There is a full page ad on the back cover of a Fine Scale Modeller magazine I have in the mag / book rack on my bed side table for the new tool Academy F-15B/C in IDF markings. Where it sitting I see it every night and every morning so can't help but think about two seat F-15s and in particular the not often realised, let alone discussed, strike capability of the A/B/C/D models F-15s, brought to mind by the IDFs strike against the PLO in Tunis.
I never used to be a fan of the F-15 but it has grown on me, especially having Singaporean Strike Eagles flying over my home and slowly coming into land over the road I drive the kids home alone during exercises and this ad, burnt into my mind, have me recalling discussions else where on the multi-role capability of the type even in its original A and B models in the 70s. Yes it was employed almost exclusively as an air superiority type until the advent of the E, but contrary to popular belief it was designed to do everything the USAF F-4 (C, D, E) Phantom could do but better.
So after two paragraphs of rambling my point is I keep thinking about how the RAAF would have been much better off retaining and buying additional Phantoms in the 70s, after the F-111 was delivered, at the expense of some of the Mirages and the remaining Canberras and that the remaining two or three squadrons of Mirage IIIs could / should have been replaced with locally manufactured F-15C/D in the mid to late 80s.
The F/A-18 A/B had a number of advantages (apart from lower cost and a perceived better fit with existing RAAF CONOPS) which got me thinking arrogant and ambitious Australia of the early 80s could well have specified a bespoke Eagle, incorporating many of the new technologies on offer in the Hornet. The glass cockpit, the multi-role with the flick of a switch, the diagnostic tools and maintenance systems, early adoption of the F-401 instead of the F-100, to take advantage of F-404 technologies, resulting enhanced performance, easier, cheaper maintenance, easier, more flexible operation, basically it would have been to the USAF fighter (as opposed to strike) Eagles, what the Avon Sabre was to the F-86F, same base aircraft but half a generation ahead.
What would it be called? Well there wasn't an E-7 at that point, so Wedgetail, as in Wedgetail Eagle and maybe F/A-15A/B for the Mirage replacement, F/A-15C/D for the Phantom replacement and an F-15E derived FB-15A to replace the F-111C. Or maybe FA-15, FRS-15 (R for recce) and FB-15 to replace the Mirage III, Phantom and F-111 respectively. So as replacements and supplements were delayed and cancelled across the west with the end of the cold war MD would have this Australian developed 4.5 Gen family of Eagles that they could offer instead of the ever popular Su27s, Eagles, Typhoons and even their own F/A-18C/D. Something other than the F-15E for Saudi, Singapore, South Korea, Israel etc.