> But on 9-11, US air defense got caught with their pants down. I wouldn't expect much.
I'm not sure it's US air defense who got caught with their pants down, the entire notion of the 9/11 attack would have been to get around the effectiveness of US air defense at keeping foreign aircraft out of US airspace.
The time needed to scramble F-16s is not based on a jet flying from Boston to DC or whatever. That's already the end zone.
The FAA and NORAD did indeed have protocols to deal with hijackings in US airspace requiring a military response. Those protocols broke down somewhat on 9/11. A lack of communication between the FAA and the military slowed down the military response to the hijackings.
I'm not sure it's US air defense who got caught with their pants down, the entire notion of the 9/11 attack would have been to get around the effectiveness of US air defense at keeping foreign aircraft out of US airspace.
The time needed to scramble F-16s is not based on a jet flying from Boston to DC or whatever. That's already the end zone.