Fourth-generation Jet Fighter - Combat Performance

Combat Performance

The F-15 and F-16 have the first and second best known overall combat records of modern jet fighters. F-15s have a claimed combat record of 101 victories and zero losses in actual air to air combat. Such statistics may be of limited use in comparing aircraft since the quality of the opposition and other factors are not taken into account.

• 1982 Lebanon War, Israeli Air Force credited their F-15s and F-16s with 86 air-to-air kills, mostly of MiG-21s and MiG-23s, while suffering no air-to-air losses of their own.
• Iran–Iraq War, saw the first instance of employing 4th generation jet fighters in open war. Iran used F-14s and Iraq deployed MiG-29s, although there are no reports of the two aircraft types actually engaging each other.

• Gulf War of 1991
  • On 17 January 1991, the first night of the Gulf War, an Iraqi MiG-25PD shot down a U.S. Navy F/A-18C (piloted by Lt Cdr Scott Speicher), which was lost 29 nautical miles (54 km) southeast of Baghdad.
  • USAF F-15 pilots shot down five Iraqi MiG-29s.

• On 8 October 1996, after the escalation over Imia/Kardak a Greek Mirage 2000 fired an R550 Magic and shot down a Turkish F-16D over the Aegean Sea. The Turkish pilot died, while the co-pilot ejected and was rescued by Greek forces.

• During the Kargil Conflict between India and Pakistan in 1999, the Indian Air Force used Dassault Mirrage 2000s to drop laser guided bombs. MiG-29s were used extensively to provide fighter escort to the Mirage 2000s. The Mirages successfully targeted Pakistani camps and logistic bases in Kargil. Two Mirage squadrons flew a total of 515 sorties, and in 240 strike missions dropped 55,000 kg (120,000 lb) of ordnance. The Pakistan Air Force did not take active part allowing the IAF Mirages to fly at will.

• 1999 Kosovo War
  • A Dutch F-16 pilot shot down a Yugoslavian MiG-29 and a USAF F-16 pilot also shot down a MiG-29.
  • USAF F-15 pilots shot down four MiG-29s.

• Eritrean-Ethiopian War. In February 1999, according to some reports, Ethiopian Su-27 pilots shot down four Eritrean MiG-29s. Some of these sources claim that the Ethiopian planes were flown by Russian pilots, and the Eritrean planes by Ukrainians. (It is certainly true that local pilots were trained by instructors from those nations.)

• In the 2011 Libyan civil war the Belgian Air Component had six F-16 Falcon fighter jets. The Royal Canadian Air Force deployed seven (six front line, one reserve) CF-18 fighter jets. The Royal Danish Air Force participated with six F-16AM fighters, only four F-16s were used for offensive operations, while the remaining two were acting as reserves. French Air Force, which realized 35% of NATO's strikes, were participating in the mission with 18 Mirage and 19 Rafale. The Italian government committed four Tornado ECRs of the Italian Air Force in SEAD operations, supported by two Tornado IDS variants in an air-to-air refuelling role and four F-16 ADF fighters as escort. After the transfer of authority to NATO and the decision to participate in strike air-ground operations, the Italian government assigned under NATO command four Italian Air Force Eurofighters and four Tornado ECRs. The Royal Netherlands Air Force provided six F-16AM fighters, four F-16s were flying patrol over Libya, while the other two were being kept in reserve. The Royal Norwegian Air Force deployed six F-16AM fighters to Souda Bay Air Base with corresponding ground crews, on 24 June, the number of fighters deployed was reduced from 6 to 4. The Qatar Armed Forces contributed with six Mirage 2000-5EDA fighter jets, the Qatari aircraft were stationed in Crete. The Spanish Armed Forces were participating with six F-18 fighters. Spain participated in air control, maritime surveillance and in the mission to prevent the inflow of arms to the Libyan regime. The Royal Swedish Air Force were participating with eight JAS 39 Gripen jets for reconnaissance. This was first time a Gripen participated in an international military operation. Sweden were the only country neither a member of NATO nor the Arab League that participated in the no-fly zone. The Turkish Air Force participated with six F-16 Fighting Falcon jets for aerial operations. The United Arab Emirates Air Force sent six F-16 Falcon and six Mirage 2000 fighter jets to join the mission. The Royal Air Force were participating with 16 Tornado and 10 Typhoon fighters. The United States participated with both F-15 and F-16 fighters.