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.
