yeah i was referring to the lack of interrogator on the F5.
it really helps alot on the B-scope when you can decipher faster
which one is friendly or not.
but of cos with the use of BVR weapons it is restricted by shot
clearances due to ROEs and visual identification which means you
have to get close enough to the other jet then might as well just
shoot off with an Aim 9 for example.
but the mighty little F-5 "BVR" capable would still carry
missiles that would not be able to exploit their full potential due
to the aircraft's lack of performance compared to newer fighters
which can fly faster and higher, in those high altitude regimes the
F-5 doesn't perform all that well. but being BVR capable is a whole
new ballgame which isn't that bad after all. new capabilities if
there actually is.
Well, it depends if its an all out shooting war. Then
there is a matter of what the contact is doing, where it is etc.
Say the target is in a pre-established zone (No Friendlies or
Neutrals are supposed to be there) where BVR ROE is slightly
looser, the pilot can take a shot if he deems it necessary.
However, as in Desert Storm, only certain aircraft (F-15Cs)
dedicated for Air Superiority missions will have automatic
clearance for BVR.
Then there is a question of what that guy is doing.
Interpreting the data from the B-scope, you can take a guess
whether this guy is hostile and whether he's a threat or not.
If he's moving high and fast and towards you, he's probably
hostile and a threat.
If he's low and slow, he might be a non-threat aircraft.
Given laxed BVR ROE, its up to the pilot to make the call.
At least from what I read from some of Tom Clancy's books.
I think it was "Every Man a Tiger."