About radar range, wouldn't the E-2's radar + datalinks be
sufficient for BVR targeting of AAMs?
Also given short notice in war, it is not the number of planes
you have, but the number of planes with amount of weapons you can
get into the air. Imagine, 2 F-15 can have the range to hit 2
target without returning to base, for 2 f-16, possible they may
have to hit 1 target then return to re-arm.
isn't the F-16 easier and cheaper to maintain than the 15? hence
if we had gotten more 16s instead we could have 4 F-16s hitting 2
targets on separate sorties.
Well, besides the payload, there is also the matter of range.
How long the legs of the Strike Eagle compared to the Falcon.
The Viper IS a significantly smaller jet with smaller fuel
capacity, EVEN with CFTs. Every hardpoint u hook a External Fuel
Tank on, is equiv to absent firepower.
well, to me, the range is the only advantage i see for getting
the 15SG instead of more 16s.
To do that, means, we would only have 2 HARMs, 4 A2A missiles.
Not much of a SUPPRESSION of enemy air defence if they decide to
shut down their radars.
if the presence of HARM armed vipers can scare enemy SAM
operators to shut their radars while the strike aircraft hit their
targets, wouldn't suppression be achieved already? of course, the
best form of suppression is always destruction 
