I once thought this would be a good idea, but learning more about how interceptions are done in real life, I just realized that having a big aircraft carrying many missiles is not the way how things are done.
For air superiority numbers can be more important than firepower, a successfull interception is not done by a lone plane , but by many, closing routes, and decreasing the probable paths the target could get, every interceptor has it task to do, engaging or not the target.
Actually numbers was a more important factor than firepower of a design, in every USAF modern air conflict
This can’t be done by a fleet of few mastodontic planes, but a fleet composed by many aircrafts, checking a wealthy balance of numbers/performance, because if you want more performance, numbers are decreased either by readiness ratio, maintenance, cost, or any other factor.
The sky is too big for moveable point defense systems, like a B1-interceptor, of course for very , very long range interceptions (for strategic bombers interceptions) there could not be another way…although the size of the B1 is still too big for such task.
totally agree
IMHO Fifth Gen+ UCAVs ‘hunter and hounds’ will be the future…
however… what if in close future, effective close range laser defence system is small enough for B-1 sized aircraft while still too big/ heavy for fighters?
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