Originally Posted by
MPN11
But ... ignoring hardware, how good are they at what matters?
Bombing Arab towns in a benign environment with total air superiority is one thing. But how about sustained operations against another major power/Alliance?
I pray we will never find out.
Like Afghanistan / Irag / Syria / Libya then ............... much is lauded of western equipment but workshop to mission hours is a major issue of western equipment, suppliers make their money on spares.
When Russian was invited into Syria the statements on here quoted "Pentagon" and their talking heads on MSM. Russian equipment would soon be grounded as not up to US standards. This quickly started to sound hollow when flight hours per aircraft was rising and month after month aircraft did what they were supposed to......... fly rather than spend time being worked on.
Western equipment is designed ultimately to make Military contractors money 1st and do a job 2nd. Long as #1 is achived the outcome of #2 is of no concern.
Like you I hope not to see them tested but I believe we will as there is a section of people who desire war.