Figure 1.-- |
|
German technology enabled both America and Britin as well as the Soviets to begin developing high performance jet aircraft. German jet technology was mich more advanced than British and American jets. Soviet jet research seems non-existent. German tecnology and scientists as well British jet engine technology resulted in the MiG-15. When American and Soviet jets met in Korea they were very similar. The Mig-15 and American F-86 Sabre both looked similar and was comparable chracteristics. Even so, American pilots reportedly achieved a 10 to 1 kill ratio becaue of superior training. Some authors question this high kill ratio.) The United States Air Force would be the preminent world air power throughout the Cold War. The Soviets devoted enormous resources to aviation. And the Soviet aviation industry produced both some excellent air frames and jet engines. It was the fighters that were at the leading edge of aviation tchnology. The Soviets assumed after Wortld War II that the superiority of Communism would begin to be reflected in technological superiority. Soviet aircraft in air combat were unable to compete with American counter parts in Korea or the proxy wars fought in the Middle East. And this was the case even when flown by Soviet pilots. The difference appears to have been electronics, tactics, and training. Vietnam was different. The F-4 Phantom was designed as an interceptor to stop Soviet bombers with misles (1960s). They were not designed for dogfights. The F-4 did not even have guns because the Air Force believed that missiles were adequate. Early missles, however, had serious flaws. The Soviet deployment of the MiG-25 Foxbat threatened to over turn Western air superority. The F-15 Eagle proved to be a decisive turning pont in the Cold war. It was the Isreali Air Force that first demonstrated the technological superority of the West in enggements with the Syrians (1980). It would be 10 years before American pilots would go into combat with the F-15. This occurred over Iraq during the Gulf War against Soviet aircraft (1990). This time the American F-15s faced the Soviet supplied MiG-29 Fulcrums. This occuurred just as the Cold War ended. The Berlin Wall came down (1989) and the Soviet Union was disolved (1991).
German technology enabled both America and Britin as well as the Soviets to begin developing high performance jet aircraft. German jet technology was mich more advanced than British and American jets. Soviet jet research seems non-existent. German tecnology and scientists as well British jet engine technology resulted in the Mig-15. The Soviets had difficulty producing the alloys needed for high performance get enfines. This was acquired through espionage in Britain.
When American and Soviet jets met in Korea they were very similar. The Mig-15 and American F-86 Sabre both looked similar and was comparable chracteristics. Even so, American pilots reportedly achieved a 10 to 1 kill ratio becaue of superior training. Some authors question this high kill ratio.)
The United States Air Force would be the preminent world air power throughout the Cold War. The Soviets devoted enormous resources to aviation. And the Soviet aviation industry produced both some excellent air frames and jet engines. It was the fighters that were at the leading edge of aviation tchnology. The Soviets assumed after Wortld War II that the superiority of Communism would begin to be reflected in technological superiority. Soviet aircraft in air combat were unable to compete with American counterparts in Korea or the proxy wars fought in the Middle East. And this was the case even when flown by Soviet pilots. The difference appears to have been electronics, tactics, and training.
The major planes of World War I and II had effectivelives of only a few years. The Axis planes had longer lives because they did not introduce new designs as rapidly as the Allies, especially the Americans. The Col War planes tended to have longer lives. Perhaps no plane had such a long life as the American B-52 Stratofortress. The B-52 was the most important airborn platform for the Ameticn strtegic nuclear force since the 1950s. And the B-52 may remain in service until 2040. A service life of nearly a century is inprecedented and may bever be repeated/ The B-52 remained in service during the Cold War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, the Balkns Confklict, Afghanistan, and Iraq. [Yenne]
Vietnam was very different from Korea. The F-4 Phantom was designed as an interceptor to stop Soviet bombers with misles (1960s). They were not designed for dogfights. The F-4 did not even have guns because the Air Force believed that missiles were adequate. Early missles, however, had serious flaws--especially at low altitudes. Like the F-4 they were dsigned to opeate at high altitudes against lumbering bombers, not agile jet fighters.
The perfornmance of American aircraft in Vietnam was embarassing. The U.S. pilots dod not have the training or aircraft to dominate the skies over North Vietnam. The North Vietnamese had both advanced Soviet aircraft and and deadly anti-aircraft defense. As part of the reaction to the disappoining performance over Vietnam, the U.S. Air Force created the Ponstant Peg program to make sure future American polots would hve the training thy required in air battles against oviet aircraft. Col. Gail Peck played a major role in establishing the top secret program. The USAF acquired a MiG suadron that its pilots could fly against. It operated for more than a decade. Obtaining MiG aircraft was a major problem. Col. Peck writes about the program, "The live combat arena, with real bullets and missles, often brings a change in pilot behavior nd a potentiak breakdiwnun the ability of the engaged pilot ton maintainthe b=needed intensity and duscupline. Bad luck, fear, loss of a flight member in a shoot down or any combination of circumstabnces can resultin a performance breakdownfor a 'green' aviator. Even if everythig goes exactly right, the excitement of first observing an ememy aircraft in an aerial dogfight can turn the almost perfectly trined pilot into a target. Fighter pilots call it'Buck fever' and strike a corollary with learning to hunt dear. As the deer vis centered up in the rifle sight, the gun starts to shake, the hunter hesitares, and suddenly the advantge is lost. And this happens in spite of the fct tht the deer isn't even equipped to shoot back." [Peck]
The Soviet deployment of the Mig-25 Foxbat threatened to over turn Western air superority. The F-15 Eagle proved to be a decisive turning pont in the Cold war. It was the Isreali Air Force that first demonstrated the technological superority of the West in enggements with the Syrians (1980). It would be 10 years before American pilots would go into combat with the F-15. This occurred over Iraq during the Gulf War against Soviet aircraft (1990). This time the American F-15s faced the Soviet supplied MiG-29 Fulcrums. This occuurred just as the Cold War ended. The Berlin Wall came down (1989) and the Soviet Union was disolved (1991).
Peck, Gaillard R. Jr.. America's Secret MiG Squadron: The Red Eagles of Project Constnt Peg (2012).
Yenne, Bill. B-52 Stratofortress: The Complete History of the World's Longest Serving and Best Known Bomber (2012), 192p.
Navigate the CIH Cold War Section:
[Return to Main Cold War military air balance page]
[Return to Main Cold War military balance page]
[Return to Main Cold War military page]
[Return to Main Cold War page]
[Assessment]
[Biogrphies]
[Countries]
[Communism]
[Culture]
[Decolonization]
[Economics]
[Famines]
[Fashion]
[Freedom]
[Hot wars]
[Human rights]
[Inteligence]
[Mass killing]
[Military]
[Pacifism]
[Phases]
[Science]
[Totalitarianism]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Return to the Cold war Home page]
[Return to the 20th century wars and crises]