Foreign media claimed that Chengdu J-20, China's first stealth fighter, is a rip-off of the U.S. F-22 stealth fighter and the Soviet Union’s MiG-1.44, an accusation that China denied. (Photo : www.sinodefence.com)
What if war breaks out between the United States and Russia or China? Winning will not be an easy task for the Pentagon but a new report said America enjoys two key advantages - her aerial machine assets and her roster of warrior aviators.
There was a time that the air is ruled militarily by the United States but is no longer the case, Business Insider reported. Russia now boasts of the Su-35, S-300V4 and S-400 - all advanced combat planes that are capable of winning wars for Moscow. Then the Chinese recently unveiled the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter plane, which aviation experts said has range and weapons capabilities that could bring an enemy air force to its knees.
Per the same report, the U.S. Air Force is fully aware that air superiority is no longer a monopoly of America. "It's actually something you have to fight for and maintain, Air Force chief Gen. David Goldfein was quoted by Business Insider as saying.
And that's exactly what America is doing and leading the efforts for the U.S. to keep its air combat fighting form is the F-22 Raptor. The flying machine serves as both the first line of defense and offense against of the Russians or Chinese will scramble against the United States.
Much have been speculated about that the enemy can accomplish with their air fighting machines but the F-22 remains steps ahead at least in three crucial areas.
"The plane can execute mind-bending aerial maneuvers, sense incoming threats at incredible distances, and fly undetected by legacy aircraft ... For this reason, the F-22 Raptor remains the U.S.'s only hope for breaching the most heavily protected airspace," Business Insider reported.
But really the F-22 is made even deadlier by the men and women piloting the machine. The same report indicated that in order to increase the likelihood of victory, F-22 pilots train for both long-range and close-range encounters. The combat model serves "as a kind of insurance policy against the world's most advanced threats."
Business Insider said that F-22 pilot training has been returning impressive results that those on the cockpit have expressed confidence that in the event of real combat, it will be rare for one of them "to be shot down."
That is like saying that in case of a shooting confrontation against Russia or China, the United States can count on the F-22 and the men and women driving the machine to win the war.
