Expert: Marc Eichler - 1/19/2007

Question
Will the navy's new F-18 be sufficient enough to replace the antique F-14? Will it be able to engage in dogfights just like the F-14?  

Answer
This is really an opinion question.  The F-14, in my opinion is the finest figher that the US military has ever had.  The big selling point of the F-18 is its ability to do air-to-air and air-to-ground combat in the same sortie.  The F-18 does not carry the weapons load of the F-14, cannot go as fast (the Tomcat can fly over Mach 2...the Hornet cannot), far, or as high, but costs less.  The F-14 also had the AWG-9 radar system, which allowed it to track up to 24 aerial targets at one time.  Please note that I could not find information on the Hornet's radar, but I know from various Discovery Channel shows that it is an inferior system to that of the F-14.

I hope this was of help.  I kept my answer brief so that I wouldn't put too much of my opinion into it.  If you need more information, or want my opinion, please let me know.

Regards,
Marc