Then stop using expensive missiles to pop a balloon. Are we so scared of a balloon to get into gun range? A short burst of 20mm would be pretty cheap compared to an AIM-9
Ordinance has a best used by if not a shelf life. Use it or lose it probably matters to someone.
Missiles can detonate near a painted target, instead of needing direct contact. If the thing being exploded is hazardous (when exploded), you don't want to be flying nearby.
This is not an exercise. Combat time is valuable, even if shooting down drones/balloons.
Politically popular optics. Everyone likes a boom, just to be sure. What happens if it falls to the ground and on to someone or someone grabs the wreckage or worse, it's never found? Bad optics.
The common tactic of dismissing high stakes situations as idiotic, is intellectually lazy.
I was wondering if modern planes even still had ballistic weapons, since engagement range for missiles is measured in miles. For anyone else wondering, according to [0] they still have guns, since most missiles have a minimum engagement range so there is still a need for short range weapons.
Ordinance has a best used by if not a shelf life. Use it or lose it probably matters to someone.
Missiles can detonate near a painted target, instead of needing direct contact. If the thing being exploded is hazardous (when exploded), you don't want to be flying nearby.
This is not an exercise. Combat time is valuable, even if shooting down drones/balloons.
Politically popular optics. Everyone likes a boom, just to be sure. What happens if it falls to the ground and on to someone or someone grabs the wreckage or worse, it's never found? Bad optics.
The common tactic of dismissing high stakes situations as idiotic, is intellectually lazy.