I was surprised to learn that some MiG-21s had HMCS but AFAIK none have the weaponry to fully exploit it. The only missile they have with off-boresight performance is the R-73, which only offers 60 degrees and has no lock-after-launch ability, so they would still need to point at what they're shooting, which might not be easy if it's an F-22.
In loose theory though even a Tucano armed with AIM-9X and HMCS could cause a Raptor problems WVR if looking and firing is all that's required. I'm not sure whether it's that simple though. Would backwinders have the same hit rate as forward shots?
EO/IR search and track offers many advantages over just radar. It has greater round aircraft coverage and can (as the F-35 demonstarted) be used to detect and track enemies who fire weapons or missiles. In the event of an enemy closing from a bad angle, that could be beneficial. You could not only detect them but immediately return fire with inertially guided missiles.
Against 4th gen aircraft the advantage in detection range falls to the radar of the F-22 but against an F-35 I'm not convinced that radar will out-gun the F-35's EOST for range or all-aspect coverage. Add that to the F-35 helmet and throw in some AIM-9X, and I think everything favours the F-35.
In loose theory though even a Tucano armed with AIM-9X and HMCS could cause a Raptor problems WVR if looking and firing is all that's required. I'm not sure whether it's that simple though. Would backwinders have the same hit rate as forward shots?
EO/IR search and track offers many advantages over just radar. It has greater round aircraft coverage and can (as the F-35 demonstarted) be used to detect and track enemies who fire weapons or missiles. In the event of an enemy closing from a bad angle, that could be beneficial. You could not only detect them but immediately return fire with inertially guided missiles.
Against 4th gen aircraft the advantage in detection range falls to the radar of the F-22 but against an F-35 I'm not convinced that radar will out-gun the F-35's EOST for range or all-aspect coverage. Add that to the F-35 helmet and throw in some AIM-9X, and I think everything favours the F-35.