China Thread

#3,076
#3,076
Velo Vol said:
Do they have sufficient capacity to ferry back and forth tens of thousands of troops and supplies?

It's conceivable that China could try to create a blockade against Taiwan, which would be quite problematic.

But a full-scale invasion? That's an entirely different ballgame.
Click to expand...

If you look at history, the biggest problem for an army (other than logistics) is accessibility to the enemy. Hitler rolled across wide open spaces with tanks and minimal losses because that with accompanying airpower overwhelmed the defenders; however, our landing invasions in the Pacific and Europe were always costly.

It's inevitably like pouring something into a funnel with the narrow end being what the invading force brings to meet the enemy. In nuclear terms it's a lack of critical mass - just feeding troops into a meat grinder while their numbers because of a geographic obstacle cannot allow them to meet the opposing force with enough oomph to overwhelm them. The invader may have the numbers but not the ability to have a big enough force in place at any time to displace the defender. The Chinese would have to destroy Taiwan's shore and air defenses before trying to land troops; by then you'd have to believe that what China wants on Taiwan would be destroyed, so the millions of waiting troops would be largely useless.
 
#3,077
#3,077
AM64 said:
Yep, a case of a plane intended to do one role well, and it does that. The YF-23 that lost the flyoff competition to the F-22 was apparently no slouch either. Military systems planners just can't seen to accept the KISS principle, and they still believe in the one thing that will do it all ... and it never works because of the complexity.
Click to expand...
The only problem with the YF-23 was it’s manufacturer. Skunk Works team at Lockheed just had a much more stable history of delivering on high-end platforms.

We keep sacrificing a $1 today for the promise of $2 tomorrow. Sigh.

The Raptor lines should be pumping F-22 AND the NF-22 right now - there is nothing in the skies that could handle either.

Would also solve the US Navy’s range problem that has our carrier groups exposed in a high end fight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tbh, RDU VOL#14 and AM64
#3,078
#3,078
Orangeburst said:
F-16, although originally just an ADF, are multi role and were a fantastic aircraft. F-35A are to replace F-16s.
F-22's are as complex and costly to operate as any design ever built.
Click to expand...
A big part of that cost per flight hour is the constant re-application of the RAM.

Have you read about the new ceramic RAMs that are coming out? Gonna solve a lot of that.
 
#3,079
#3,079
AM64 said:
If you look at history, the biggest problem for an army (other than logistics) is accessibility to the enemy. Hitler rolled across wide open spaces with tanks and minimal losses because that with accompanying airpower overwhelmed the defenders; however, our landing invasions in the Pacific and Europe were always costly.

It's inevitably like pouring something into a funnel with the narrow end being what the invading force brings to meet the enemy. In nuclear terms it's a lack of critical mass - just feeding troops into a meat grinder while their numbers because of a geographic obstacle cannot allow them to meet the opposing force with enough oomph to overwhelm them. The invader may have the numbers but not the ability to have a big enough force in place at any time to displace the defender. The Chinese would have to destroy Taiwan's shore and air defenses before trying to land troops; by then you'd have to believe that what China wants on Taiwan would be destroyed, so the millions of waiting troops would be largely useless.
Click to expand...
There's a lot of truth there. PRC doesn't want Taiwan for their manufacturing; that's a bonus to them if they can get it. They want Taiwan for principle, tolerating no seccesion, like Lincoln wanted Richmond.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 85SugarVol
#3,080
#3,080
85SugarVol said:
A big part of that cost per flight hour is the constant re-application of the RAM.

Have you read about the new ceramic RAMs that are coming out? Gonna solve a lot of that.
Click to expand...

F-35 RAM is basically maintenance free afaik other than access panel filler and tape. F-22 is the problem plane with RAM, and B-2 is even worse.

Ive heard of ceramic and even mirror stuff. Nobody knows what this is..chrome finish with ceramic?

New-F-22-Chrome-Raptor-top-image.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 85SugarVol
#3,082
#3,082
EasternVol said:
There's a lot of truth there. PRC doesn't want Taiwan for their manufacturing; that's a bonus to them if they can get it. They want Taiwan for principle, tolerating no seccesion, like Lincoln wanted Richmond.
Click to expand...
It’s been there top priority for decades - reunification.

It is a colossal slap in the face to them, and undermines their authority on the mainland.

They will move Heaven and Earth, and sacrifice thousands of their own to take it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EasternVol
#3,083
#3,083
Orangeburst said:
F-35 RAM is basically maintenance free afaik other than access panel filler and tape. F-22 is the problem plane with RAM, and B-2 is even worse.

Ive heard of ceramic and even mirror stuff. Nobody knows what this is..chrome finish with ceramic?

New-F-22-Chrome-Raptor-top-image.jpg
Click to expand...
The heat the F-22 generates is apparently what breaks down its RAM so quickly. The ceramics hold up to much higher temperatures for much longer.

The “chrome” Raptor certainly looks cool. I subscribe to the theory that it was probably a “bogey” we were testing our own tech on.

But who knows.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Orangeburst
#3,085
#3,085
  • Like
Reactions: AM64 and Orangeburst
#3,087
#3,087
AM64 said:
We have some decent allies in Europe. France just isn't one of them. Not really sure when in history France has been a worthy ally to anybody. Germans and Swiss are iffy because they are willing to sell their souls for profit - allies or not depends on how the wind is blowing and what they stand to gain.
Click to expand...

They're Europeans, what do you really expect?

I will say at various times in history they could be fierce warriors but they all have a downfall on record.

I will say France was a worthy allie during the Revolutionary War.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AM64
#3,088
#3,088
Volsdeep4 said:
That’s a very incorrect statement. Nothing is free hand outs. These are all lend to lease. Just like we did with the UK, who just paid us back from WWll.
Click to expand...

Please provide a link to what the UK paid us. Also, 80 years to pay us back? Do you seriously think we are getting anything for the weapons we left in Afghanistan?
 
#3,090
#3,090
BreatheUT said:
Please provide a link to what the UK paid us. Also, 80 years to pay us back? Do you seriously think we are getting anything for the weapons we left in Afghanistan?
Click to expand...
Britain to make its final payment on World War II loan from U.S. - Business - International Herald Tribune (Published 2006)

You said free handouts in Ukraine. Nothing about Afghanistan?

Edit: but to answer Afghanistan; absolutely not. Just a disaster and an embarrassment of a move by our government.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: AM64 and BreatheUT
#3,091
#3,091
From the Iran & Saudi Arabia Moving Closer Together thread
Rasputin_Vol said:
Seems like the US is more concerned about this than the surrounding areas. This is none of our business or concern.
Click to expand...
You asked 'what PRC aggression in the SCS?' then said it was 'just atolls and sandbars'. Those links gave context about the aggression and what's at stake.
As far as it being our business, generally I think that we meddle to much in other countries' affairs. In this case it's a real issue of national security so efforts to block PRC's territory grab are warranted.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: AM64
#3,092
#3,092
1681120873539.png
Yes there are territorial disputes between other countries. Only PRC is actively stealing other's territory and militarizing it. Their 9 dash line map which they use to justify their claims is bogus. Philippines took them to arbitration in the Hague over Scarborough and won, but PRC refuses to relinquish the territory.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: AM64
#3,095
#3,095
Orangeburst said:
Heli and LCAC assault would be another front, probably on the eastern side.
Click to expand...
Spot on with the eastern side.

A map of flight paths released by Taiwan's defence ministry showed four J-15 fighter jets to the island's east - suggesting that the Chinese military is for the first time simulating strikes from the east, rather than the west where China's mainland lies.
Click to expand...

Jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed on the carrier 120 times between Friday and Sunday, the Japanese ministry said.
Click to expand...

1681144167636.png

China-Taiwan: Aircraft carrier 'seals off' island on third day of drills
 
  • Like
Reactions: Orangeburst
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top