5 ms·
To me it feels like an asymmetry between progress in sensors/software vs. progress in hardware/personnel since the last major wars ? That is, are the warships
by chubot 5y ago
To me it feels like an asymmetry between progress in sensors/software vs. progress in hardware/personnel since the last major wars ?
That is, are the warships of today much better than the warships of 1950, if better at all? What about the skill and preparation of the crews?
On the other hand when I watched videos of the Javelin missile I see a lot of sensors and software that probably could have only been created recently.
I don't think such a thing could have existed in 1950 or 1970. Probably by 1990 it was possible, but I bet it's a lot better by 2010 too. Electronics got cheaper and smaller and more mobile. Imaging is way better.
So while I don't know any of the specifics, this seems like a general trend. It's going to be harder for the offensive side to take and hold territory, and maybe the aircraft carrier is obsolete in a big conflict.
We saw some asymmetry in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but it doesn't seem like the same type, since AFAIK the opponents didn't have many smart weapons.
- Marthinwurer 5y agoModern warships are far, far better than the ones that we used in the 50s. We have more powerful engines, more redundancy, and better damage control systems. The sensors that we have on the ships are much better, and they are used to control more advanced, accurate, and powerful missiles. The crews are better trained, because they're a fully volunteer force, and more lessons have been learned over the years. The carrier is not obsolete. They are surrounded by a battle group of the best of these modern ships, in open ocean with mobility unrestrained by the rules of engagement of a pre-planned exercise. On their decks, they carry 50+ aircraft that can investigate anywhere within 500nmi, ensuring that nothing moves on the surface that they don't know about. When a plane lands, it can be turned around for another sortie in an hour with a fresh pilot and more missiles. Each of these missiles have a range of their own of 100nmi+, and can be carried more than 500nmi by the aircraft carrying them. An aircraft carrier at full power can even outrun some smaller surface ships.
- chubot 5y agoYeah true, I shouldn't have stated in absolute terms ... But I still suspect there is a differential in the progress in tech for offense (holding a territory) vs. defense. And maybe that differential is greater than you consider Russian offense vs. western defense ...