Are the West close to losing the war over stealth fighters?
With China and its products, and Russia and their products we could soon be encircled (figuratively) by these nations, their allies and to nations that China and Russia sell their products to?
The aircraft may not be as technically advanced as the F35 is supposed to be, nor the F22, but they won't be that far away. They will have more up time than the overly complicated Western products. They will be cheaper, and there will be brazillions of them compared to the USA's 3 F%'s and the UK's 1 F35, but no carrier. The rate development of the F35 is being developed at perhaps the West will end up chasing after Russia and China who could have their aircraft in use before us.
If it is true that we will not be able to afford sufficient aircraft to defend ourselves, perhaps we should be looking elsewhere. What about investing massively in UAV technology? If we are able to advance the technology sufficiently perhaps we would reduce the advantage that Russia and China will shortly have? Not that UAV's can operate independently, as yet.
The above may be slightly tongue in cheek, but I do think that there is much truth in what I have written.
Last edited by hval; 18th Sep 2012 at 20:01.