Attritable Aircraft

摘要

By increasing the number of combat aircraft in the fleet, it becomes possible to sustain losses while maintaining combat power. The loss of attritable aircraft is acceptable if it contributes sufficiently to a tactical or strategic objective. The primary consideration determining the acceptability of the loss is whether the operator or the adversary gains the greater advantage through the exchange. For example, the loss of a highly sophisticated Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) might be considered an acceptable price if the mission eliminates an enemy air-defence node, thereby enabling follow-on forces to inflict significant damage to the enemy. To be considered "attritable", however, the planes must be produced at considerably lower cost than manned aircraft, and in sufficient numbers to ensure a continued operational capability after the loss of several units. A September 2020 paper by the Mitchell Institute (US Air Force Association) predicted costs between US$2M and US$20M per aircraft, depending on sophistication and capabilities. The same study estimated that manufacturing an individual UAS might take weeks, rather than the 18 months required for a manned combat aircraft, making it easy to scale up production on short notice.