Originally Posted by
JamesNoBrakes
I don't know, that assumes stealth is effective and not defeated by ever evolving surveillance technology. Not only that, but DE has the potential to neutralize the weapons delivered. Yeah, maybe hypersonic has a chance, but this all decreases the need/use of manned aircraft assets IMO.
Originally Posted by
Excargodog
The technology that gives us pulse doppler radars that can see wind shear can also detect stealth. Just because the limited air to air radars we have can’t do it does not mean an integrated air defense network couldn’t detect it. And radar absorbent material is smoked really quickly by directed energy weapons.
Stealth cannot be defeated by a single new innovation, it can only be degraded incrementally by advances in radar or possibly other sensors. Range rings get bigger, ingress and egress get more challenging.
In order to ablate RAM with DE, you still have to target the aircraft with something first.
But again, same business model applies: SOMETHING kicks in the door (be it stealth, tree-skimming hypersonics, or something else... conventional prompt global strike?). Once the IADS are degraded then the more vulnerable worker bees roll in.
In recent history (post 'Nam) we have brought down IADS in a matter of hours, quickly achieved air supremacy, and then carried out sustained strike ops for years. For high-end/peer-ish opponents the fight is likely to look quite different anyway, you'd have to use your imagination on that.