[immadashell]

Is it necessary to use high performance stealth jets against third world narco factories. Wouldn’t relatively low tech drones be as effective against unprotected (read, non-anti-aircraft) facilities without the high maintenance?

[txhurl]

Kinda like real v. instant potatoes. With manned, taliban gets this is serious.

[mazda77]

Saw the same kind of story that B-52’s were being used. It makes a headline by mentioning stealth for click bait. Would it be just more logical that what assets are available and taskable at the time gets the call? Seems more likely the source mentioned bombers and the 22 and 35 are able to be fighters and/or bombers, just like the 15 and 16.

[Revolutionary]

Rather than drilling holes in the sky; fighter pilots want to blow things up. It is what makes our day.

[jonascord]

Drones aren't low tech. A bombing mission is also cheaper, and they have the power of a few 1,000 lb bombs. One wants to vaporize the building and compound, and everything and everyone in it, not just a few guys in a truck.

Besides, the stealth planes don't give the Afghan Army a chance to warn their employers. The game rules have changed.

[sparklite2]

I think the same thing. Losing one stealth fighter costs more money that all the opium refineries combined.

[phormer phrog phlyer]

My thoughts exactly, why is this expensive platform there.?

[rdcbn]

It costs a lot to use Low observable aircraft to target heroin factories but the chance to kill the operators in the factories is priceless

[redgolum]

And bombs make bad herbicide.

A fleet of cheap drones spraying vegetation killer and the problem goes away. Dropping bombs just plow the soil

[eartick]

Wouldn’t relatively low tech drones be as effective against unprotected (read, non-anti-aircraft) facilities without the high maintenance?

So drones are low tech now. Never thought I would hear that before the teens were still here. I posted earlier, send in some hi flying B52s and carpet bomb them. A couple of well placed squadrons flying in at 50k feet unleashing hell on the unsuspecting goat humping 7th century POS should do a nice job. Wait for some sat pics and DO IT AGAIN until all the bees starve for lack of flowers to suck on.