What is the most effective air to air "combat system"?

Question

Why?

Answer 1

Currently the F-22. It has Stealth, the ability to cruise supersonic, can detect and kill mulitpile targets at long range. In simulated fights they have defeated F-15's before they even smelled a F-22. This plus it's electronics backed up by AWACS makes this the most potent system to date.

Answer 2

When you say a combat system, that includes many elements not mention, the pilot as someone has already pointed out.

But in modern air combat, an effective cutting edge system would consist of a set of Combat Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft Missiles and Guns networked to Air Borne Radar in addition to ground based Radars and Satellite.

Ground based Radars however effective, leave gaps in the Airspace. Moreover if an Aircraft manages to fly low below the critical angle of Radar, then it can avoid detection. So modern systems consists of an Air Borne Radar mounted on a dedicated Aircraft to plug these gaps. This could send info to combat Air crafts to home in on the enemy Aircraft. And bombers could get data regarding their target throught satellites even after taking off.

Communication and Wireless networking is crucial. This is ac hived through frequency hopping burst mode communication. And is transmitted using a very small aperture terminal. All these make intercepting the communication channel between Aircrafts very difficult, let alone cracking it.

Of course there are other factors like over-all Command and Control, Powerful Computers........etc. The list can go on. But i have only mentioned the most obvious and important components. All these systems are already in place.

Answer 3

A good pilot is important, but even the best pilot in an F-4 would be outclassed by an average F-22 pilot. Some technological gaps are too big to overcome.

That being said, and assuming all pilots are equally skilled, the best air-to-air combat system has to be the F-22. It is possibly the most stealthy, has the most advanced avionics suite in the world, and long-range supersonic cruise capability. So it can get where it needs to go unseen and faster than any other aircraft. Then it can get off that Beyond Visual Range kill shot.

Answer 4

A well-trained combat pilot. Without the human element, all platforms are expensive and shiny targets.

Answer 5

When you make the other S.O.B. die for his country!