I think in a short-range fur fly, the F-16 wins straight out. My Uncle is an ex Eagle driver, and although he thought the world of the F-15, he said that at close range the better-than-average F-16 pilot would eat any Eagle Driver for lunch.

However, a good pilot in the new Sukhoi Flankers equipped with the Archer missile system would be the best short-range dogfighter ATM. The ability to super-maneuver with a 180 degree field of fire is hard to beat.

The Flanker is one nasty bird at close range.

Incidentally, what is the Russian name for the Flanker series? I heard is was "Eagle"......

Pilot skill being equal it would comes down to which plane has the superior weapons system, especially at close range. While the F-16 is more agile, I don't think it's advantage is so overwhelming to where the pilot wouldn't have a hard time getting a weapon off. I've seen battle video from the Aggressor Squadron involving all these planes and they all can hold their own, even the F-5. I do remember a lot of the evasion techniques used by the F-15 involved climbs with high G turns.

The comparison F-15 vs F-16

1) maximum speed

F-15C Eagle 2698 km/h
F-15E Strike Eagle 2698 km/h
F-16C Fighting Falcon 2175 km/h


2) climb rate

F-15C Eagle 17500 m/min
F-15E Strike Eagle 16000 m/min
F-16C Fighting Falcon 15250 m/min


3) ceiling

F-15C Eagle 20000 m
F-15E Strike Eagle 18200 m
F-16C Fighting Falcon 18000 m


4) engine thrust

F-15C Eagle 258 kN
F-15E Strike Eagle 258 kN
F-16E Fighting Falcon 144 kN
F-16I Fighting Falcon 129.6 kN
F-16C Fighting Falcon 127 kN


5A) weapons payload

F-15E Strike Eagle 11000 kg
F-16C Fighting Falcon 7700 kg
F-15C Eagle 7300 kg


5B) cannon rounds

F-15C Eagle 940 (20 mm)
F-15E Strike Eagle 940 (20 mm)
F-16C Fighting Falcon 515 (20 mm)


6) maximum range

F-15C Eagle 5745 km
F-16XL Fighting Falcon 4580 km
F-16C Fighting Falcon 4220 km
F-15E Strike Eagle 3900 km


7) Thrust / weight ratio

F-15C Eagle 1.12
F-16C Fighting Falcon 1.095


8) wing loading

F-15C Eagle 358 kg/m^2
F-16C Fighting Falcon 431 kg/m^2


9) price

F-15K Strike Eagle 100 mil USD
F-16I Fighting Falcon 70 mil USD
F-15E Strike Eagle 31.1 mil USD
F-15C Eagle 29.9 mil USD
F-16E Fighting Falcon 26.9 mil USD
F-16C Fighting Falcon 18.8 mil USD


10) production

F-16 Fighting Falcon 4450
F-15 Eagle 1198
F-15 Strike Eagle 334


If we take the F-15C vs F-16C, the Eagle has better speed, climb rate, ceiling, range, lower wing loading, higher thrust to weight ratio.

If we compare the kill vs losses in air to air combat, the F-15 has 104 to 0, and the F-16 has 90 to 1

The definitive answer to this has been posted a few posts ago. We are now in the era of high off bore-sight super maneuverable missiles. Whichever of the 2 gets a helmet lock on and shoots first wins.

The sensor/weapon fit is as important as the base platform.

This is why so much effort on F-35 has been put into the sensor system. See first, shoot first, win, go home.

Originally posted by FULCRUM
F-15 (A) has a G-Limit of 8..

F-16 has G-Limit of 9+



Plus that F-16 has better power to weight and acceleration.. (ratio..)



And also..

F-16 is build to be a dog fighter..

F-15 is build to be a an interceptor.. (bomber killer..)

For both F-15C and F-16C the g limits are +9 g and -3.5 g.
The F-16 was built as a dogfighter, but the F-15 was designed as a dogfighter plus long range interception

A Japanese Zero would take em both out you know.

Originally posted by DeltaNine
That doesnt matter FULCRUM, its all in the pilot. Either A/C could win that with the right pilot.

The OP is asking about the better PLANE, NOT which PILOT would be better in a plane!!! Both planes are DIFFERENT, and the OP wants to know about the PLANES not about PILOTS!!! The question is obviously asked with ALL things being EQUAL other than the PLANES themselves!!

Jeez man, come on.

Simple example for you: you could put a professional race-car driver in a freakin 80's camaro and put joe-redneck John-deere rider in a Ferrari and have them race on a closed course racetrack and GUESS WHO wins the race?!!!

Does that make the Camaro better because it has the better DRIVER?!!!

Come on man.

OP, I dont know the answer but GREAT QUESTION!! I love fighter jets and cant wait to hear HELPFUL answers unlike the "pilot" type of answer.

sniper vs knife-fighter .. dumb question

I have posted earlier the specifications, let's see also the combat record:


F-15 Eagle / Strike Eagle


Air victories: 104


27.06.1979 F-15A (Israel) - 5 x MiG-21MF (Syria)
24.09.1979 F-15A (Israel) - 4 x MiG-21 (Syria)
24.08.1980 F-15A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-21 (Syria)
31.12.1980 F-15 (Israel) - 2 x MiG-21 (Syria)
13.02.1981 F-15 (Israel) - 1 x MiG-25PD (Syria)
29.07.1981 F-15A (Israel) - 1 x MiG-25PD (Syria)
20.04.1982 F-15A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-23BN (Syria)
25.05.1982 F-15 (Israel) - 2 x MiG-21 (Syria)
6.06.1982 F-15A (Israel) - 1 x MiG-23MS (Syria)
7.06.1982 F-15A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-23 (Syria)
8.06.1982 F-15A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-21 (Syria)
- 2 x MiG-23 (Syria)
9.06.1982 F-15 (Israel) - 4 x MiG-23 (Syria)
- 7 x MiG-21 (Syria)
10.06.1982 F-15 (Israel) - 6 x MiG-21 (Syria)
- 2 x MiG-23 (Syria)
- 1 x SA342L (Syria)
11.06.1982 F-15 (Israel) - 4 x MiG-21 (Syria)
- 2 x MiG-23 (Syria)
25.06.1982 F-15A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-23MF (Syria)
2.07.1982 F-15C (Israel) - 2 x MiG-21bis (Syria)
31.08.1982 F-15 (Israel) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Syria)
20.11.1985 F-15D (Israel) - 2 x MiG-23ML (Syria)
2.06.1989 F-15C (Israel) - 2 x MiG-29 (Syria)
5.06.1984 F-15 (Saudi Arabia) - 2 x F-4E (Iran)
17.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 3 x MiG-29 (Irak)
- 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
- 1 x Mirage F1BQ (Irak)
19.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-25PD (Irak)
- 2 x MiG-29 (Irak)
- 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
24.01.1991 F-15C (Saudi Arabia) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
26.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 3 x MiG-23MF (Irak)
27.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 3 x MiG-23MF (Irak)
- 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
29.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-23 (Irak)
2.02.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 1 x Il-76 (Irak)
6.02.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-21bis (Irak)
- 2 x Su-25K (Irak)
7.02.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 3 x Su-22 (Irak)
7.02.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 1 x Mi-24 (Irak)
11.02.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x Mi-8 (Irak)
14.02.1991 F-15E (USAF) - 1 x Mi-24 (Irak)
24.04.1999 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-29 (Serbia)
26.04.1999 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-29 (Serbia)
14.09.2001 F-15C (Israel) - 2 x MiG-29 (Syria)


Losses in air to air combat: 0



F-16 Fighting Falcon


Air victories: 85 + 5 UAV


28.04.1981 F-16A (Israel) - 2 x Mi-8 (Syria)
14.07.1981 F-16A (Israel) - 1 x MiG-21 (Syria)
26.05.1982 F-16 (Israel) - 3 x MiG-21 (Syria)
7.06.1982 F-16 (Israel) - 1 x MiG-23MF (Syria)
8.06.1982 F-16 (Israel) - 4 x MiG-23BN (Syria)
- 1 x MiG-21 (Syria)
9.06.1982 F-16A (Israel) - 6 x MiG-21 (Syria)
- 1 x MiG-23MF (Syria)
- 10 x fighter (Syria)
10.06.1982 F-16A (Israel) - 2 x SA342 (Syria)
- 7 x MiG-21 (Syria)
- 1 x MiG-23MF (Syria)
11.06.1982 F-16A (Israel) - 4 x MiG-21 (Syria)
- 6 x MiG-23 (Syria)
- 1 x Su-22 (Syria)
- 1 x SA342 (Syria)
24.06.1982 F-16A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-23BN (Syria)
17.05.1986 F-16A (Pakistan) - 2 x Su-22 (Afghanistan)
30.03.1987 F-16A (Pakistan) - 1 x An-26 (Afghanistan)
04.1987 F-16A (Pakistan) - 2 x An-26 (Afghanistan)
- 4 x Mi-8 (Afghanistan)
16.04.1987 F-16A (Pakistan) - 2 x Su-22 (Afghanistan)
08.1987 F-16A (Pakistan) - 1 x An-26 (Afghanistan)
17.05.1988 F-16A (Pakistan) - 2 x Su-22 (Afghanistan)
4.08.1988 F-16A (Pakistan) - 1 x Su-25 (Russia)
3.11.1988 F-16A (Pakistan) - 1 x Su-22 (Afghanistan)
21.11.1988 F-16A (Pakistan) - 1 x An-26 (Afghanistan)
31.01.1989 F-16B (Pakistan) - 1 x An-24 (Russia)
27.11.1992 F-16A (Venezuela) - 2 x OV-10 (Venezuela / rebel)
- 1 x AT-27 (Venezuela / rebel)
27.12.1992 F-16D (USAF) - 1 x MiG-25 (Irak)
17.01.1993 F-16C (USAF) - 1 x MiG-23 (Irak)
4.09.1993 F-16C (Turkey) - 1 x Mirage F1CG (Greece)
28.02.1994 F-16C (USAF) - 5 x J-21 (Serbia)
28.12.1995 F-16C (Greece) - 1 x F-4E (Turkey)
24.03.1999 F-16AM (Holland) - 1 x MiG-29 (Serbia)
4.05.1999 F-16CJ (USAF) - 1 x MiG-29 (Serbia)
8.06.2002 F-16B (Pakistan) - 1 x UAV (India)
2006 F-16 (Israel) - 3 x UAV (Palestine / Hezbollah)
25.02.2009 F-16C (USAF) - 1 x UAV (Iran)



Losses in air to air combat: 1


8.10.1996 Mirage 2000EG (Greece) - 1 x F-16D (Turkey)



The F-15 has more kills and it was never shot down in air to air combat.