How many should they need? There’s probably at least 50 active duty frames now at least?
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- Thread starter Jeff Head
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They probably should, you don't need that many if the purpose is to see how the aircraft performs a fellow 5th gen.
That said I also think having a 5th generation fighter participate in Golden Helmet would be rather unfair unless the RoE was substantially modified for a handicap.
the team participates in the gold helmet represents their brigade, there are only 3 confirmed brigades so far...
I think there is no cross-generation combat in the gold helmet anymore, 3rd gen vs 3rd gen, 4th gen vs 4th gen, even the 4.5th gen has a specific group...
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They should have cross generation contests too with handicap points...that would be good for training scenarios where your hardware is outmatched.
they do, just not in the gold helmet, computational exercises like red sword even had J-20 participated as 3rd party orange team.
the gold helmet is more like promoting aerial combat strategy and skills and it would be less effective and meaningful if the battle is dominated by the equipment superiority
My point is that the combat strategy and skills you would need for a situation where you are technologically handicapped are probably going to be different and require different approaches than between a technological peer. Maybe it could be a kind of contest where everyone is being scored for performance against one standard red team.
hmm, I don't know, I think this is the situation that every commander should avoid... not to play your weakness against your opponent's strength
the gold helmet is more like an aerial duel between two teams each with 2-4 fighters, it will be suicidal for J-10/J-11 to face J-20 in this kind of situation, not to say about J-7/J-8. It would be pretty pointless even using J-10A against J-10C, as for most cases, it will pretty one-sided
in my understanding, older jets are more used in supporting roles in an aerial battle under PLAAF, instead of facing a technically advanced enemy in an even ground, it might be wiser to retreat to their own ground with radar and SAM supports...
While I agree that these kinds of situations should be avoided, so long as China fields older generation fighters it’s one that they should always prepare for no? But as you’re implying these are all matters of doctrinal discretion, so if their doctrine is literally do not engage in a situation like that then you’re probably right that it’s not necessary.
well, you probably don't realize how many different exercises there are in PLAAF among each level, the gold helmet is more like one of the annual after-season A2A combat play-offs for the entire airforce. I'm sure there must be some combat training or practice, like using J-8 against F-22, just not in this level, not in this game.
I’m aware of all the other exercises and wargaming. I’m just noting that this sort of cross generation dueling could also be part of a golden helmet style skills contest.