Power projection

Lorddrakul

Interesting move here by the US to project with air power in the Korean theatre.

Japan Times reports that F-35B and B1-B aircraft have been deployed and are overflying.

Interesting that the B1-B, though strategic, is no longer nuclear capable.


Exactly what message is being conveyed?

Fattes

Lorddrakul wrote: »

Interesting move here by the US to project with air power in the Korean theatre.

Japan Times reports that F-35B and B1-B aircraft have been deployed and are overflying.

Interesting that the B1-B, though strategic, is no longer nuclear capable.


Exactly what message is being conveyed?

Our toys are bigger and better than yours, we have a better arsenal, options and more of them. During the shelling of Yeonpyeong in 2010 25% of the N.Korean shells did not explode! They know their equipment is dated and inferior, but the US like to remind them. Basically my penis is bigger than yours

The B1 may no longer be part of the triade but it is a very versatile and capable airframe. IF and it is a very big IF military conflict started a couple of things can be assured
-The DPRK airforce will be destroyed in the first hours
- Air supirioriry will be Garunteed to US SK forces
- Anti aircraft measures in DPRK are a bit unknown but the availability of stealth and air superiority will soon impact its effectiveness
- DPRK artillery is unreliable and inaccurate, and B1, F22, F15 will quickly pay close attention to any battery that is firing

drdeadlift

Simply put,there is no competition.

Lorddrakul

Fattes wrote: »

Our toys are bigger and better than yours, we have a better arsenal, options and more of them. During the shelling of Yeonpyeong in 2010 25% of the N.Korean shells did not explode! They know their equipment is dated and inferior, but the US like to remind them. Basically my penis is bigger than yours

The B1 may no longer be part of the triade but it is a very versatile and capable airframe. IF and it is a very big IF military conflict started a couple of things can be assured
-The DPRK airforce will be destroyed in the first hours
- Air supirioriry will be Garunteed to US SK forces
- Anti aircraft measures in DPRK are a bit unknown but the availability of stealth and air superiority will soon impact its effectiveness
- DPRK artillery is unreliable and inaccurate, and B1, F22, F15 will quickly pay close attention to any battery that is firing

Wouldn't argue with any of that, but my point is that by not sending something that was nuclear capable, namely the B-2, there is an immediate message that certain options are off the table.

No question, the DPRK air force would be destroyed quickly, but that is not the worry. And irrespective of whether the failure rate of the artillery shells was 25%, or more, the rate at which they could be lobbed at southern targets would still be a worry. As would the casualty level of a thoroughly modern ground force, with undisputed close air support, against the DPRK ground forces.
The public perception of swathes of northern soldiers being cut down by modern forces would not make the cause an accepted one.

Surgical air strikes, limited to military infrastructure, would appear to the logical choice, but the retaliation would be the thing.

Also, the fact that there are no reports of Chinese CAPs in the area, irrespective of how those would be resourced, ie whether they would send out the J-10s or not, is telling.

Fattes

Lorddrakul wrote: »

Wouldn't argue with any of that, but my point is that by not sending something that was nuclear capable, namely the B-2, there is an immediate message that certain options are off the table.

No question, the DPRK air force would be destroyed quickly, but that is not the worry. And irrespective of whether the failure rate of the artillery shells was 25%, or more, the rate at which they could be lobbed at southern targets would still be a worry. As would the casualty level of a thoroughly modern ground force, with undisputed close air support, against the DPRK ground forces.
The public perception of swathes of northern soldiers being cut down by modern forces would not make the cause an accepted one.

Surgical air strikes, limited to military infrastructure, would appear to the logical choice, but the retaliation would be the thing.

Also, the fact that there are no reports of Chinese CAPs in the area, irrespective of how those would be resourced, ie whether they would send out the J-10s or not, is telling.

It only shows that their are no B2 sitting in Guam the day the fly over was planned also B2 $170,000 per flight hour B1 $60,000 🀓 DPRK ain't worth the hassle

With no top cover, & enemy air superiority artillery pieces are a very easy target!

As with the previous attack in 2010 estimates are the rocket battalion should have been able to fire a total of about 288 rockets, but only 170 actually landed near the island. Of those 170 rockets, only 80 landed on the island itself, and only 20-25 detonated! the rest hit the water. Transfer that to seoul!

Nautilus Institute Worked out that DPRK only has 700 pieces capable of reaching Seoul, realistically only 1/3 can be fired at any time firing from HARTS also reduces the fire rate and efficiency. With air superiority you will not be long about eliminating 700 fixed positions. Also you have supply and logistics issues. The reign of fire on Seoul is a nonsense on top of all of the above you have a City with thousands of shelters and a well drilled population!

Finally from a strategic perspective, artillery fired on Seoul, is not being used in Military targets, it would give SKorea and the US a carte Blanche to deal with DPRK wth full force. And weaken the DPRK defence and divert resources from strategic military defence.

Tenger

Lorddrakul wrote: »

Wouldn't argue with any of that, but my point is that by not sending something that was nuclear capable, namely the B-2, there is an immediate message that certain options are off the table.

Surgical air strikes, limited to military infrastructure, would appear to the logical choice, but the retaliation would be the thing. .

The USAF would not base B-2s in Korea. They have the range to hit anywhere they want, if needed.
The B-1 may not be part of the nuclear mission but it is still a very capable aircraft. Forward deploying this asset makes all the correct saber rattling noises while still showing a restraint in regard to the nuclear option.

Lorddrakul

Given the developments over night, I wonder if there an Operation Orchard in the offing?