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All you have to do is view footage of the Israelis running tanker operations over Tehran.What about all levels of counter measures. Which I do not think Ukraine has access to.
It was not that many years ago when the allies went in and spoofed the Iraqi Air defense system with multiple levels of counter measures active and passive.
Our (allies) EW/ Surveillance aircraft are being fitted with both offense and defensive weapon systems. Along with their "sophisticated counter measure suits"
At a point of Air Supremacy and successful SEAD you pretty much can do what you want.
Concern exists if your enemy takes the first swing (which lets face it the Russians have pretty much adopted the Sucker punch as their MO)
As well as over the IndoPac theatre due to what @ytz mentioned.
The F-35 was never designed to replace AWACSRight now we put all our eggs into one basket relying on the F35 to be end all package deal. It was to replace AWACS, it was to replace other counter intelligence/ measures aircraft in a all in one package that could swoop in with its data fusion process and control up to 4 autonomous wingman aircraft while directing multiple other non stealth aircraft to destroy and hinder the enemy.
You cannot stuff that sort of radar, and C2 gear into something that has less than 1/10th the available space.
We need a mixture of aircraft, That is why I was a fan of the F18 Growler ECM capable suit. Was it perfect over all no. But the overall package was good enough for what we would require as we transition into 5, 5+ -7 gen systems.
Now we have a pretty good chance of building a good overall system of Stealthy Aircraft (F35), surveillance aircraft (P8, Global Eye, CE-145C, and the NASP Dash 8,) along with the general duty (Gryphen). Of note the Gryphen can be fitted with a pretty good Counter measure, jamming, foiling suite. Is it the best, maybe maybe not. But it has proven systems in one package that we can utilize for the foreseeable future.
If ball actually gets roiling we may have a well balance fleet across the board with all our aircraft.
Honestly if the F35 program in its fullness could actually get to a point where it worked fully integrated with all its promises then we would be set for the next 5 yearsinstead we are still hoping for the best radar and hoping for all that sensor fusion to work as proposed/ promised.
I honestly believe once we get rolling with what has been actually committed to and have the actual physical systems in our hands we will use the equipment in ways people did not think of. It really is the Canadian way. Those little tweaks will allow us to be at the top. We just need build the road to drive first.

