The RAF did consider procuring the F-15 in the '70s during the process that led to the Tornado ADV. Chris Gibson writes about it in Battle Flight. The RAF wanted a two-seat aircraft, based on the F-15B. They never seriously considered the A or C model. What interests me is that the proposed RAF version of the F-15B, which would have had a British radar and Skyflash capability, is that it would have needed 30-40% more tanker support than the Tornado ADV. That fact alone told very heavily against buying the Eagle.
Expense and the need for more tankers also soured the RAF on the F-14 as a possibility.
Reminds me, I need to find my copy of Battle Flight to read this particular procurement saga again. After reading it, I came to the conclusion that the RAF made the best choice in the Tornado ADV when it came to the mix of cost and capability.
To answer the OP, the version of the Eagle that the RAF would have bought, would have tied down a significant part of the tanker force while operating in its intended environmnt - the G-I-UK Gap. Never mind trying to operate them over the Falklands from Ascension Island. We'd have to have gotten agreement from Chile to be able to operate RAF fast jets (other than Harrier GR.3s) to get them over the FI.
Expense and the need for more tankers also soured the RAF on the F-14 as a possibility.
Reminds me, I need to find my copy of Battle Flight to read this particular procurement saga again. After reading it, I came to the conclusion that the RAF made the best choice in the Tornado ADV when it came to the mix of cost and capability.
To answer the OP, the version of the Eagle that the RAF would have bought, would have tied down a significant part of the tanker force while operating in its intended environmnt - the G-I-UK Gap. Never mind trying to operate them over the Falklands from Ascension Island. We'd have to have gotten agreement from Chile to be able to operate RAF fast jets (other than Harrier GR.3s) to get them over the FI.
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