Current state of USAF

[guppy]

I think he meant GBAD in general. Now you're all absolutely correct if, this is an important if, the USAF is just pounding the sh*t out of another 3rd world country. In that case you could have weather balloons with bombs and still do the job, because the enemy AF is dead, and their IADS has been dissected and destroyed down to the tactical level. The problem arises in cumulative loss of capability, and in particular rapid response capability against a prepared opponent.

No doubt EW is important. But EW sometimes is really like a leap of faith. You see the SAM launch, you see it coming toward you, but you tell yourself, don't worry, it is not going to hit you. I have a million electrons helping me cheat death. Now, who is going to gurantee that the radar software and processing algorithms has not changed? Who is going to guarantee that the shot was not made using some back up, degraded modes? Remember the F-117 in Kosovo? EP, EA, they are all good when they work. But sometimes there is just no feedback until it is too late.

cheers

guppy

 

[Feanor]

Guppy we're on the same side in this argument. I'm of the opinion that unless significant changes in structure, or major injections of funds are made, the USAF will lose capability in relative terms.

 

[f-22fan12]

I have a little joke of sorts that I came up with for those who are 100% confident in EW systems. If You were in a B52 aircraft with EW capabilities would You trust those systems when you go into a defence network that consists of S-400 systems?

Sorry if it's a terrible joke.
Thanks.

 

[jaffo4011]

No doubt EW is important. But EW sometimes is really like a leap of faith. You see the SAM launch, you see it coming toward you, but you tell yourself, don't worry, it is not going to hit you. I have a million electrons helping me cheat death. Now, who is going to gurantee that the radar software and processing algorithms has not changed? Who is going to guarantee that the shot was not made using some back up, degraded modes? Remember the F-117 in Kosovo? EP, EA, they are all good when they work. But sometimes there is just no feedback until it is too late.

cheers

guppy

true,true,true.you are loving in a dream world if you think that you can run a military campaign without casualties.up against a modern well equipped enemy, b52,s wont be immune from modern fighter aircraft or sam,s...no matter how highly you regard you ew and ecm systems.you will still need good fighter aircraft to dfend your resources.