"Opposing aircraft target each other from miles away, often before the
pilots can see each other except on radar."

Dies anybody at USA Today actually read anything other than...USA
Today? From all the references to "Top Gun", you'd think these guys
consider "Entertainment Weekly" a primary source. No mention of
Iranian F-14's, and a painful lack of any understanding of the F-14's
mission - how else could you take their characterization of the F-14 as
a casualty of the age of radar-weapon warfare. The F-14 was one of the
greatest long-distance interceptors. Even if this vaunted age had
arrived, the F-14 would probably be the last of the 70's era fighters
to fall to obsolescence. Of course, it all comes down to cost, but
don't expect more than a cursory mention of that in a puff piece.