Wow, it’s almost as if America hasn’t been involved in an all out war with an equally well armed enemy since like, hmmm. 1945 or something

I would say Korea, but that'd be being kind to the Norks and Chinks.

While "well armed" I wouldn't say they where equals like how Japan and Germany where

Well, they weren't even really all that well armed except for the very start of the war.

And even then, the only really well equipped group in combat during that war were the Stovies flying Migs.

And some of the Chinks and Norks they trained.

Reminder that the Norks are the only people that have actually mounted MANPADS on their tanks to tell helos to go fuck themselves.

>Int check
>20

>having to use a MANPAD because you cant hit the helo with your main gun

Nork MANPADs are the equivalent of off hand shooting a pistol in the general direction of someone to tell them to fuck off

Actually it's a FIM-92 equivalent but okay.

It's on this ghetto little remote mount on the side of the turret, two Stinger-equivalent MANPADS duct taped together because F&F is OP.

Cheap shit zero-overhead upgrade that requires almost no additional effort or maintenance, no billion dollar boondoggle upgrade programs, and can be easily upgraded to modern standards by just slapping a new MANPAD on the mount

And it makes EVERY TANK a threat to CAS aircraft and helos.

Even outdated T-55s and T-64s

Virgin F-35 vs Chad Nork MANPAD

Unironically though

A F&F infrared all-aspect MANPAD with a high off-bore tracking capability...

F-35 is SOL

You have two options in that scenario: 1, outrun the missile, kinda hard to do when they go Mach 2.5+; 2, outmaneuver the missile, also hard to do when they can pull something like 15g or more.

>Nork AA
>Katyusha of MANPADs

>Implying Nork tanks have electronics

If the fixed wing pilots are smart, they won't even be close enough for the MANPADs to track them.

And if they do get a shot off, counter measures are also something to take into account.

consideing its probably just old chinese tech that has been "Updated" the best the Norks can manage

I mean Nork tech isn't actually that bad. Underestimating your opponent is the first step to losing.

And overestimating hem is a good way to waste resources

Of course, but ^

And if we're talking about the F-35, it can do probably almost any job our aircraft can do (minus gun runs compared to the A-10 ofc, but if MANPADs are a major problem like you stated, this shouldn't even be a consideration) right now like CAS for instance and probably do it a decent bit better due to the amount of info it integrates and pushes out.

Even to other platforms.

The things could basically act as it's own fucking mini-AWACS with the amount of targeting data and intel it can provide.

CAS is something you do after major AA threats have been mitigated via SEAD and you have air superiority for the most part

I don't think most CAS specific aircraft like the A10 or any helo can be expected to effectively engage other aircraft

Not really, unless they manage to catch them out.

And FFS, let it be fucking known here and now, you don't have to be low and slow to perform CAS.

Here's an old pisstaking song that literally complains about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ0EVXaaXug

Yeah I know

My flight instructor was a Wild Weasel. So SEAD was his jam

Anyone been lurking on the Pacific and China's poking the IJN and USN?

Yea.

They're attempting to build up a bluewater navy and likely plan to challenge the USN and her allies in the regions closer to the Chinese coast first and then expand out and attempt to build a sphere of influence.