3 ms·

Do Mexico practically need an airforce? If the US invades, their airforce would be useless. And if any one else invades, I'm sure uncle Sam would have somethin

• zabzonk 3y ago
  Drug cartels using aircraft?
  • trashtester 3y ago
    Basically any kind of situation where civilian aircraft need to be stopped or redirected, including various cases of dealing with criminal activity (drug transport, jail breaks, terrorism or assassination attempts by air.) Even the dozen or so F-5's they had were a lot better than nothing. Without any kind of air defense, Mexico will now not be able to host any kind of significant world event involving world leaders, or at least not without the US air force providing air cover.
    • justsomehnguy 3y ago
      > or at least not without the US air force providing air cover ... from whom, exactly? From the planes launched from... US aircraft carriers?
      • trashtester 3y ago
        If you mean who will provide protection, aircraft would probably be launched from mainland US. Supported by tankers, the US has no problem projecting air power over all of Mexico, if allowed by the Mexican government (or even if not allowed, if they're willing to pay the diplomatic price). If you mean who would attack something like a high level international conference or sports events (with heads of major powers attending), that would obviously not be US carriers. (If the US navy or air force wants to bomb something, almost nobody can stop that.) Rather, the threat would be any terrorist or criminal group able to control either a civilian jet or large, fast drone (able to outfly the WW2-era fighters that Mexico still has available).
  • benj111 3y ago
    Ok, you don't need fighters for that.
• hbossy 3y ago
  What if they need to fight one of their southern neighbors over some marine issue of little concern to the USA? Or when they need to fight a country allied to the USA? Think Falklands.
  • benj111 3y ago
    >think Falklands. From whose pov? Do Mexico have distant territories? You could construct all sorts of scenarios. But every country has a limited budget, and need to focus that budget on the most likely threats. Fighter aircraft are fairly niche in their roles, and expensive and I can understand Mexico coming to the conclusion they don't need them. I'm not aware of any territorial disputes involving Mexico. And a marine issue could equally be solved by sailing a ship there, well, from a show of force pov
• zaphirplane 3y ago
  Drug smuggling planes come to mind. Actually any kind of unauthorised flying over the country
  • sofixa 3y ago
    Jet fighters are too fast to be effective against cartel smuggling planes. Propeller driven planes such as the Super Tucano are much better suited for that role.
  • tamimio 3y ago
    I’ve seen some of these cartels flights videos, they fly low, between trees/mountains, land on off roads, you name it, it’s crazy!