There’s this, too.
Where you refueling if you’re going max AB into theater? You’re not refueling at speed, and tankers wouldn’t hang out in the area of operations because they’d be easy pickings.
And no, aerial refueling isn’t cheap (and we’re short on tankers).
You know f18 jets can be used for air refueling.
Also the USA have over 250 air tankers.
The US and allies will impose sanctions, at best. Taiwan will fall quickly, when and if China decides to attack.
This talk of WW2 style fighting, beach landings, invasions, aerial dogfighting, etc is folks watching too many WW2 movies.
China doesn’t have to invade. Just squeeze Taiwan dry and missile strikes are all that is needed.
Many will try to flee the island…they already do. The military will make a brief, but ineffective stand. China has the numbers and resources enough to play the long game.
The only hope for Taiwan is the end of the Xi Era, the collapse of the CCP, or a stronger more unified and bolder alliance with surrounding countries and the US.
Multination naval blockade of China parked between China and Taiwan possibly could deter China.
But I highly doubt there will be an invasion.
Just my opinion.
Yea, and what, you think they do it at speed or something? And do any f-16s use a probe and drogue?
There’s a good chunk more than 250. And we’re short. We were short in afg and iraq; imagine a war with china.
They don’t do it standing still.
Refueling from a f-18 is slow, takes combat aircraft out of those roles, is tough on the airframes, and is really only meant to bring a plane back to the carrier. This isn’t a general capability.
Off topic I know…but have you also been told dual citizens can’t qualify for Taiwan government funded scholarships?
A relative told me this but I haven’t confirmed it. And on the other hand…if a dual citizen enters on their foreign passport they can’t apply for a Taiwan scholarship as a foreigner because they are Taiwanese also. (Sorry mods for being off topic. Maybe can split it?)
The American people have resolve when they are dominating. When the war reinforces their pre existing belief. The resolve wasn’t there in the Vietnam or Korean wars. I seriously doubt it will be there when ships named after presidents are sinking and pictures of burned seaman get home. A war with China won’t be anything like a war with Iraq or Afghanistan. China will have home advantage, airfields don’t sink and carriers do.
100% agree, point for point.
The Chinese birth rate is 1.69; the US is 1.73. Both have been pretty well flat since the mid-90s.
Dotted all over the place. I was in South Japan–Iwakuni, in 81 and 82. It’s a good sized airbase and now has F-35s which are probably carrier certified.
And this is what China is building up to. Their goal seems to be to be to have a military that is designed to keep the American fleet out of the conflict. Then they can do as they wish with Taiwan.
Literally the opposite. It’s a force multiplier it keeps planes in the air longer.
Thank you for your service. But equally you don’t squat about my background know ect.
The American government currently has 4 universities working on an audit of all assets the USA has overseas.
The Pentagon does not have knowledge of the current assets the USA has overseas.
I believe their was an author who wrote a book on the USA based overseas and the book was more accurate than anything the Pentagon had.
Also, what needs to be understood is the interoperability and situation awareness of the USA Army Air Force and navy and allies.
But as has been said time and again. A hot war is unlikely as the cost to all sides is high and the benefits do not outweigh the negatives.
It’s a crap, he needs enough gas for 2 passes on the carrier refueling capability, not a yea, let’s do this to keep planes in the air longer, capability.
I’m the guy that stands out. ;D So what’s your background, knowledge, and experience with tankers if you want to toss that out there?
No one will be close to sinking US carriers. There will not be a direct land war with American boots on the ground. Just the Taiwan straight getting really polluted with CCP “war ships”.
There will just be protests as to why hundreds of “innocent” Chinese fishing boats got sunk 
Then after the humiliating defeat of the PLA there will be a purge in China and Winnie Xi will be desposed
Let’s not get off track. But air refueling adds to the combat radius and on target or loiter time of air craft. Ie it reduces the number of air craft required to be effective on target freeing aircraft for alternative missions. Ie multipling your force capabilities.
Yes, the ability for USA and allies to be able to share data on the move is something China can’t hope for.
Remember, the western allies have more trust in each other meaning they share more intelligence. Who trusts China?
probably not even North Korea or Russia