E-7A Wedgetail

[uhhello]

11 minutes ago, brabus said:

Problem is none of these manned platforms are survivable if WW3 kicks off. UAS constellation and space are the only viable long term solution (speaking specifically to maintaining capes we need whilst in a shooting match with the PRC).

I'm not so sure anything in space is safe if shit really kicks off

[Lawman]

I'm not so sure anything in space is safe if shit really kicks off

Yeah but we can build and launch at a rate they can’t thanks to things like Elon.

So while it would suck, that’s an attrition fight they can’t match us in. People in skill positions are a lot harder to make.

All bets are off if they or anybody else go the “if we can’t have it nobody can” route and just set a few nukes off in low Earth orbit.

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[brabus]

2 hours ago, uhhello said:

I'm not so sure anything in space is safe if shit really kicks off

 Not saying it is, but space/UAS/other tech are substantially more effective and survivable/easily replaceable than manned C2ISR in a war with the PRC. I’m not even talking about losing people, I’m purely talking about persistent C2ISR capability that manned assets simply cannot provide. 

[uhhello]

16 minutes ago, brabus said:

 Not saying it is, but space/UAS/other tech are substantially more effective and survivable/easily replaceable than manned C2ISR in a war with the PRC. I’m not even talking about losing people, I’m purely talking about persistent C2ISR capability that manned assets simply cannot provide. 

It'll take about 10 destroyed satellites to make space un-usable.

[brabus]

Between manned C2ISR and other tech, manned loses every time (in the context of full war with PRC). “Lose” defined as either literally lost, or mission ineffective. Much easier to succeed with other tech (not to say it’s indestructible, can’t be degraded/denied, etc.) than manned. It’s simply the world/near future we live in, at least in PACOM.

Edited Monday at 03:51 AM by brabus

[Clark Griswold]

Reaper AWACS

https://www.twz.com/air/mq-9b-airborne-early-warning-variant-could-fill-major-aerial-surveillance-gaps
 

[fire4effect]

On 6/17/2025 at 12:06 PM, Clark Griswold said:

Reaper AWACS

https://www.twz.com/air/mq-9b-airborne-early-warning-variant-could-fill-major-aerial-surveillance-gaps
 

I could see this as well as other variants like Sea Guardian etc taking over for most manned platforms for surveillance utilized by CBP DHS and USCG. Especially as AI improves. I was watching American Made the other day and I'm sure Barry Seals would have had a much tougher time against a 24/7 integrated network of these platforms. As brabus said it's the world we live in.

[Clark Griswold]

5 minutes ago, fire4effect said:

I could see this as well as other variants like Sea Guardian etc taking over for most manned platforms for surveillance utilized by CBP DHS and USCG. Especially as AI improves. I was watching American Made the other day and I'm sure Barry Seals would have had a much tougher time against a 24/7 integrated network of these platforms. As brabus said it's the world we live in.

Yeah, persistent presence missions I agree will mostly be filled by unmanned systems but I’ll still argue for the need for some manned capabilities, particularly for dynamic/short term missions, what exactly that looks like is not my call but I see an overlapping of effects required in major future conflicts, a sensor-shooter-node in the link of systems, being optionally manned gives you the best of both worlds IMO.