Magic Mushroom
On the subject of survivability I do believe you are a little economical with the truth. The Serbians were sh!t scared to launch anything let alone against an unarmed Predator and your comment
whilst the Iraqis were a little more sucessful
is grossly underestimated as even our own side were bringing them down.
I can remember a day over Iraq when the Eagles were mightily distressed because a couple of ANG Vipers were vectored by a USAF AWACS onto a wayward Predator (no Magics on NFZ duties then, so you probably never saw this) - needless to say the Predator didn't last long!
Predators and Reapers are great when there is no air threat or we have Air Superiority, Air Supremacy or even Air Dominance. Still according to all the 2Gp warriors we don't need FJs anymore do we? I will laugh my c@ck off when we lose all our 2Gp assets in the first week of a proper air war and you'll know who I am as I'll be wearing a "told you so" t-shirt and a very smug grin. By the way, if I have to fly close escort on a Predator/Reaper then you may as well put a recce pod on my jet and I'll look after myself!
I agree with Beagle - I had a Jindivik in Cardigan Bay once and UAVs and RPVs are my kind of target
LJ