Measuring Effects of Payload and Radius Differences of Fighter Aircraft

Publication Date: January 1993

Publisher: RAND Corporation

Author(s): Gary Liberson; William Stanley

Research Area: Military and defense

Type: Brief

Abstract:

This research measures how differences in F-15E and F-16C Block 50 payload and radius characteristics influence the ability of these aircraft to deliver GBU- and CBU-class weapons against a variety of target sets. For most of the air-to-ground cases examined, the effectiveness advantage of the F-15E relative to the F-16C was more than commensurate with its higher procurement and operating costs. The larger, heavier F-15E was most cost-effective in larger theaters where its payload and radius capability were best demonstrated. The smaller, lighter F-16C performed at its best in more compact theaters where combat radius was not as important.