well, TOPGUN , the movie Still doing effect on me since 94!
Highway to the Danger Zone
Ride into the Danger Zone!
Edit:
OK, but speaking seriously....
the change the tomcats by the Super Bugs, was a good one, was better than upgrade the Tomcats until russia still sleeping, now, they are reborning all of they old projects are runing Fast!
like KS-172(yes the amazing 300km Range missile anti-awacs and will be operational in a few years in the New Super Flanker, and maybe on PAK-FA, the Su-35BM), and now, the Phoenix is in coma stage(i think they dindt destroyed all) and the India and China are very interested on it! may India put it operational before Russia!
and if you can feel, Russia wants appear again with Modernization of Tu-95, with the Platypus and they new super anti-ship missiles who fly at supersonic speed! im not sure if one AIM-120D can lock and hit one Krypto , BraHmos or Moskit.
thinks certain one AIM-54C can do!
I can resume it all? USN Really need one specifc fleet defender(as USAFTML said), one aircraft designated just for it, like MiG-31BM on Russia, or F-22 in USAF(it lauched someJDAMs in supersonic speed, but i think is so hard use it like a striker now.)
And the justificative of cut the operational costs isnt the more apropriated for the moment, USA have the biggest economy of the World, but want cut costs, and Russia have a economy smaller than Brazil, but the Russia VVS and Russian Navy still operating the MiG-31 and modernizating it(be sure its really heave a operational cost more than Tomcat!), so they arent optimizing the money, the DoD are just are spending wrong!
So that MINE Point of VIEW!