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CompetitiveYou2034 t1_j2fn8t2 wrote

Reply to comment by paskahuussi89 in Iran tests military drones in wargame near Strait of Hormuz by Beckles28nz

Repeat of lesson learned with Air Force interceptors in Vietnam, which were originally only equipped with air-to-air missiles. Then they faced Russian Migs in actual combat. Guns were added!

Moral: A true multi-role fighter must have a gun.

Future: A gun can fire a short burst at each drone. Very economical.

Add computer auto control and off-axis shooting, and the fighter can fly past a flock of drones, downing them all.

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Mirathecat22 t1_j2frrm9 wrote

F-35 does have a gun, it’s just the B and C variant that don’t. B, because the lift fan takes up the space where a lot of the gun would be and C I’m not too sure about tbh.

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Devourer_of_felines t1_j2fxla1 wrote

Modern fighters don’t carry nearly enough ammo for their Gatling guns for more than a handful of short bursts.

If you really need an airborne anti drone plane you’re probably better off mounting an auto cannon on a turret on the belly of an old bomber airframe.

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