Originally Posted by
ORAC
That seems like a misconception.
We are at the point of a cusp where an individual airframe performance is becoming less important that, perhaps, control of a fleet of active wingmen and programmes such as Skyborg aren’t getting the attention they deserve. A two seat F-15EX replacement for the F-15E with 4 Skyborg could vastly outmatch a J-20:or similar platforms.
In fact it may be the concentration on building more Gen 5 stealthy platforms by the Chinese and Russians which is wasting money on technological dinosaurs. Whilst Gen 6 swarms are the future…..
Remember the NGAD is seen as a family of systems, not an individual aircraft…
The technology of an individual platform is essentially irrelevant. The difference between the PLAF and the USAF is profound. The USAF has a huge recruiting, training, logistics, and command and control advantage over the PLAF which has virtually no actual operational experience and a senior leadership that is chosen for political loyalty, not demonstrated operational competence.
The F15 had a air to air combat record of 115 to 0. Many of its kills were against peer or near peer airframes, but the training, experience and far superior organizational competence of the USAF guaranteed tactical superiority.
Could the Chinese military hurt the US Armed Forces, yes but they will be utterly destroyed in the process, I would suggest that all the reports that China would win a military conflict with any significant US forces should be taken with a grain of salt. There are many agencies and enterprises that are invested in playing up the threat.