> Of course, that's a built-in assumption. Another built in assumption is that it is a 1:4 or 1:8 F-35:Super Tucano ratio, since it is a "mass" strategy. A lot of cheap "good enough" assets instead of fewer incredible ones.
Considering that an F-35 currently goes 20:1 with F-15's the ratio with a Tucano could easily be 1:100 or even 1:1000. Given the speed and range differences F-35's could likely return to base, reload and return to fighting the approaching Tucanos for a 30:1+ ratio on the Tucano's for a given wave.
The salient datapoint would be when it is cost ineffective to shoot A2A missiles at the Tucano/Drone and the F-35s simply wouldn't be able to reload again.
Considering that an F-35 currently goes 20:1 with F-15's the ratio with a Tucano could easily be 1:100 or even 1:1000. Given the speed and range differences F-35's could likely return to base, reload and return to fighting the approaching Tucanos for a 30:1+ ratio on the Tucano's for a given wave.
The salient datapoint would be when it is cost ineffective to shoot A2A missiles at the Tucano/Drone and the F-35s simply wouldn't be able to reload again.