*** Posted by Leszek a.k.a. Keshel ***
>The next generation of US >fighter/bombers will be so stealthy >that the
>majority of air battles will be BVR! >While other aircraft will be
>detected by by the F-22 or F-35 at >long range while their opponents
>will have to be closer than twenty >miles to detect the US aircraft!
In the Eritrea/Ethiopia conflict, were Ethipian Su-27s and Eritrean MiG-29s fought against each other NO BVR shots hit. The fighters were piloted by well trained mercenaries who were able to dodge every R-27 fired, so all the kills were registered to R-73s(AA-11s) and helmet mounted cueing systems. Most Iraqi pilots didn't know how to fly, still 2 in 3 missiles fired by Coalition fighters missed. Over Kosovo the "Knights" sqdn (MiG-29 block 9.12B) fought often against 10 NATO planes at a time. I've heard about a pilot who engaged 24 NATO adversaries!!!One of the pilots (after a radar and IRST malfunction) however avoided 3 AMRAAMs and landed at home. I don't think that all or even most engagements will end in BVR at least in the near future.
By the way have you heard about Yugoslav MiG-29 pilots claim shooting down american f-16 & f-117(one of total 2 or 3 lost over Kosovo)
F-18C vs. MiG-29:
Well, in BVR the Hornet has an obvious advantage since most MiGs don't have Adders but Alamo-A/-B's. In a knife fight we can't forget about the MiGs' HMSes & Archers. Any one within 45deg. off the MiGs boresight is in grave danger (in fact some say that's a no-escape zone).
The guns:
When ever I hear something about the GSh-301 and its targeting system exeptional accuracy is noted.

P.S. About Luftwaffe MiG-29s - I have just heard that they are to be sold
(for a symbolic 1 Euro) to Poland (my country) increasing our Fulcrum fleet to 45 aircraft (37 fighters and 8 combat trainers)!!!