Description

This is a 7 ½ by 9 ½ inches hard-cover book with 240 pages. All photos are in color and the paper quality is exceptional. Every time I turned the page, I thought that I was turning 2 pages due to the thickness of the individual pages.

Book Theme

The title of the book is “US MULTI-ROLE FIGHTER JETS” and prior to reading this book I only had a vague idea as to what “Multi-Role” meant. In this book Davies describes these jets as having the flexibility to change their mission capabilities (air-to-air, air-to-ground, jamming, protection, missile and AAA suppression, refueling, etc.). Some of the changes are done prior to missions and others are called upon depending on mission discoveries or opportunities.

Table of Contents

• Strike Eagle F-15E
• Hornet & Super Hornet F/A-18C/D/F
• Viper F-16G/16CJ
• Raptor F-22A
• Lightning II F-35

Book Content

Almost 60% of the book covers the Strike Eagle, Hornets and Viper. The Raptor gets 15% and the Lightning 10%. The remainder is Introductions, Glossary, indexes etc. The photography is excellent and some pictures were taken by Davies. The cockpit and instrument panel photos are the clearest that I have seen. However, and for security reasons, there are no cockpit or instrument panel pictures of the Raptor or Lightning. Each jet is discussed following a structure that discusses the development and design, testing, weapon systems and armaments, tactics and techniques, deployments and bases of operation. Add to this, first hand pilot and operations accounts from engagements in Iraqi, Bosnia, Afghanistan and other theatres of operation and you get some very exciting real-world stories of the capabilities of these jets as well as their impact on opposing forces. One fact that jumped out at me was a training exercise of Raptors against F-15s, F-16s and F-18s. The “kill” score at was 144 to 0 in favor of the Raptors.

Conclusion

I received this book on a Monday afternoon and expected to take about a week to read it. I started Monday night and became so engrossed in the material and stories that I finished it the next evening.

Thanks to Osprey Publishing and IPMS USA for the opportunity to do this review. I give this book my highest recommendation.