No. of Recommendations: 9
Neither side is able to safely cross the line into enemy territory with their sophisticated fights and bombers because of the likelihood that they will be shot down with much cheaper anti-aircraft missiles. The Ukrainians were able to sink the Russian flagship (and others) at their docks in Sevastopol and the Russian Navy had to move their fleet to the opposite side of the Black Sea. Ukraine is currently using long-range drones in the same mission that the US would use a strategic bomber.
Carried to a point when both sides can produce sufficient drones and ballistic and cruise missiles, there will be little efficacy of using aircraft for any task other than carrying massive bombs. In the same fashion, every weapon system should be examined and, if it has lost efficacy in modern warfare, be "deemphasized".
I am reminded of the episode “A Taste Of Armageddon” from the original Star Trek series. In it the war (now 500 years and counting) is done by computer simulation and the people who are “hit” simply walk into disintegration chambers, although nobody really remembers why.
Kirk & crew get involved when the computer running the simulations decides that the Enterprise has been destroyed, so all its inhabitants are required to report for this “sanitized” version of war.
That’s what this “drone” warfare reminds me of, remote, even AI piloted miniature craft delivering death in discrete packets, neither side willing to give up, neither side able to achieve victory - and the war goes on.
We humans are an insane species.
Man: We are going to travel for millions of miles on a spaceship, and you’re invited.
Other man: I guess we all have to learn to get along for quite a while then, right?
Man: Yes, that will be very important.
Other man: Terrific! What is the spaceship called?
Man: Earth.
