The European Union will provide Ukraine with combat aircraft and weapons worth EUR 500 million.

Ukrinform ^ | February 28. 2022

[Dr. Franklin]

Well, this is a start.

Will it be enough?

When does Europe stop paying for Putin's war?

[mylife]

kinda late to the party

[2banana]

Combat aircraft with no pilots...

Sure...they will make pretty lawn ornaments.

[Dr. Franklin]

kinda late to the party

This reminds me of the order for fighter planes that the Poles made with the French before WWII, which never arrived in time. History may repeat itself, unless Europe sends pilots who can fly the planes quickly as well.

[wny]

It’s crappola…they know it’ll be over before they can make it happen

[dragnet2]

500 million? The corrupt in D.C. loot that much from the tax payers every 2 days

[Organic Panic]

Wow. Another 160 times the same investment and the Ukrainians will be as well armed as the Taliban thanks to Chome Joe.

[struggle]

They should stay out of this completely.

You’re giving it a reason to expand.

The most Putin is going to do is surround Kiev, a peace treaty will be signed giving Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia, and then it’s over.

If an EU plane gets shot down, then what? Do we march on Moscow? There are some Atlanticists that definitely would orgasm at the thought. A few people got stung by a hornet’s nest, for God’s sakes, don’t kick it.

[WMarshal]

So what does $500 million buy in combat aircraft? One of the most inexpensive aircraft in Europe is the Saab JAS 39 Gripen which cost $30 million. So what Europe is offering is roughly about 17 fighter aircraft.

I personally judge this to be, iinsufficient virtue-signaling.

For 98% of my life I've been anti-Russian but when considering how the Biden Regime has been abusing, imprisoning, and enslaving Americans I find I don't give a f**k becaus the Biden Regime to be just as evil as the Putin Regime. It is a distinction without a difference and I hope both regimes burn in hell.

[packagingguy]

That doesn’t seem like very much. Maybe it is best western powers stay out of this. Communists and fascists fighting amongst different remnants of the USSR. Let them stay in their borders, we stay in ours.

[JimRed]

A little late for that, isn’t it? How are they going to deliver fighter aircraft to a war zone when the enemy has air superiority? Whose pilots will ferry them in? Or will Uke pilots travel to a pickup point and fly them out?

[JimRed]

It’s crappola…they know it’ll be over before they can make it happen

Virtue signaling writ large.

[Spktyr]

I believe that most of the Ukranian Air Force got destroyed on the ground recently and they still have plenty of pilots. Lots of NATO members actually have the same types if not the same revisions of aircraft as what the Ukraine was operating. No need to send your own pilots when the Ukraine has plenty ready to go already qualified in the types.

[M-cubed]

Combat aircraft with no pilots...<<<

That was my 1st thought as well....
but I'm sure the smart liberals have already thought of that and will make sure that the aircraft come with the 50 page manual...”Flying a Fighter Jet for dummies” ..../s

[Spktyr]

You’re assuming new Western fighters. They’re talking about sending ‘inherited’ Warsaw Pact fighters like MiG-29s and Su-27/derivatives, which are considerably cheaper. Until this war, a new MiG-29 could be bought direct from Russia starting at $11 mil; used ones have been bought by Americans for far less.

[Spktyr]

See my post 13 above.

[Dr. Franklin]

You’re assuming new Western fighters. They’re talking about sending ‘inherited’ Warsaw Pact fighters like MiG-29s and Su-27/derivatives, which are considerably cheaper. Until this war, a new MiG-29 could be bought direct from Russia starting at $11 mil; used ones have been bought by Americans for far less.

Just saw a video on Youtube which suggests that Poland or Slovakia will provide Ukraine with MiG-29's. The Ukie's know how to fly these. However, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Poland sends an electronic warfare jammer as well, or that it is flown by a Pole...

[Rockingham]

My guess is that the EU will provide a model of jet trainer with light attack capabilities. An experienced Ukrainian pilot can quickly learn the aircraft and make use of it in a light ground attack capacity. In addition, such aircraft can operate from improvised airfields with minimal support.

[Spktyr]

Poland and Slovakia can provide MiGs - but so can Germany.

The Poles don’t have any EW aircraft. Other nations in NATO were going to cover that in case of NATO going to war.

[Spktyr]

Why would they do that when there are plenty of NATO members that have aircraft the Ukranians already know how to fly?

In addition to the classic Warsaw Pact MiGs and SUs, the Ukranians already operate L-29 Albatrosses in the light ground attack role, so the Czechs could send those.