I'm not panicked over the Russians or the Chinese flying stealthy-looking airframes. We had the YF-22 and YF-23 prototypes developed and flying in under 5 years, but took another 15 to get the F-22A to combat status.
We had the X-35 airframe flying in under 5 years, but we're still working out the kinks in the avionics of the F-35 family.
OK. However it may be a very serious error to underestimate the ability of the Chinese to develop avionics and adapt proven guidance systems to these stealthy drones and their missiles which are also stealthy. Put another way, the US at one time deployed two complete blue water carrier groups in the narrow, shallow Persian Gulf. Given the eagerness of the Chinese to sell their products, do you feel those ships and their brave crews would have survived open hostilities? Just saying that technology has changed everything and the methodology to achieve strategic goals must also change.
Yo-Yo, it won’t take the Chinese as many years to get operational as it did us. First, they don’t have a Congress. The US Congress ensures that every state gets a piece of the procurement pie (pork-pie, for sure) and then, Congressional intermeddlers change priorities and requirements almost whimsically.
Just remember the shock America got when it went head to head with the Zero and the “Jap” pilots that all wore thick glasses. Lots of America’s best young men were killed early in the War because of our hubris and suddenly outdated equipment and tactics.
Oldplayer