What would have been the real threat in 1986 Top Gun film.

[DaveRindner]

With Top Gun II kind of in production, it is a good bet that original will be re-released with new VFX. Replacement of F-5E Aggressors with CGI Migs. No I have nothing to do with it, and know nothing. I was thinking what would have been the actual threat faced by 1985 F-14A's (D?). The scenario in original film mirrored a Pueblo takeover by North Korea, and air craft markings used by F-5E/Mig-28 were North Korea like for the time.

So I figure either the North Koreans would have at that time a Mig-21bis/Chengdu J-7, Mig-23, and possibly Mig-29A flown by Soviet exchange pilots. Both would have been armed with R-60M missiles. Soviets would unlikely to have introduced R-73 in early to mid 1980's to North Korea.

[Emu]

Based on real encounters around that era (Gulf of Sidra incidents), I would say MiG-23s.

[DaveRindner]

Perhaps. Gotta check if and when Mig23 were ever provided to North Korea.

[DaveRindner]

Yep current inventory of DPRK KPAF is 56 Mig-23 of unknown flying condition. So figure 33 years ago they could very much have had a credible flying fleet of Floggers. Personally I would like to see Maverick fightin Fulcrums, but Flagger is more probable.

Edited January 30, 2018 by DaveRindner

[DaveRindner]

How would F-14A crew fight Fulcrums , assuming only Aim-7F/M , AIM-9 L/P/M, and guns? Fulcrum A would have kinematic advantage of F-14A in nearly all regimes except top speed.

[Krebs20]

How would F-14A crew fight Fulcrums , assuming only Aim-7F/M , AIM-9 L/P/M, and guns? Fulcrum A would have kinematic advantage of F-14A in nearly all regimes except top speed.

 

I would say training combined with the F14s most likely getting the 1st shot in any engagement.

[Emu]

Yep current inventory of DPRK KPAF is 56 Mig-23 of unknown flying condition. So figure 33 years ago they could very much have had a credible flying fleet of Floggers. Personally I would like to see Maverick fightin Fulcrums, but Flagger is more probable.

You'll have a job to find any that carry the Exocet antiship missile though.

[Emu]

How would F-14A crew fight Fulcrums , assuming only Aim-7F/M , AIM-9 L/P/M, and guns? Fulcrum A would have kinematic advantage of F-14A in nearly all regimes except top speed.

Big radar, BVR.

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Range would be the decisive factor here. The MiG-29 can go fast, but it only has so much burner time available in combat before it needs to turn home.

[Alfa]

With Top Gun II kind of in production, it is a good bet that original will be re-released with new VFX. Replacement of F-5E Aggressors with CGI Migs. No I have nothing to do with it, and know nothing. I was thinking what would have been the actual threat faced by 1985 F-14A's (D?). The scenario in original film mirrored a Pueblo takeover by North Korea, and air craft markings used by F-5E/Mig-28 were North Korea like for the time.

So I figure either the North Koreans would have at that time a Mig-21bis/Chengdu J-7, Mig-23, and possibly Mig-29A flown by Soviet exchange pilots. Both would have been armed with R-60M missiles. Soviets would unlikely to have introduced R-73 in early to mid 1980's to North Korea.

 

Always hated that movie, but as far as I recall the lead character had the first encounter with a new MiG version(that they called "MiG-28"). Considering that the movie is from 1986 and the MiG-29 was introduced into service in 1983, I would say that this would be a better match than the MiG-23, which had already been in service for over 10 years by then - i.e. not really a new never-seen-before type.

 

Another candidate could be the MiG-31(from ~ 1981), but that doesn't really match the small nimble type(F-5) used to represent the "MiG-28" in the film.

[Fri13]

While Top Gun was a major blockbuster for the Navy propaganda, even better IMHO was the JAG.

 

In that show you can see far more of the fighters, from F-4, F-14, F-15 to F-18 etc.

 

Even in one episode Harm does escape from the Russia by flying a Mig-29 :lol:

 

 

The show was IMHO very nice combination of thriller, espionage, carrier ops, court etc. Almost all about the US military vessels and crew.

 

So likely if the US would have invaded some USSR member states, they would have got Mig-29, Su-27 and Mig-23 with possible even Mig-31.

 

But back in the time for movie, USAF didn't have Mig-29 in warehouse nor didn't want to publicly reveal that they have acquired all kind USSR fighters via CIA connections to study and test them, as back then US was wanted to be look as a shiny white knight.

 

Hopefully in the Top Gun II they get to fly Mig-29 and Mig-23 at least against "Tommy"

[Emu]

Clint Eastwood stole the real MiG-31 from Russia in 1982 and destroyed the other prototype. They had to make do with a mildly updated Foxbat as a result. True story.