10 Shot-Down Jets In 10 Days. Russia’s Aerial Surge In Ukraine Is Getting More Of Its Pilots Killed.

Forbes ^ | 2/27/2024 | David Axe

[marcusmaximus]

Two years ago, Russia was supposed to conquer Kyiv in 3 days.

[Brian Griffin]

I believe the Russians are trying to destroy the Ukrainian army as their main goal.

If they launch a long-range offensive they will destroy much of Ukraine. When Russians take a city, all they get is rubble.

The Russians want a victory without bringing war to much of Ukraine, which would stir up far deeper and broader Ukrainian hatred of Russia.

The Russians I suspect have gone to manned aircraft because bigger explosive blasts are needed to knock out Ukrainian pillboxes.

[marcusmaximus]

Russia has been failing for over 2 years. Not a single major Ukrainian city taken by Russia since the invasion started.

[Robe]

Once I was vectored to a grid thad a USAF pilot was on the ground being advanced upon buy VC... I had no ordnance left so I went into a number of Very high speed super sonic passes over the gooks.....until the Jollys came in and got him...He still owes me a case of JB..LOL

[linMcHlp]

bttt

[TECTopcat]

Doesn’t really matter as Russia has a history of just winning through attrition. Look at WW II , Russia lost over 8.5 million troops vs Germany’s 5 million (and that 5 million was on all fronts)

[Darksheare]

I’m sure a location with a population of 32,000+ will rest easy knowing that you think they don’t qualify as major after being hyped as a fortress for two years.

[Dogbert41]

“Mutually Assured Destruction is actually a thing. They would be committing suicide.”

You said it, Brother! That’s just what WE ARE DOING.

[Chainmail]

I was never close to becoming A POW because where we were, we would never allow ourselves to be taken alive. The enemy would have played with us a bit and then executed us. I was with a Marine Rifle Company as their artillery Scout, so I was responsible for quickly and accurately directing artillery on the enemy. Another reason not to be taken.

"Life Threatening"? - every single day. I finally got hit in May'67 and spent 7 months in various hospitals - and when that blessed Medevac helicopter got to us, a kept an M26 frag grenade in my hand in case we went down.

Like I said, it was a bad area to be captured.

[Colorado Doug]

The US lost over 2200 aircraft in Vietnam.

Most of those were being flown by John McCain at the time though.

[Colorado Doug]

A friend & mentor was shot down as well. Spent 2 years in Hanoi and he despised Jane Fonda until the day he died.

That must have been rough for him. I can't stand Jane Fonda. How dare she did what she did and continues to do.

[Paul R.]

Just gotta have superior EW.

Two countries do. Russia isn’t one of them.

[Zhang Fei]

[Once I was vectored to a grid thad a USAF pilot was on the ground being advanced upon buy VC... I had no ordnance left so I went into a number of Very high speed super sonic passes over the gooks.....until the Jollys came in and got him...He still owes me a case of JB..LOL]

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It’s lame that he welshed, given the risks you took. Apart from the potential of golden BB’s from the standard SKS or AK round, there was the risk of DShK rounds and MANPADS. OTOH, maybe he’s one of the names on the wall in DC, had an appointment with destiny he couldn’t put off.

[Zhang Fei]

[”Life Threatening”? - every single day. I finally got hit in May’67 and spent 7 months in various hospitals - and when that blessed Medevac helicopter got to us, a kept an M26 frag grenade in my hand in case we went down.

Like I said, it was a bad area to be captured.]

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No question life at the point of the spear was always life-threatening. I was referring to nearly getting greased by friendly fire from errant friendly rounds from CAS pilots trying to dump their ordnance on the enemy while avoiding enemy fire, at a time when smart bombs hadn’t been invented, which meant going in low and slow, thereby presenting fat targets to the enemy.

[Paul R.]

That didn’t show up in Afghanistan, though.

[Paul R.]

Well, my relatives in a city of ~300k don’t think of themselves as a major city...

It’s certainly not great for them, but Ukraine can afford to lose another Avdiivka. Can Russia afford to lose 2 more A-50’s?

[Chainmail]

You may be describing another branch of service, but Marine CAS always came in very hot, accurate, and did not miss.

[Zhang Fei]

[You may be describing another branch of service, but Marine CAS always came in very hot, accurate, and did not miss.]

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That ties in with what I’ve heard. I’m sure the Army liked the Air Force better when the latter wasn’t a separate service.

[Darksheare]

Don’t recall any A-50’s being described as impenetrable fortresses, but okay.

[Reverend Wright]

Just gotta have superior EW.

Two countries do. Russia isn’t one of them.

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You need to tell the Pentagon. Because they think they are behind.

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/us-behind-in-electronic-warfare-and-personnel-are-the-key-to-catching-up-ew-officer/