How does China’s leadership view its fighter pilots?
There is a trust deficit between the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party and the nation's pilots who would be tasked to go to war.
One of the lessons most commonly lost on those who make procurement decisions is that the purchase of a weapon system that represents a leap in technological capability does not translate into some instant, magical uptick in combat power.
The quality of the operator, their training, the command environment and the degree to which the pilot, submarine captain or infantry officer has freedom to make their own decisions – all these factors make as much or more of a difference than the technology level of weaponry.
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is a perfect example of this truism.
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