> So they begin to spend $Bn on more and more elaborate weapons systems to challenge a non-existent threat.
The threat that this is a change to is primarily the USA's F-22. Which definitely exists.
The threat that this is a change to is primarily the USA's F-22. Which definitely exists.
The US doesn't have any enemies within range of the Chinese jets and the US won't sell the F22 to anybody near china.
They are both techno-wank projects to make generals feel cool and to keep a few aerospace companies in business. It took a while but we have finally corrupted them to be just like us - and we did the chinese as well!
There are also battle groups with F-18s and AWACS planes and so on that are much nearer than the F22s in Hawaii.
The US has plenty of allies within range of the J-20, for example Taiwan, Korea, Japan. If China was to fight any of these countries, and the US got involved, air combat between the J-20 and F-22 is quite likely.
> They are both techno-wank projects to make generals feel cool and to keep a few aerospace companies in business.
There's an element of truth in that, yes. But it's been axiomatic in warfare from about 1940 onwards that air superiority is really important in a ground or naval campaign. (So they aren't just useless toys.)
This is changing as UAVs and smart missiles take over roles currently performed by manned aircraft.