QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong, you beforehand stated the US would discover it troublesome to truly defend Taiwan. I might significantly respect when you may elaborate on that situation.
HJ
ANSWER: Should you have a look at all the fighter jets that the US may deploy from the F15, F16, F22, and F35s, they’ve a severe downside once we have a look at Taiwan. They typically have a variety of 500 to 600 miles with a significant payload of weapons. The ONLY US air base that could possibly be used to defend Taiwan is Kadena in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture. That’s 450 miles from Taiwan. If China have been to invade, an all out battle one would anticipate that the Chinese language would rain down missiles on Kadena almost certainly rendering that base in operable. If the fighters took off, they might not have a base to return to in a severe confrontation.
Sure, the USAF may deploy aerial tankers to increase a fighter’s vary by a whole lot of miles. Nonetheless, such tankers are gradual and really susceptible underneath such circumstances. Because of this the necessities for the Subsequent Technology stealth fighter has been to increase its vary. The USAF not less than quickly paused the this challenge elevating questions in regards to the potential to defend Taiwan. They claimed it was the price was too excessive. The Ukraine Warfare has highlighted the rising significance of utilizing unmanned drones maybe utilizing AI-assisted somewhat than fighter jets.
The normal ways from WWII and the Korean Warfare are giving approach to drone expertise. These drones may prolong the flight path to even 900 miles. As a substitute of billions of {dollars} for jets, they’ll use drones costing tens of tens of millions, nonetheless approach over costs to maintain the Army Industrial Advanced from happening welfare. Drones may then function from small island airstrips in The Philippines. Now you see why the Philippines has been a priority for China.
What you usually tend to see is the brand new stealth technology fighters could also be help craft for the drones because the help ships for plane carriers. They might in idea management the drones as kind of a mother-ship. All of that is being pushed by the expectation that battle is coming with China.