Every intercept is planned. You need to know where the target is, guess where it is going, and make a plan which allows you to take off, climb, and finally intercept within your combat radius. To be able to do so, you need a radar warning from as far away as possible. Faster targets will give you less reaction time…

It wouldn’t be cheaper.

False again: While small number statistics are possible (albeit a very difficult science to apply), “single number” statistics are simply just an unscientific joke.
Sorry...