Airpower disruption in the age of the F-35

Comments (4)

• 

  Michael

  says:

  August 11, 2018 at 8:19 pm

  I don’t know which source is more reputable; Peter Singer or Karol Kopp.

• 

  Adam Dormer

  says:

  August 12, 2018 at 5:05 pm

  Interesting article, yet I think there are some major flaws here. The author suggests that strategic bombing was not a disruptor during WW2. Most of Germany’s largest cities totally flattened leaving the population to either leave or live in the ruins. Also, transport infrastructure was severely damaged crippling movement of troops, military equipment, and supplies. USAAF strategic bombing had a even greater effect particularly on petroleum production. So, air power had a massive effect on Germany’s wartime production of pretty well everything – a huge disruptor verified by senior German military leadership during post war interrogation. I also think the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan were very serious if not the most serious “disruptors” ever used to finish a war.

  Then the discussion of the S-300/400 systems. Whilst no doubt these systems pose a serious risk, the “West” does very much have tactics and weapons to counter these systems. When ever in history have ground based defences bettered aerial attack – answer is never of course. Just how many Syrian SAM systems as the Israeli Air Force destroyed in recent times? There is also no mention for instance of the Tomahawk and then later attack using Storm Shadow and JASSM-ERs in Syria and the total lack of effective response by either Syria and Russia who had vowed to protect its ally after the first Tomahawk attack.

  With respect to Dr. Kopp, suggesting that the F-22 is the primary weapon for use against S-300/400 systems I think is wrong. What about stand off missiles as mentioned above? What about the EA-18G Growler and its EA/EW systems and weapons ? What about F-35s c/w SDB, JSOW, JSM and AARGM-ER (some of these weapons coming with Block 4 of course). I’m not sure when Dr. Kopp made those comments used in this article – perhaps some years ago now? There is plenty of commentary suggesting that F-35s would be well able to get close enough to launch stand off weapons against S-300/400 SAMs. Without conclusive evidence which is no doubt classified, who can actually say for certain.

  Interesting commentary though about potential drone attacks at air bases and one I’m sure the RAAF takes very seriously – perhaps even more so given that drone attack at that Russian air base in Syria. There are of course countermeasures for drones and one can only hope that the RAAF and its airfield security forces are all over this threat.

• 

  Mick C

  says:

  August 13, 2018 at 11:19 am

  I stopped reading this Article when it got to $150m Aircraft, The first 2 Jets the RAAF got in 2014 cost around $120m, the F-35s currently being delivered are below $100m the next ones to be ordered will be less than $90m as production ramps up, so where are you getting $150m from.
  I expect better out of AA than this.

• 

  CD Xbow

  says:

  August 14, 2018 at 10:05 pm

  I nearly stopped reading this Article when it quoted Dr Kopp. Not a credible source.

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