Why RCS is a disadvantage? It's like saying a sword is useless because it cannot be hidden like a dagger inside your clothes.
Different platforms, different scenarios of use.
Sorry pal, I have you call out your understanding of air warfare is nonexistent.
Let's understand few things about
RCS,
big plane, and most ridiculous of all,
defensive and
offensive plane
.
First understand low RCS does not mean practical invisibility. Low RCS means low visibility in
X-band radars. Other bands (L-bands, used for early warning) can detect a stealth aircrafts to some degree, but it cannot pinpoint it.
Having low RCS does not hide infrared-signature. Modern EO systems can detect and lock-on (and fire missiles) jets over 50 kms.
So when is low RCS beneficial? If my enemy fires a radar-guided missile at me, I will have a higher chance of evading and spoofing the missile because seeker of X-band missile can't pinpoint my location.
Low RCS may be beneficial in sneaking in to an unsuspecting enemy not having adequate resources to detect me and may ignore the small occasional blip on the weather radar as flock of birds flying or a weather balloon.
A big jet means -
- More weapons & payload (in BVR combat, the most important factor is to carry as much misslie as possible)
- More endurance, that means more energy to outmanuever enemy, evade missile, and chase enemy running away cursing their smol jets for carrying only a litre of fuel.
- Usually more and better sensor, including but not limited to a powerful radar that can detect the enemy far before they can detect you.
Sure, cost of flight hours and maintenance will be more, but the output you get will also be more.
This comes from your assumption that a low-RCS plane will be able to sneak-in and attack the enemy, and a high-RCS plane will be detected if they try to do so.
But why sneak-in when you can just
stomp them ?
Okay, that may sound childish, but I will explain. Our limited perception of ground-attack tactics is shaped by limited offensive and skirmishes in the last two decades. Basically what happens is, to target some "high-value" target, stealth tactics are used to to sneak-in, attack and return quickly.
And that is only possible with countries with limited and outdated resources, (like with Syria), but unlikely with Pakistan, and never with China.
In full-scale warfare, you just don't go James Bond into enemy territory, you first conduct SEAD using heavy jamming and anti-radiation missiles. And who will be able to carry a big-jamming pod which can fry enemy-radars? A
offensive jet in your definition ?
So, in a full-scale offensive, you need endurance, power, payload and vitality (ability to take a hit and still keep flying). You don't hide from enemy, enemy will know you are coming, and they will be afraid.
Su-30MKI is excellent platform in that regard.
