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So my understanding is that you are proposing to build a swarm of cheap interceptors. But why would an F-35 even engage your swarm? It would fly around or over

by apr 11y ago

So my understanding is that you are proposing to build a swarm of cheap interceptors. But why would an F-35 even engage your swarm? It would fly around or over it and strike its target. If your cheap interceptors are incapable to impose a fight on opposing planes the net effect is that as if they don't even exist.

failrate 11y ago
Because the drone swarm would completely surround the target. Think of them as mobile blitz balloons.
- apr 11y ago
  For them to surround the target they have to catch up with it first. Not gonna happen if the drones cannot exceed the speed and altitude of the airplane they want to intercept.
- ambicapter 11y ago
  What makes you think they can keep up?
na85 11y ago
The F-35 is slower and less maneuverable than nearly any contemporary fighter aircraft. It cannot avoid an engagement, nor press the attack.
- greedo 11y ago
  Quit reading the press that loves to paint military spending as a waste. The F-35 isn't a dog, it may not be as fast as the fastest jets, or as maneuverable as the most agile, but it's not like it's a C-130... It has stealth, so it can avoid an engagement if need be, or maneuver so the engagement is on more favorable terms. Try that with a 4th gen aircraft.
  - na85 11y ago
    >The F-35 isn't a dog, it may not be as fast as the fastest jets, or as maneuverable as the most agile Yes. It's slower, and less agile. Than other fighter aircraft. It can't win a dogfight. Period. >It has stealth, so it can avoid an engagement if need be, or maneuver so the engagement is on more favorable terms. Which the Chinese will surely counter, since they stole the blueprints. That stealth is mostly worthless.
    - greedo 11y ago
      Glad you're so convinced that it can't win. Period. That is so comforting. Not all air combat is done in a dogfight. Most A2A kills in the last 30 years have been BVR shots. Which the F-35 will excel at. And I'm glad you know the truth about stealth. It is useless you know. That's why the Russians, the Chinese and now the Germans are starting to build 5th Gen stealth aircraft. All to prop up the illusion that it's just a boondoggle, and "mostly worthless." Back to reality. Stealth is very useful, that's why countries work tirelessly to find countermeasures. Some of these work to a degree, some have potential. Stealth isn't magic, it's just a useful tool; like jamming, like AWACs, like OPFOR training. But to deny its merits is just ignorant.
      - na85 11y ago
        >Not all air combat is done in a dogfight. You're right, almost none of it is. >Most A2A kills in the last 30 years have been BVR shots. Which the F-35 will excel at. Negative, Ghostrider. It still has to be able to catch its prey, which it's not fast enough to do. And faster aircraft can still prevent it from disengaging. Speed is life in air combat. >And I'm glad you know the truth about stealth. It is useless you know. That's why the Russians, the Chinese and now the Germans are starting to build 5th Gen stealth aircraft. All to prop up the illusion that it's just a boondoggle, and "mostly worthless." What are we, on reddit? You're purposely being snide and also purposely misinterpreting what I've written. Stealth itself, as a concept, is not worthless. The F-35's stealth technology has been compromised, therefore it is of little value against an adversary such as China or Russia. >Back to reality. Stealth is very useful, that's why countries work tirelessly to find countermeasures. Some of these work to a degree, some have potential. Stealth isn't magic, it's just a useful tool; like jamming, like AWACs, like OPFOR training. But to deny its merits is just ignorant. I'm now convinced you are trolling. Enjoy your evening.
- apr 11y ago
  That is a completely different issue. I am not saying that F-35 is the greatest fighter plane in history. If it were there would not be so much controversy around it.
  - na85 11y ago
    It's not a completely different issue. The F-35 can't do the things that the parent post suggested it could to avoid the cheaper interceptors, because it's too slow to avoid the engagement and too cumbersome to win a dogfight.
mcv 11y ago
But that also goes the other way around. Your F-35 isn't getting you any kind of air superiority if my drones can drop bombs with impunity.

by apr 11y ago

failrate 11y ago

Because the drone swarm would completely surround the target. Think of them as mobile blitz balloons.

apr 11y ago
For them to surround the target they have to catch up with it first. Not gonna happen if the drones cannot exceed the speed and altitude of the airplane they want to intercept.
ambicapter 11y ago
What makes you think they can keep up?

na85 11y ago

The F-35 is slower and less maneuverable than nearly any contemporary fighter aircraft. It cannot avoid an engagement, nor press the attack.

greedo 11y ago
Quit reading the press that loves to paint military spending as a waste. The F-35 isn't a dog, it may not be as fast as the fastest jets, or as maneuverable as the most agile, but it's not like it's a C-130... It has stealth, so it can avoid an engagement if need be, or maneuver so the engagement is on more favorable terms. Try that with a 4th gen aircraft.
- na85 11y ago
  >The F-35 isn't a dog, it may not be as fast as the fastest jets, or as maneuverable as the most agile Yes. It's slower, and less agile. Than other fighter aircraft. It can't win a dogfight. Period. >It has stealth, so it can avoid an engagement if need be, or maneuver so the engagement is on more favorable terms. Which the Chinese will surely counter, since they stole the blueprints. That stealth is mostly worthless.
  - greedo 11y ago
    Glad you're so convinced that it can't win. Period. That is so comforting. Not all air combat is done in a dogfight. Most A2A kills in the last 30 years have been BVR shots. Which the F-35 will excel at. And I'm glad you know the truth about stealth. It is useless you know. That's why the Russians, the Chinese and now the Germans are starting to build 5th Gen stealth aircraft. All to prop up the illusion that it's just a boondoggle, and "mostly worthless." Back to reality. Stealth is very useful, that's why countries work tirelessly to find countermeasures. Some of these work to a degree, some have potential. Stealth isn't magic, it's just a useful tool; like jamming, like AWACs, like OPFOR training. But to deny its merits is just ignorant.
    - na85 11y ago
      >Not all air combat is done in a dogfight. You're right, almost none of it is. >Most A2A kills in the last 30 years have been BVR shots. Which the F-35 will excel at. Negative, Ghostrider. It still has to be able to catch its prey, which it's not fast enough to do. And faster aircraft can still prevent it from disengaging. Speed is life in air combat. >And I'm glad you know the truth about stealth. It is useless you know. That's why the Russians, the Chinese and now the Germans are starting to build 5th Gen stealth aircraft. All to prop up the illusion that it's just a boondoggle, and "mostly worthless." What are we, on reddit? You're purposely being snide and also purposely misinterpreting what I've written. Stealth itself, as a concept, is not worthless. The F-35's stealth technology has been compromised, therefore it is of little value against an adversary such as China or Russia. >Back to reality. Stealth is very useful, that's why countries work tirelessly to find countermeasures. Some of these work to a degree, some have potential. Stealth isn't magic, it's just a useful tool; like jamming, like AWACs, like OPFOR training. But to deny its merits is just ignorant. I'm now convinced you are trolling. Enjoy your evening.
apr 11y ago
That is a completely different issue. I am not saying that F-35 is the greatest fighter plane in history. If it were there would not be so much controversy around it.
- na85 11y ago
  It's not a completely different issue. The F-35 can't do the things that the parent post suggested it could to avoid the cheaper interceptors, because it's too slow to avoid the engagement and too cumbersome to win a dogfight.

mcv 11y ago

But that also goes the other way around. Your F-35 isn't getting you any kind of air superiority if my drones can drop bombs with impunity.