ftrplt,
You seem to contradict yourself in your last paragraph. One of the main reasons for low level ingress is to ensure you are outside the engagement envelope of the maximum number of SAM systems, or exposed for the absolute minimum interval.
Medium level ingress works in a SAM rich environment only when you have sufficient SEAD to suppress/engage the SAW defences and AEW and fighters to achieve air superiority to protect against the fighter threat; both of which the USAF has. But you have to look at the threat and decide which is the greatest risk and what can you defend against.
If you always intend to work in cooperation with US forces then medium level is fine. If not, there is still a lot to be said for the option of 100ft, 540Kts on the darkest, cloudiest night you can find.
Notes.
1. The USAF dislike of low level stems from Vietnam and their losses from small arms fire - not SAM. The threat of small arms/manpad has to be considered, but may not be a major threat depending on the theatre.
2. SAW may a threat in the target area. But that is more an argument in favour of stand-off weaponry. (It should be noted that weapons such as Storm Shadow can be fired at low-level. As can ALARM. So SEAD and attack can be executed following a low-level ingress. Medium level is not a prerequisite).
(and p.s. I would select the F-15E overall, due to it's all round flexibility. Whatever it may lose at low-level is more than made up for by it's performance envelope and A-A capability.)
Last edited by ORAC; 3rd Sep 2002 at 20:06.