Hi,
Now you are talking about a different scenario. The reason the previous skirmishes were different was due to the fact that the opposition did not have the ability to launch any strike missions against the U S.
If, in case such a thing happens now, the air combat strategy would be different than the previous actions. The U S does not consider a given war scenario a stable platform but rather a very unstable-ever changing, fluid environment and makes changes and adjustments accordingly.
Any action taken against an enemy is first analyzed and reaction prepared based upon worst case scenarios. So, any air force, who wants to take the battle out of their boundaries and into foreign skies will be treated as such and preparations made based upon the threat scenario.
The only exception is russia--five to seven years down the road, they will start to be at their previous best and in the next ten to twelve years from now, will pose a major major threat, one more time.
Now, over the time, the russian air combat doctrine will also have changed drastically as compared to their communist past---as a matter of fact it has already changed. The russian pilots will be posing a much higher threat to their american counter parts with their new out of the box thinking and approach and having more control over their training and air to air combat engagement. Their rigid pre communist days training is a thing of the past now.
As a matter of fact that is going to be the biggest concern and threat to the USAF---a new breed of russian pilots---who are acting more like cowboys---more like their american counter parts, because of their new found wealth and freedom, high tech toys and a fresh belief in mother russia.
unlike some nations........
