You wouldn’t BELIEVE the progress they’re making with SWARMING.
They even have an abundantly feasible “SKY Aircraft Carrier” concept starting now —I’m sure it will take awhile BUT:
The smaller aircraft are called GREMLINS. They are transported to the general battle area by something similar to a C-130. They Gremlins are released and go in for SEAD-type missions, perform mapping, suppression etc. then return and land in the Mothership loitering safetly nearby.
If one or more Gremlins are attrited, who cares? They are designed with attrition in mind, off the shelf components, etc.
The swarms are so far not huge but those huge swarms will soon come.
It will be so that if the mothership succeeds in getting somewhat close and launching her swarm then mostly it’s GAME OVER for the enemy (in the future that’s more or less the citizenry, I’d wager).
A person could bring down a plane with a swarm, could they not? get sucked into the intake.
Back to the anti drone drawing board.