Fighter development without Vietnam

chuck4

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Had there not been Vietnam, would mainstream fighter development have continued to pursue long range, high Mach (Mach 2.5+), low T/W (~0.75), BVR interceptor line through the 1970s and 1980s? What would subsequent fighter development look like?


What would be the impact on subsequent fighter development had helmet sighted, Agile type AAM which would have offered most of AIM-9X capability, not been cancelled in early 1970s?
 
Extremely interesting question!
I'm sure there were quite a few post-Vietnam designs that would've done better (at reaching the hardware stage) in the analytic environment you're supposing!
 
Almost certainly no guns on any of them. It was only the air-to-air combat over Vietnam that convinced the top brass that having cannon on board was essential for when the missiles ran out or couldn't be targeted.

No United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, no Top Gun movie....
 
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