighters and Fighting falcons but was it possible to make even more basic[or dumbed down] point defence interceptor ?
Their features would be
1 The primary requirement of speed/altitude and performance is sufficent to catch enemys low level strike planes/bombers [both WP and NATO at this time as we know relied mostly on low level tactical strike aircraft] without the need or ability to combat enemys air superiority fighters
2No provision for ANY air to ground weapons.
3 Also can the need for onboard avionics be limited as they will rely primarily on Ground radar or AWACS to help track strike planes and be postioned to fire at them.Very limited ability to search and track targets on their own.
4 Endurance can be very limited for obvious reasons
With all this hopefully size and weight can be saved drastically and probably better performance can be achieved even with cheaper engines. And to emphasize their job is STRICTLY interception not air superiority but that should not be a huge concern for NATO as WP for almost the entire cold war had minimal capability to send escort fighters with their bombers or strike planes.
Thanks
Was it possible to reverse this trend in the late seventies and eighties ? We saw a return to more basic fighter with the Freedom fighters and Fighting falcons but was it possible to make even more basic[or dumbed down] point defence interceptor ?
Their features would be
1 The primary requirement of speed/altitude and performance is sufficent to catch enemys low level strike planes/bombers [both WP and NATO at this time as we know relied mostly on low level tactical strike aircraft] without the need or ability to combat enemys air superiority fighters
2No provision for ANY air to ground weapons.
3 Also can the need for onboard avionics be limited as they will rely primarily on Ground radar or AWACS to help track strike planes and be postioned to fire at them.Very limited ability to search and track targets on their own.
4 Endurance can be very limited for obvious reasons
With all this hopefully size and weight can be saved drastically and probably better performance can be achieved even with cheaper engines. And to emphasize their job is STRICTLY interception not air superiority but that should not be a huge concern for NATO as WP for almost the entire cold war had minimal capability to send escort fighters with their bombers or strike planes.
Thanks
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