During WWII, aircraft suddenly became capable of taking on naval ships. Battleships didn't become obsolete, but they did become sitting ducks when not under the protective air screen of an aircraft carrier. Likewise, Russia's navy and air-force, while they still have useful capabilities, have proven to be highly vulnerable to Ukrainian drones. However, there isn't yet an equivalent to an aircraft carrier when it comes to countering drones.
Anti-drone warfare is in it's infancy, but will need to develop if states expect to actually preserve and use their conventional capabilities. The struggle for air superiority now starts on a nation's own airstrips.
bell-cot•1d ago
Yes-ish, but the WWII situation was more complex.
The "suddenly became capable" was a case of aircraft technology advancing substantially every year for decades, and several nations deciding to take advantage of that. Which was not easy to do - you needed a load of specialized aircraft, and weapons systems, and trained air crews, and supply pipelines, and command structure, and doctrine, and practice. Kinda like "we know how to kick a football", vs. "we are fielding a competitive professional football team".
"Unprotected" warships were, in general, not sitting ducks. But state-of-the-art anti-aircraft defenses were also non-trivial. Upside - those were relatively cheap. At least compared to losing your warships, or maintaining a combat air patrol.
Protective air screens (whether carrier-based or land-based) were again non-trivial. And America was particularly incompetent with those until fairly late in the war.
beloch•1d ago
Anti-drone warfare is in it's infancy, but will need to develop if states expect to actually preserve and use their conventional capabilities. The struggle for air superiority now starts on a nation's own airstrips.
bell-cot•1d ago
The "suddenly became capable" was a case of aircraft technology advancing substantially every year for decades, and several nations deciding to take advantage of that. Which was not easy to do - you needed a load of specialized aircraft, and weapons systems, and trained air crews, and supply pipelines, and command structure, and doctrine, and practice. Kinda like "we know how to kick a football", vs. "we are fielding a competitive professional football team".
"Unprotected" warships were, in general, not sitting ducks. But state-of-the-art anti-aircraft defenses were also non-trivial. Upside - those were relatively cheap. At least compared to losing your warships, or maintaining a combat air patrol.
Protective air screens (whether carrier-based or land-based) were again non-trivial. And America was particularly incompetent with those until fairly late in the war.