Did some further reading on the topic.It is speculated that there were severe restrictions on the use of the Aim-120 AMRAAM.The fire range limit was set to just 20 Nm hence completely degrading it as an active BVR.The raptors only carried 2 IRMs and without an HMS.In previous engagements,we saw the F-15C go down.This may be for two reasons:
The crews wanted to get a first hand look at the new Russian tech.Or maybe the F-15C was deliberately killed so as to scare the congress into providing funds for the F-22A.
This time though, the raptor went down so maybe it's another scare tactic?Only time will tell.