Is The Day Of U.S. Air Dominance In the Sky At An End?

F-22s (Photo from Air Power Australia)

U.S. Air Dominance Eroding -- DoD Buzz

The U.S. military’s historic dominance of the skies, unchallenged since around spring 1943, is increasingly at risk because of the proliferation of advanced technologies and a buildup of potential adversary arsenals, according to Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, the service’s chief for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Speaking today at the Air Force’s annual convention in the Washington area today, he provided a wide ranging assessment of what the QDR team is calling “high-end, asymmetric threats.”

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My Comment: I heard the same arguments in the 70s and 80s. At that time the Soviets were mass producing Migs and exporting them by the thousands to clients all over the world. The end result was a disappointment to everyone .... with the exception of the U.S. Air Force.

In today's world, the Russian Air Force is a fraction of what it once was. The Russians do have on their engineering plans versions of 5th generation air craft .... but the leap from a diagram to an actual production line producing aircraft .... let us put it this way .... that is a big leap.

If there is a power in the world that can (in the future) match American air power .... it will be the Chinese. But their present focus is on building up a consumer society in China .... not building 5th generation aircraft. I am sure that the Chinese are developing and will manufacture 5th generation aircraft .... but not at the projected levels for the F-35.

The focus from these countries (China, Russia, etc.) will not be 5th generation aircraft, but advanced missile technology that can be used to shoot down F-22s and F-35s. It is cheaper .... and some may argue a more effective use of resources.

But for now and the foreseeable future .... the U.S. will still rule the skies.