alt Hacker NewsThis is 100% true and I agree with all of it, but I would just add that for fighter jets specifically the calculus is a bit different.
Unless you want to buy Chinese jets your choices are either F35s or a big step down to 4th generation fighters that are materially worse in terms of capability.
Modern 4th gen fighters are still very capable, cheaper, simpler and more reliable, but if you ever do end up facing an adversary who has 5th gen fighters you'll be in trouble, so the trade off of choosing not to buy F35s is very real
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"Unless you want to buy Chinese " ???
Also - the landscape is changing.
Stealth is a standoff mechanism, but weapon systems are starting to change the value of stealth.
There are some who think that stealth mechanisms are being defeated with better sensors.
> so the trade off of choosing not to buy F35s is very real
Amazing planes and all, but given that America is struggling to win the wars it starts, how useful are they?
If potus can turn them into paperweight on his morning ego whim while not even being in indirect conflict with US but rather directly fighting US mortal sworn enemy, they are worse than useless and no sane country would want them even for free, a trojan horse of sort.
4th (4.5th) generation that reliably works is something dependable, even if not top notch. Something tells me that if you took F-35 to russian-held Ukraine airspace, it may not survive that long anyway, its not like its unhittable as Iran showed. What decides that war is anyway drones in numbers and their skilled use, not anymore artillery, tanks or endless armies of poor illiterate fuckers.
Given the state of missile tech, is that as relevant anymore? If you strap a missile on to a Cessna that can take down a 5th gen fighter before it knows you're there. Doesn't really matter what fancy doodads the latest and greatest jet has.
Further if your 5th gen jets are relying on tech from your adversary....
But if you can have more 4th gen aircrafts and have easier support and maintenance so that you can keep them flying, then that might more than outweigh the 5th gen aircrafts possible superiority.
A 5th gen aircraft on the ground is not very useful. It's easier to bomb out 100 aircraft than 400 aircraft. A 5th gen aircraft, disabled remotely via software is not very useful.