We seems to think that Air Superiority is our G-d given right. Its not—it has to be protected through technological innovation and PRODUCTION of aircraft once those innovations are made. We have a generation of politicians and their Yes-men military leaders who think we can replace fighters with UAVs. This is wishful thinking but is accepted by much of the DOD Acquisition community as fact. Worse yet, this is not something you can crank out on a dime. The F-22 took 20+ years to get into the field. It was a tremendous investment, but we produced less than 200 before shutting down the production line. That was madness.
One day we will be forced into a showdown with China and will be outclassed and outgunned.
Unfortunately if this RAT regime is anything like the last RAT regime, every one of our air superiority/technological innovations will be easily appropriated by the ChiComs anyway.
Will we be outgunned by this new Chinese thing?
We as a nation will pay the price in blood for the mistakes that our leaders are making. The tab may be a big on when it comes due.