Is technology more important than human capability in modern air combat?

[mundaus]

Do you think that the nature of air combat has changed and emphasis now is on technology rather than human capability?

 

[MaXimMaRz]

I think Electronic warfare has drawn the ctt off line between training and technology, only the man behind the gun concept has lived its glorious life....now yo need EW pods. The long ranges and smart detection capabilities of AAM has ot shined training part to some extent

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

Look at it this way---when you are spending a 100 million dollar plus per plane----you are not sending them out for a mano a mano if you had a choice---no dog fights preferably---you are preparing them for a computer game---shoot and scoot---when your missiles can be launched off bore site---at speeds over 3000 km per hour and able to take 20---30 plus G's----then where is the chivalry---but the man behind the gun has not gone away totally---it is still alive----because all air forces train their pilots to face close in combat---that is where they need to excel is----but then they also need to be realistic---.

Would an F 22 get into a dog fight with a lesser capable fighter intercepter after all its missiles been launched----unless it becomes extremely neccessary, otherwise it will be long gone---flying back home.

The human capability is being taken to newer heights---places it never imagined that it could reach---highly agile and manueverable planes---the higher G forces a pilot has to endure---the elctronic's and elctronic warfare---the newer generations of AAM's----the AWACS---simply put the demand for the human capability has gone up----a pilot is being asked to do a lot more---and face a severest of adversaries in the form high technology.

 

[Contrarian]

Nope, i disagree, i think the workload of the pilot is being reduced substantially.

For example even in WVR, i believe Typhoon uses an automated gun. The gun automatically tracks the opponents plane and fires whenever it thinks it has the maximum probability of a kill. That was quite a job for older gen WVR pilots and really showed their skills.

When the RWR lights up, the plane automatically determines the most oppurtune time to deploy countermeasures-flares, etc, etc, the pilot is only asked to manouver the plane. Even this could and is done by the plane, but the decision is the pilot's.

Just a few examples of automation taking over the human aspect. Human's are now required to put their skills more on decision making,strategizing and "what to?" rather than on "how to" do it.

As we are already witnessing, UCAV's are on the threshold of taking over manned flights. While they are certainly not there right now, but you see the shift most evident USAF. They are depending more and more on their UAV's.

Just the kind of difference that started when jobs started getting offshored. People wondered if all the work was going to be done in India and CHina, what would the people in US do. The thing is, they are now going to put more effort on researching and developing new technologies and things rather than spending effort on doing relatively mundane things like filling out forms, etc.

Pilot workload is significantly going down, and it will only hasten in the comming years. Technology is definitely becomming more and more important in modern air combat, and will soon supersede the human capability.

AWACS will become the new forte for airforces to compete, which would win the day. Better trained and better skilled engineers and specialists will become the backbone of modern airforces.

 

[MaXimMaRz]

Hi,

Look at it this way---when you are spending a 100 million dollar plus per plane----you are not sending them out for a mano a mano if you had a choice---no dog fights preferably---you are preparing them for a computer game---shoot and scoot---when your missiles can be launched off bore site---at speeds over 3000 km per hour and able to take 20---30 plus G's----then where is the chivalry---but the man behind the gun has not gone away totally---it is still alive----because all air forces train their pilots to face close in combat---that is where they need to excel is----but then they also need to be realistic---.

Would an F 22 get into a dog fight with a lesser capable fighter intercepter after all its missiles been launched----unless it becomes extremely neccessary, otherwise it will be long gone---flying back home.

The human capability is being taken to newer heights---places it never imagined that it could reach---highly agile and manueverable planes---the higher G forces a pilot has to endure---the elctronic's and elctronic warfare---the newer generations of AAM's----the AWACS---simply put the demand for the human capability has gone up----a pilot is being asked to do a lot more---and face a severest of adversaries in the form high technology.

the Next few decades belong to UCAV's, and High energy weapons, Network centric warfare, Man will be a mere manager.
You talk of F-22 , well let me tell the pilot sitting in that pits not just enjoying HOTAS, he doesn't even have to change the radar mode.
My point is the more your R&D sweats the lesser your combat crew suffers

 

[zombie:-)]

Is technology more important than human capability in modern air combat?

yes it is important untill humans are involved in fighting in combat ......ITS GONNA CHANGE SOON WITH UCAVs

 

[Zob]

let me tell u something...CHINA and US have been able to shoot down satellties....well u take out ur opponents satellites and gps satellites and then all the navigation systems in his fighter plane become useless...no radar...and then he has 2 hunt and find his enemy by looking for him out in the sky.......well if all of u out here r being hypothetical...consider what i just said...now tell me with no positioning systems in ur fighter i think we r back to WW2 days where u just follow basic compass headings...

 

[MaXimMaRz]

let me tell u something...CHINA and US have been able to shoot down satellties....well u take out ur opponents satellites and gps satellites and then all the navigation systems in his fighter plane become useless...no radar...and then he has 2 hunt and find his enemy by looking for him out in the sky.......well if all of u out here r being hypothetical...consider what i just said...now tell me with no positioning systems in ur fighter i think we r back to WW2 days where u just follow basic compass headings...

WOW !!! shooting down SATs. That will be a Gaint leap.

If u take out SATs , Still the Radar Works and INS (inertial navigation systems ) they work.

u need to add more spice to your Hypothesis it to get to the point of WWI or WWII

 

[Trisonics]

I think its a lot of both, there is a video on You tube where an Indian pilot emphasizes the same. However, if we see it as a India vs Pakistan comparison, considering the amount of money and research India is spending or planning, Pakistan should be very worried.

My above statement is not to underestimate the Pakistan Air Force, but if you do have superiority in numbers and then you add technology to the equation things take a dramatic turn.

The last but most important factor that seems to be missed out in this thread is "Intelligence", "War Preparedness" and "Strategy"..so obviously if you don't look into these factors, skill and technology are of no use.

 

[haobam]

I think its a lot of both, there is a video on You tube where an Indian pilot emphasizes the same. However, if we see it as a India vs Pakistan comparison, considering the amount of money and research India is spending or planning, Pakistan should be very worried.

My above statement is not to underestimate the Pakistan Air Force, but if you do have superiority in numbers and then you add technology to the equation things take a dramatic turn.

The last but most important factor that seems to be missed out in this thread is "Intelligence", "War Preparedness" and "Strategy"..so obviously if you don't look into these factors, skill and technology are of no use.

WELL SAID !

 

[hj786]

I think its a lot of both, there is a video on You tube where an Indian pilot emphasizes the same. However, if we see it as a India vs Pakistan comparison, considering the amount of money and research India is spending or planning, Pakistan should be very worried.

My above statement is not to underestimate the Pakistan Air Force, but if you do have superiority in numbers and then you add technology to the equation things take a dramatic turn.

The last but most important factor that seems to be missed out in this thread is "Intelligence", "War Preparedness" and "Strategy"..so obviously if you don't look into these factors, skill and technology are of no use.

But PAF is inducting high tech. stuff too, its not just InAF that is moving forward. PAF has a little catching up to do, that is all. If anything, PAF is moving forward faster than InAF what with induction of JF, J-10, latest F-16s and AEW/C over the next couple of years. A huge undertaking for PAF that will truly bring it on par technology wise, if not numerically, with InAF.

 

[DarkStar]

Zombie. Do not resort to rudeness and insulting of other members.

This WILL NOT be tolerated.

Consider yourself Warned!

 

[zombie:-)]

yes i have read the forum rules
come on there is no logic in zobs post ....its out right childishness on zobs part

 

[Zob]

OK zombie listen if u can't show some respect towards me then atleast have the decency to send me a private messge to diss me i am childish i am whatever u think i am 2 u...just watch this video and then comment....

i am glad that maximuz u showed some respect thank you.