Timeline for What could dragons do in modern-day combat?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
5 events
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| Jul 19, 2020 at 1:13 | comment | added | Graham | @MatthewNajmon I noted the OP says they're capable of "powered flight". The exact type of power would be important. Flapping, yeah, not happening. Do they have their own jet though? (If you've read Guards, Guards then you'll get that - think anal afterburner, if not). I could also see some kind of JATO style rig being useful. TBH I think the OP's restrictions have painted him into a bit of a corner - I'm just trying to find options which aren't completely unfeasible. | |
| Jul 18, 2020 at 20:25 | comment | added | Matthew Najmon | "but currently those aren't a regular feature of land warfare" Yea, and your whole answer is about why they would be, if dragons were a thing, and were capable of what you describe them doing. | |
| Jul 18, 2020 at 20:24 | comment | added | Matthew Najmon | "but anyone in the open is toast" Unlikely. It's established that both dragons and humans (so, pretty much everyone on the battlefield) has access to nanite tech, and that it's devastating offensively if it manages to affect you, but is completely negated by simple sealed suits. In such a situation, what idiot is running around in an active warzone, with soldiering equipment that doesn't include a sealed suit? | |
| Jul 18, 2020 at 20:22 | comment | added | Matthew Najmon | Maneuverability is nice to have for a strafing run, but you seem to be vastly overestimating its benefits in that situation. You also seem to be vastly underestimating the A10's durability relative to these dragons (which are between the A10 and the Apache in durability, but closer to the Apache), and the importance of speed to survivability (an A10 is slow for a jet aircraft, but still way faster than any wing-flapper, and that helps it a lot to not get hit back as much). In short, a dragon would be far, far worse at filling the A10's role than you credit it with. | |
| Jul 16, 2020 at 19:45 | history | answered | Graham | CC BY-SA 4.0 |