There's no need to prove that your scenario could be - I'm well aware of it. My argument is that the possibility and even inevitabilty does not necessarily mean it is the case now, on their own - additional evidence are required.



The comparison between stealth and nuclear tech is logical in all but one - currently, no nation other than the US has demonstrated and proven the tech. Is it possible that other nations do have it as we speak, the the UK or many others and their skunk works? Definitely. Even if they do not have it, it's pretty much inevitable that they will get it eventually. Still, it feels like you're getting ahead of yourself, because there's no evidence to suggest we're there quite yet and therefore would be too early to equate that tech to parallels from the past like nukes and their proliferation. Rememeber how stealth was born to begin with - it was a silent response to the Soviet massive advancement in missile technology, up to the point they thought it would be the end-all of warefare. No one saw stealth coming, if you'll excuse the pun, and likewise, you can't assume people are devoting resources to it specifically just because it seems like the next big thing. Hell, most war theaters don't require it by a long shot.

"The reason I brought up the Iranian RQ-170 incident was to highlight this hubris & underestimation in real time."
...Which would have been great if we actually knew what happened there. As you said, the U.S is not the only nation that up-plays it's achievements and standing. As for the vagueness about the incident, that could also be many, many things other than the direct result of cyber warfare - which, as I've addmitted before, entirely possible.
On that matter, a better example about hubris would have been that F-117 shot down over Serbia...


Anyway, all you're giving me here is plausible doubt, which I had anyway. Doesn't really change my mind this way or that - yeah, it's possible. Even if the Iranians didn't do it, someone eventually would, because any open networking system is inherently vulnerable.

As an (former) Israeli, let me assure you that at no point I've dismissed Iran as a witless adversary, and I'm pretty sure I repeatedly said it's more than possible. I am already aware of their nuclear capability/potential, missile delivery system capability, and cyber warfare capability 9they regularly attack Israeli sites, and the local news reports it). At the same time, I'm also aware of the fact they lie. A LOT. About really dumb things.
All we can really do is hope the people who's job it is to not underestimate them, don't. The other bull is just meant to mess with our morale, anyway.

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Well, we won't really be able to put the J-31 thing to rest until they've seen combat with/against western forces, or were somehow obtained and studied by them. Till then, we're just blowing wind.


Also, there's really no need to apologize for doing what you're supposed to be doing in a forum.