AFAIK no-one is fighting air to air right now anywhere - it's all bomb trucks or missiles or drones
Errrrrrrr, did I imagine the air to air going on in Ukraine, pretty sure there was quite a bit early on
For FAST JET experts out there
At the risk of getting loads of groans - an old question which IS relevant when discussing the Typhoon - and future small agile fighters.
Are the days of Close Air to Air combat over ?
From google :
According to experts, lasers could potentially make the traditional air-to-air dogfighting obsolete, since a fighter with a laser weapon could destroy a target instantly without having the need to do a follow-up shot.
Because modern aircraft have reliable radar technology and missile guidance systems, dogfighting is no longer necessary. Aiming and shooting missiles with precise accuracy from further distances is now a reality, which means close-range aircraft combat is generally outdated.
In other words will the air battle be fought ‘ over the horizon’
Perhaps developing a Vulcan / B52 /B747 replacement ( BV will laugh !)with the ability to travel huge distances , with a large payload of missiles - air to air and air to ground ,modern ECM and able to stay on task for hours without AAR - is NOT so stupid after all ??
OR is the ability to visual I/D and escort ( with stealth and high g loads ) essential
?
OR is an expensive MIX required ? - with small cheap bombers for asymmetric warfare .