My only rationalization is that most of the other Air Forces bunkered themselves when they saw the USAF completely shit the bed, and then a nuke due no real damage. Once it became clear that they could launch an effective attack, the remaining air forces would move as quickly as possible to strike.
For Africa, I'm rationalizing that it's a kind of South African led Pan-African coalition.
Weirdly enough, there's a bunch of countries in Africa with working jets. Including Ethiopia. Hypothetically, if the aliens have already had a mortal blow to their primary command and control center, a prepared air-force of minor nations could have launched an effective strike package on them. They'd be 3rd and 4th generation air craft, but if the enemy's already crippled, you're still probably fine.
There's ways to rationalize it, but they're all ridiculous.
Every one of those ships had a fleet of fighters on board. Even if you've got a few working aircraft here or there, the only reason Randy Quaid's effort was allowed to happen was because of mob numbers.
Also, we're ignoring that the mothership just allowed in an old ship with no authentication whatsoever, after it just shows up outside for no reason. So this super advanced alien race can't keep track of what ships were lost 50 years ago and, maybe, not simply trust them by default?
My only rationalization is that most of the other Air Forces bunkered themselves when they saw the USAF completely shit the bed, and then a nuke due no real damage. Once it became clear that they could launch an effective attack, the remaining air forces would move as quickly as possible to strike.
For Africa, I'm rationalizing that it's a kind of South African led Pan-African coalition.
Weirdly enough, there's a bunch of countries in Africa with working jets. Including Ethiopia. Hypothetically, if the aliens have already had a mortal blow to their primary command and control center, a prepared air-force of minor nations could have launched an effective strike package on them. They'd be 3rd and 4th generation air craft, but if the enemy's already crippled, you're still probably fine.
That's the way that I would rationalize it.
Not to mention the British guys in the movie were in Egypt.
There's ways to rationalize it, but they're all ridiculous.
Every one of those ships had a fleet of fighters on board. Even if you've got a few working aircraft here or there, the only reason Randy Quaid's effort was allowed to happen was because of mob numbers.
Also, we're ignoring that the mothership just allowed in an old ship with no authentication whatsoever, after it just shows up outside for no reason. So this super advanced alien race can't keep track of what ships were lost 50 years ago and, maybe, not simply trust them by default?