QUESTION: I hear that the F16, launched in 1978, is out of date in at present’s fashionable conflict. Do you could have any info on this? Have we entered the day when swords are changed by weapons?
PH
ANSWER: The F-16 is a legendary warplane. You’re appropriate. It was first launched in 1978. It was a flexible and dependable fighter for many years. Nevertheless, as fifth-generation plane just like the F-35 dominate at present, the F-16 is nearing the boundaries of its capabilities regardless of upgrades which have prolonged its life.
You’re additionally appropriate that we face a significant shift in expertise that shall be regarded again upon by historians drawing the traces between monumental advances in geopolitical energy. The times of the F-16 are quickly coming to an finish, they usually can not take care of fashionable air protection techniques. The Air Power plans to maintain some F-16s operational till the 2040s, assuming the US even survives. The F-16 is turning into as out of date as a sword after the invention of gunpowder. The shifting to newer applied sciences like drones, directed-energy weapons, hypersonic techniques, and laser weapons is crucial for retaining tempo with evolving international threats.
Constantinople had been impregnable to invaders because it was constructed in 330AD. It lastly fell in 1453 AD when the Turks used gunpowder from China and attacked town with canons. That shift in expertise introduced down the final vestige of the Roman Empire.
Weapons in the course of the Stone Age have been typically manufactured from flint and obsidian. They have been reasonably sharp and made good weapons. Copper was first tried, however it tended to be too mushy. Swords appeared manufactured from bronze in the course of the Bronze Age, 3300 to 1200 BC. They have been changed by iron, which appeared in the course of the Early Iron Age (c. twelfth century BC). Nevertheless, iron swords turned widespread earlier than the eighth century BC. The primary recognized gun appeared in 1364; by 1380, handguns have been frequent all through Europe.
This time, we’re coping with one other cyclical shift in conflict expertise. The Europeans are out of their thoughts. I have no idea what else to say. They’re cheering on conflict and suppose they’ll conquer Russia and achieve all of the pure assets as wealth. It’s only genocide when the opposition defends itself.
On September twentieth, 2024, the US Marine Corps achieved a game-changing milestone with the triumphant third check flight of the cutting-edge XQ-58A Valkyrie at Florida’s Eglin Air Power Base. This monumental occasion implies that for the primary time ever, the Division of Protection has efficiently managed an aerial automobile utilizing offboard expeditionary management strategies. In different phrases, the XQ-58A Valkyrie is an unmanned and hyper-autonomous plane.
The following nice leap is the aim of making autonomous robotic warriors that make choices on their very own. These warriors may very well be used to guard governments throughout revolutions. They might not hesitate to kill civil protestors.
In 80AD, Vespasian’s son Titus opened the Colosseum. We are actually approaching 1947 years from its opening in 2027. That’s 6.28 instances 309.6 years, which can be actually twice 3.14 and doesn’t bode nicely for Europe. Keep in mind the names of world leaders from Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, Keir Starmer, Giorgia Meloni, Olaf Scholz, President Emmanuel Macron, and the remainder of the crew. This illustrious group historical past will recall because the destroyers of Western tradition.