"Are the days of Dogfights Over? An In-Dept Air Combat..." Topic

…ANALYSIS

"With at least two next-generation fighter programs now drawing funds from Pentagon coffers, there's one looming question dominating the airspace over internet forums, the world's military installations and advanced aviation research facilities alike: are dogfights really dead?

The most recent air-to-air kill scored by an American aircraft came in 2017, when a U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet shot down a Syrian-flagged Su-22 as it bombed American-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in the Raqqa province of Syria. The interaction wasn't much of a dogfight, but it was the first air-to-air engagement carried out by an American fighter since Operation Allied Force over Kosovo in 1999. But the last time American aircraft truly found themselves in some serious mid-air scraps was in 1991, over Iraq. With more than three decades now separating today's aviators from America's last dogfights and stealth increasingly becoming the norm, it's no wonder the Defense Department seems to be leaning away from the idea that air-to-air combat in close quarters should be a priority…"

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Armand

Same prediction was made in 1960s.

(smile)

Armand

Looks that prediction appears to have turned out to be correct, if we're getting into air-to-air combat once every 8 years on average.

True…

Armand

Ah yes, and the manned fighter jet is obsolete too.

True the same prediction was made before Vietnam and the US paid the price early on. That said, at some point it will become true. So… if you keep predicting it at some point you will be right!

Joe