Quote:
|
Originally Posted by PeriscopeDepth
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by SUBMAN1
A Japanese zero with 1,929 mi range has farther range than any jet we have flying by the way!
|
Which makes a farce of our future air forces. USAF and USN both plan for China as "the ultimate enemy". Yet they both proceed to procure a VLO fighter with a 600nm combat radius in the thousands. Does anyone honestly believe in 2025+ a US CVBG (er, CSG now. I keep on forgetting.) will be able to survive within 1,000nm of the Chinese coast? Let alone 500. And pray tell where will the USAF be basing its F-35s to stike China? Both services will have to tank like mad to get there. Which will render the USN's carrier decks nearly useless due to a pitiful sortie rate (the other half of the fighter wing, SuperHornets will have its hands full passing gas to the F-35s).
The name of the game in future airpower will be radius. Which demands a manned bomber with a self defense capability or swarms of UCAVs.
PD |
Now you know why tankers are overly important and such a big deal lately. This gives the aircraft unlimited range.
-S