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Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl
Okay, I have a question.
As someone who is not a devoted student of modern aerial warfare, I don't quite understand the complexities of the same.
Does the added maneuverability, when coupled with countermeasures, not significantly increase the probability of evading a missile attack?
And does the new SU-30 not have any means of reducing its' radar cross-section to make it less vulnerable to AMRAAMs?
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SU-30 is like a giant light bulb in a dark closet when it comes to Radar cross section. Start with the inlets for the engines.
AMRAAMS have reached a point where countermeasures are not reliable, they are so accurate that they have given up hitting the aircraft and instead specifically target the pilot, which is a guaranteed kill of the aircraft. Hence the F-22 was born - the only aircraft that will live in the future are those that can't be detected.
Russian SAM's have gotten just as sophisticated so it will be impossible to have an offensive capability with aircraft in the future if they are not stealth. The Rafael? Good for nothing more than defense. Same goes for the EF-2000. This is the reason Europe wants F-35. An F-15 and F-16 will have even less of a chance in 5 years and be good for nothing more than museum pieces.
-S