Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
Frankly if there was a Chinese or Russian invasion it would be very tough for them to establish air superiority in the opening days of the war because they wouldn't have the bases and logistics to do it. That's where our 65 planes would have an advantage in battlefield support and working to prevent the easy creation of beachheads and logistical tracks.
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In the 25-35 year time frame that new jets should cover, there is zero chance the Russians or the Chinese will be invading North America. Frankly, there is zero chance anyone in the forseeable future will be invading North America. It's complete fantasy.
The logistical requirements alone make it impossible. Where are these hypothetical invaders going to base out of? How are they going to avoid the utterly dominant US Navy whilst they are transporting their troops to the NA mainland? How are these troops going to be supplied, again with the US Navy in the way? Canada and the US together are bigger in land area than Russia - how many troops do you think it would take to completely occupy both nations?
This sets aside the US nuclear arsenal as well. Do you think any nation is going to be stupid enough to launch a land invasion with the certainty that the US is going to start - at minimum - a limited nuclear strike if it looks like it has any chance of succeeding?
A war with Russia or China in a proxy theatre is barely believable, as a carefully chosen battleground in their backyard might give them enough advantage to overcome the huge American advantages in technology, equipment and logistical support. That either one could envision successfully prosecuting a fight over here is completely unrealistic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
And if you have 65 advanced aircraft that are ie generation 5 aircraft they are worth 2 to 3 times the number of their counterparts in older less capable aircraft.
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Depends on what role those aircraft need to play. If - as has been the case since the Soviet Union went down into chaos - you are mostly intent on fighting 3rd world circus armies and fanatical tribesmen, you just need a platform that can carry a lot of bombs and missiles to blow things up, preferably as accurately as possible. This doesn't require stealth. Further, if stealth means you can't carry as much ordnance, your cheaper but better-armed plane might actually be an advantage for the side that has both types, especially if the cheaper plane is also easier to maintain and support.
To use a hypothetical, but much more plausible scenario than any kind of Russkie invasion, say NATO is fighting Syria, in the first few days of the conflict American F-22s destroy all their air-to-air assets. Then the F-35s go in and destroy all the Syrian radar and many of their SAMs. Now you can send in whatever you like, because the air war is essentially over, and if you can send in a hundred planes with twice the armament of 50 of your fancy stealth planes, you have 4 times the effect on the ground than you would spending twice the money.