Apparently we have different definitions of "large scale modern warfare."

Contrary to popular belief, the Viet Cong didn't beat anybody. They were basically wiped out in 1968. North Vietnam's regular army stepped in to keep the war going and after 10 years of futility we finally threw in the towel and the US/Nixon/Kissinger did something very similar to what Israel did to Iran...obliterated N.V.s air defense system and cut off resupplies via force.

I find your biplanes against battleships example arguing fundamentally against the point you are trying to make...a clear case of new tech defeating, decisively old tech, which was extended and definitively proven in WW 2.

Nukes...the ultimate little guy (and big guy) slayer.

To be clear, I'm not saying really determined little guys can't do some amazing stuff and defeat big guys. But history shows that this generally only happens when the war isn't associated with a truly vital national interest on the part of the big guy. When wars are fought at very large scale (meaning key interests are involved) Napoleon's "he with the most battalions wins" dictum is about as close to fact in warfare as you can get.