[LoSboccacc]

> airpower projection is via unmanned systems

I'm unconvinced by this assessment, for one they haven't had symmetrical warfare in a long time and a pilot is way harder to jam. for another long range laser ciws systems are getting more and more effective and if you armor cheap unmanned system they stop being cheap. but ultimately they have limited payload option and you can always pack more countermeasures than the enemy pack missiles so it's yet unclear what the best option is in a defended/contested airspace

[imtringued]

Honestly non fully autonomous UAVs are going to drop like flies if they encounter a F-35. People seem to fail to understand that the F-35 is also an advanced ECM platform. What is that drone going to do once its connection to the remote base is cut?

[fapjacks]

> also an advanced ECM platform

I would suggest they are primarily an ECM platform. It is well known that the F-22 is a superior fighter compared to the F-35. The main feature of the F-35 that puts fear in potential adversaries are the capabilities that become available when multiple F-35 are in the air and linked with one another (or other larger aircraft with comparable systems, e.g. AWACS).

[TeMPOraL]

Home in on the loudest RF source and try to ram it?

[LoSboccacc]

they don't have the engine and maneuverability to reach that speed. if they had, you'd have to have the same kind of logistic and complexity as a fighter craft, negating most of the above points about drones.

missiles don't have the same restrictions because they don't have to have anything in the way of performance as loiter time or target search system or payloads.

what you're thinking of are Anti Radiation missiles such as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-27_(air-to-air_missile)

but that ties with the point being made originally, you have to sacrifice payload, or go bigger to have more payload options, or go sideway and have air superiority drones sweep the area before, and it all ties into the "this stuff hasn't been tested in symmetric warfare so who knows" argument.

[TeMPOraL]

I know it's far-fetched, but what I was thinking about is if the F-35 is operating in CAS mode or otherwise flies through the area drones are in, then as long as the fighter is flying towards the drones, they may have a shot at placing themselves in front of the fighter, hoping the pilot will be distracted enough to ram them.

[davedx]

Genuinely curious: how do you jam a line-of-sight radio link?

[greedo]

Determine the frequency, then overpower the transmitter. Or just kill the transmitter...