Q&A ยท 3:00:51-3:08:42

Missile capacity against a World War II fighter swarm

A hypothetical contest against World War II fighters initially favors a heavily armed F-15, before proposed bomber-sized missile loads shift the preference.

Question

Which modern aircraft could defeat the most World War II fighters?

Short answer

A heavily armed F-15 is the initial choice, but proposed B-1B and B-52 missile loads make magazine capacity the deciding assumption.

Notes

The counterfactual turns on which modern aircraft can carry the most air-to-air missiles. A proposed F-15 load of roughly twenty to twenty-four missiles exceeds the F-22 load quoted in the comparison. Once the missiles run out, cannon ammunition limits further engagements. A viewer's later suggestion of about sixty AMRAAMs on a B-1B changes the preferred aircraft, followed by a proposal to use the B-52 as a missile truck. These are hypothetical load assumptions, without an established operational comparison.