3 ms·

Let's say China builds a jet that is as good as the F-35. Given our ability to precision target planes with missiles delivered by drones, what's the point of t

Let's say China builds a jet that is as good as the F-35. Given our ability to precision target planes with missiles delivered by drones, what's the point of the F-35? Putting a human in the cockpit of an aircraft for any form of warfare really doesn't feel like thinking about future wars to be honest.

greedo 8y ago
You won't be able to hit targets with missiles delivered by drones in a near-peer conflict. Jamming, GPS spoofing, and the current performance of drones precludes this.
mieseratte 8y ago
> Given our ability to precision target planes with missiles delivered by drones You might be overestimating the quality, reliability, stealth of drones. Up until a few years ago, you could capture (read) drone feeds[0] with COTS software / hardware. I don't mean as a hypothetical, I mean insurgents were doing this. > Putting a human in the cockpit of an aircraft for any form of warfare really doesn't feel like thinking about future wars to be honest. One would assume the tech simply isn't ready for a stealth plane without a human driver. AI surely isn't, and one would assume that transmissions for a remote-based pilot, as drones are operated, would be a giant signal that an advanced stealth craft is in your airspace. [0] - https://www.wired.com/2012/10/hack-proof-drone/ https://www.wired.com/2012/10/hack-proof-drone/
cptskippy 8y ago
> Given our ability to precision target planes with missiles delivered by drones, what's the point of the F-35? The F-35 has a smaller radar cross section than the F-22 which has a smaller radar cross section than the B-2 which has a smaller radar cross section than the F-117. The B-2's radar cross section was described as a bumble bee. If you combine that with ECMs and support for EW like Growlers, the F-35 becomes difficult to shoot down with missiles. During the initial stages of an armed conflict, the first thing you do is go after your opponent's air superiority. That means targeting Radars, SAMs, runways, and Drone stations. This is where the F-35 is suppose to shine. It works in squadrons of 8 or more simultaneously spot, targeting, and engaging multiple targets. How do you counter that? Will an air superiority fighter playing an intercept role to engage and take out the attacking force. That's where the F-22 comes into play. The F-22 is an air superiority fighter that will provide operational support to the F-35 engaging any threats well before they can pose a risk to the F-35.
sillyquiet 8y ago
I think you are forgetting how long a design lead these projects have. The first time pen was put to paper on the plane that would be the F-35 would have been in the 1990s sometimes. Drones were far away from viable then.

greedo 8y ago

You won't be able to hit targets with missiles delivered by drones in a near-peer conflict. Jamming, GPS spoofing, and the current performance of drones precludes this.

mieseratte 8y ago

> Given our ability to precision target planes with missiles delivered by drones You might be overestimating the quality, reliability, stealth of drones. Up until a few years ago, you could capture (read) drone feeds[0] with COTS software / hardware. I don't mean as a hypothetical, I mean insurgents were doing this. > Putting a human in the cockpit of an aircraft for any form of warfare really doesn't feel like thinking about future wars to be honest. One would assume the tech simply isn't ready for a stealth plane without a human driver. AI surely isn't, and one would assume that transmissions for a remote-based pilot, as drones are operated, would be a giant signal that an advanced stealth craft is in your airspace. [0] - https://www.wired.com/2012/10/hack-proof-drone/ https://www.wired.com/2012/10/hack-proof-drone/

cptskippy 8y ago

> Given our ability to precision target planes with missiles delivered by drones, what's the point of the F-35? The F-35 has a smaller radar cross section than the F-22 which has a smaller radar cross section than the B-2 which has a smaller radar cross section than the F-117. The B-2's radar cross section was described as a bumble bee. If you combine that with ECMs and support for EW like Growlers, the F-35 becomes difficult to shoot down with missiles. During the initial stages of an armed conflict, the first thing you do is go after your opponent's air superiority. That means targeting Radars, SAMs, runways, and Drone stations. This is where the F-35 is suppose to shine. It works in squadrons of 8 or more simultaneously spot, targeting, and engaging multiple targets. How do you counter that? Will an air superiority fighter playing an intercept role to engage and take out the attacking force. That's where the F-22 comes into play. The F-22 is an air superiority fighter that will provide operational support to the F-35 engaging any threats well before they can pose a risk to the F-35.

sillyquiet 8y ago

I think you are forgetting how long a design lead these projects have. The first time pen was put to paper on the plane that would be the F-35 would have been in the 1990s sometimes. Drones were far away from viable then.