There's an old Russian saying that goes something like “innovation is the enemy of good-enough”. I probably mixed up some of the words but the gist is when is “good enough” good enough?
During WWII, the German's Tiger and Panther tanks were born-ass killers - deadly, every one. Russians approached this with pure numbers - cheap TU-34s produced in massive quantities. And they won it out.
Americans caught on later in WWII. Liberty Ships produced at the rate of one per day, and M-4 Sherman tanks that took on the Tigers and Panthers. On average, it took 4 Shermans to kill one. Three destroyed in head-to-head; the fourth snuck behind and delivered a killing engine blow.
One thing our military must never forget is that Russians are not Vodka swilling idiots. They have over their recent history produced some of the most elegantly simplistic and reasonable approaches to modern weaponry on this planet. An example is their jet engines on their fighters don't need daily FOD walks over the pad....they are designed to eat it and still function.
Compared to our politicized, over-bloated and bureaucratic acquisition systems, highly influenced by the House and Senate, AND the Executive political vote-getting whims, they excel.
The 85mm in the T-34 could rock any German tank. It may not kill it first but it will make it back down until it can be killed. The Germans were counting on superior range but the Russians closed as quickly as possible.
Absolutely. They've astounded the US military, scientific community with their insight, development of technology from an entirely new, un-thought of perspective, approach.
And we’re falling into their trap with the very expensive yet very caplable F-22 but in very limited numbers. An F-22 can only carry so many weapons.
We need to create small, inexpensive jet-powered drones in large quantities to turn the tables on them. Small, stealthy, long legged, AESA equipped, missile platforms.