Sir,
Those dys re gone when Khalil Mian fakhta oraiya kartay thay---it is all about the machine and what it carries---. Operator does come into play, but the machine gets the higher points---.
We are living in the world of coming drones----so the myth of the man behind the machine is shattered years ago---. Your machine has to have something substntial for the man to do something.
The best combat pilots are so good because they can multitask, communicate effectively, co-ordinate, maintain all around awareness and make the right decisions in the heat of battle. The best air forces in the world are good because they repeatedly game complex scenarios in training, learn from their mistakes and improve.
Obviously technology helps, for instance the work load for an F-35 pilot is probably 60% to 70% lower than a F-16 Block 52 pilot flying the same mission and so the F-35 pilot has more time to focus on the battle aided by decision supports systems the F-35 pilot is far more dangerous. The F-35 is the exception, nothing comes close to the capabilities the F-35 pilot can bring to the battle. But the F-35 pilot is also in danger of being overloaded by information something an F-16 pilot does not have to worry about.
In the future, when an F-35 pilot looks out his canopy at a flight of enemy aircraft beyond visual range. The pilot will know the speed, heading, altitude, aircraft type, munition type and characteristics, range, fuel state and possible targets for that flight. The system will also tell the pilot which assets have been tasked to engage that enemy, when and where.
To get an idea of the immense advantage that information brings and since its the soccer world cup season. Imagine Iranian players wearing a Google glass type device in the game against Argentina. Imagine the system projects a birds eye view of the pitch showing the real time position of all team mates and opponents. The system also displays the characteristics of the opponent (speed, left footed or right) , energy state and identifies gaps while defending or attacking. Let us pretend this system also coordinates the movement and position of other Iranian players on the pitch. So in that game when Messi faked right, dragged the ball left and scored a wonderful goal with his left foot the system would have told the Iranian player attacking Messi where to position himself to best protect against that goal.The system would have also alerted the goal keeper and defenders to cover the right post. A system like that can help an ordinary team beat an extra ordinary team easily.
I believe this is the future of air combat and the rest of the world will have a first gulf war moment yet again when this capability is demonstrated in a future conflict. Until then people will continue to brag about turn rates, thrust, mach number and wing loading.
