Recent advancements in air defense and drone technology are increasingly challenging Western air superiority, raising concerns among military strategists. Russia’s failure to achieve air superiority in Ukraine has underscored the evolving difficulties of maintaining control of the skies. Sir Richard Knighton, head of the Royal Air Force, acknowledged these challenges, stating that past air supremacy is no longer guaranteed. General David Allvin of the U.S. Air Force emphasized the shift toward achieving brief “windows of dominance” rather than prolonged air superiority. Additionally, the rising costs and delays of advanced air fleets, such as the USAF’s $209 billion-over-budget F-35 program, highlight the growing complexity of maintaining technological and strategic advantages in modern air combat.
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