This is a question for Sherman and the other Israelis, although anybody can answer.
Do you think the IAF's aircraft inventory is large enough to counter the surrounding arab countries' and iran?
Fighters Boeing F-15 Eagle United States air superiority fighter F-15A "Baz" F-15B "Baz" F-15C "Baz" F-15D "Baz" 20[14] 6[14] 17[14] 10[14] Upgraded Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle United States strike fighter F-15I "Ra'am" 25[14]
Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon United States mulitirole fighter F-16A "Netz" F-16B "Netz" F-16C "Barak" F-16D "Barak" F-16I "Sufa" 59[14] 14[14] 78[14] 48[14] 102
Upgraded
Thats 379 aircraft.
Are the old F-15/16s (not the ones with the 'I' designation) still a match for modern fighter jets?
Possible threats:
Iran still has F-14s, F-5s, F-4s, Mig-29s, Mirage F1s, Su-24s, Su-25s, and Chinese J-7s (mig-21 copy). Not great overall, but still a threat.
Iraq, still at war with Israel, is seeking to purchase F-16s.
Egypt has Mirage 5s, Mirage 2000s, F-4s, F-16s, Mig-21s, and J-7s. Plus they are looking at procuring advanced Mig 29s, Su-35s, JF-17s, more F-16s, and possibly Rafales and Mirage 2000s. A very big potential threat.
Bahrain has F-5s and F-16s.
Algeria has Mig-23s, Mig-25s, Mig-29s, Su-24s, and Su-30s.
Jordan has Mirage F1s, F-5s, and F-16s.
Kuwait has F/A-18s.
Lebanon is getting Mig-29s.
Libya has Mirage F1s, Mig-21s, Mig 23s, Su-22s, Su-24s. It is procuring Rafales and is looking at Mig-29s and Su-30s.
Morocco has Mirage F1s, F-5s, and is getting F-16s.
Oman has F-16s and is looking to purchase Typhoons.
Qatar has Mirage 2000s.
Saudi Arabia has F-15s, F-15Es, F-5s, Tornados, is getting Typhoons, and is talking about procuring Rafales.
Somalia has F-15s and F-16s on order.
Sudan has J-5s, J-7s, Mig-29s, Mig-23s, and F-5s.
Syria has Mig-21,23,25,29s, Su-22s, and Su-24s.
Tunisia has F-5s.
UAE has F-16s and Mirage 2000s.
Yemen has F-5s, Su-22s, Mig-21s and Mig-29s.
Most of these countries would probably never attack Israel, but they could contribute aircraft. The threat is in the quality of some of the aircraft and the overall quantity of all these countries aircraft, even if only a few were to attack israel. Do you think Israel's air force can defend the country against all these (potential, however improbable) threats?
Do you think the IAF's aircraft inventory is large enough to counter the surrounding arab countries' and iran?
Fighters Boeing F-15 Eagle United States air superiority fighter F-15A "Baz" F-15B "Baz" F-15C "Baz" F-15D "Baz" 20[14] 6[14] 17[14] 10[14] Upgraded Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle United States strike fighter F-15I "Ra'am" 25[14]
Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon United States mulitirole fighter F-16A "Netz" F-16B "Netz" F-16C "Barak" F-16D "Barak" F-16I "Sufa" 59[14] 14[14] 78[14] 48[14] 102
Upgraded
Thats 379 aircraft.
Are the old F-15/16s (not the ones with the 'I' designation) still a match for modern fighter jets?
Possible threats:
Iran still has F-14s, F-5s, F-4s, Mig-29s, Mirage F1s, Su-24s, Su-25s, and Chinese J-7s (mig-21 copy). Not great overall, but still a threat.
Iraq, still at war with Israel, is seeking to purchase F-16s.
Egypt has Mirage 5s, Mirage 2000s, F-4s, F-16s, Mig-21s, and J-7s. Plus they are looking at procuring advanced Mig 29s, Su-35s, JF-17s, more F-16s, and possibly Rafales and Mirage 2000s. A very big potential threat.
Bahrain has F-5s and F-16s.
Algeria has Mig-23s, Mig-25s, Mig-29s, Su-24s, and Su-30s.
Jordan has Mirage F1s, F-5s, and F-16s.
Kuwait has F/A-18s.
Lebanon is getting Mig-29s.
Libya has Mirage F1s, Mig-21s, Mig 23s, Su-22s, Su-24s. It is procuring Rafales and is looking at Mig-29s and Su-30s.
Morocco has Mirage F1s, F-5s, and is getting F-16s.
Oman has F-16s and is looking to purchase Typhoons.
Qatar has Mirage 2000s.
Saudi Arabia has F-15s, F-15Es, F-5s, Tornados, is getting Typhoons, and is talking about procuring Rafales.
Somalia has F-15s and F-16s on order.
Sudan has J-5s, J-7s, Mig-29s, Mig-23s, and F-5s.
Syria has Mig-21,23,25,29s, Su-22s, and Su-24s.
Tunisia has F-5s.
UAE has F-16s and Mirage 2000s.
Yemen has F-5s, Su-22s, Mig-21s and Mig-29s.
Most of these countries would probably never attack Israel, but they could contribute aircraft. The threat is in the quality of some of the aircraft and the overall quantity of all these countries aircraft, even if only a few were to attack israel. Do you think Israel's air force can defend the country against all these (potential, however improbable) threats?