[the OlLine Rebel]

Never put so much faith in technology.

It will never be “all”. And there will be reasons for that, possibly unfortunately discovered if they go all-in for such a Pollyanna view.

At best you can hope for 50% of a “fighting force”.

[Chainmail]

Respectfully disagree. As it is now, emerging anti-air systems are making the skies untenable for manned systems. The technologies at hand or available soon will make entirely autonomous unmanned systems overwhelmingly capable. Air-to-air combat while carrying a delicate, pressure and temperature and atmosphere sensitive package that we have to worry about being killed or captured isn't going to be sustainable in the future battlefield.

We can't afford to be left behind the rest of the world, so we need to lose "humans will always be needed" attitude and press ahead. The glory days of Sopwiths and Hellcats and Raptors are almost over. It's going be similar stories for ground and sea combat too, so don't hang out at the O-club and whine.

It's that, or learn Mandarin.

[Chainmail]

Respectfully disagree. As it is now, emerging anti-air systems are making the skies untenable for manned systems. The technologies at hand or available soon will make entirely autonomous unmanned systems overwhelmingly capable. Air-to-air combat while carrying a delicate, pressure and temperature and atmosphere sensitive package that we have to worry about being killed or captured isn't going to be sustainable in the future battlefield.

We can't afford to be left behind the rest of the world, so we need to lose "humans will always be needed" attitude and press ahead. The glory days of Sopwiths and Hellcats and Raptors are almost over. It's going be similar stories for ground and sea combat too, so don't hang out at the O-club and whine.

It's that, or learn Mandarin.