Posted on 03/28/2024 3:38:17 AM PDT by McGruff
Vladimir Putin has said that Russian forces will destroy any F-16s delivered to Ukraine from its NATO allies "wherever they are," while at the same time insisting that Moscow had no intention of attacking any country in the alliance.
During a visit to the 344th Army Aviation Centre where combat pilots are trained, in Torzhok, 160 miles northwest of Moscow, Putin was asked if Russian pilots would be "allowed to hit these targets at NATO airfields."
Putin replied: "Of course, if they are used from airfields of third countries, they become a legitimate target for us, no matter where they are.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Pooty is failing to whittle down the rest of the Ukies’ MIG’s at a high rate, so if the West actually supplied a decent number of F-16’s, some ought to be around for a while.
The US government is continuing to eviscerate our military, started by Bill Clinton.
The US government continues to launder money through Ukraine.
I remember seeing a comment somewhere that an F-16 with a full weapons payload requires an 8000 foot runway.
If these planes are deployed to airfields inside Ukraine, the Russians will bomb the airstrip.
That raises the question is NATO going to launch these planes from NATO territory?
Very dangerous game of chicken being played here.
Unfortunately, Putin isn’t wrong here. Eventually we are going to be dragged into this quagmire and it is going to be devastating.
The US operates 800+ f-16s, over 2000 are operational around the world, and Ukraine is getting 43 f-16s none from the US. Most of the equipment sent to Ukraine is surplus. Much of the ammunition is no longer used by US and/or expired or expiring.
Eviscerate is quite the claim
Perhaps, but acting like Ukraine is the only place or the center is about hyperbolic
Like saying the border crisis, or homeless veterans is a result of aid to Ukraine
I believe that the F-16s, of which some 43 have been pledged is similar to U.K. giving a few tanks to open the tank donation window
I see gripens being the plane of choice and the Ukrainians are already training on them
“ Unfortunately, Putin isn’t wrong here. Eventually we are going to be dragged into this quagmire and it is going to be devastating.”
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Yep, if the F16s strike from 3rd country airfields, those airfields will be legitimate targets just as Russian airfields are legitimate targets for the Ukrainians.
The Russians took out the newly constructed or upgraded F-16 compatible airbase in Ukraine Sunday night or Monday. Considering the fact that the Ukes get a 10 or 15 second heads up warning before impact of a Zircon hypersonic, I would have thought the Russians would have waited until the F-16s had arrived to take out jets and base at the same time.
Nowhere in Ukraine is out of their range. That is why the F-16s will operate out of Poland, just across the border from the destroyed air base, well within range of the Zircons. This will be the penultimate escalation on NATO’s part.
Red lines if you cross:
A̶n̶y̶ ̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶
̶A̶n̶t̶i̶ ̶t̶a̶n̶k̶ ̶w̶e̶a̶p̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶
A̶m̶m̶o̶
A̶t̶t̶a̶c̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶r̶i̶m̶e̶a̶
-P̶a̶t̶r̶i̶o̶t̶s̶ ̶
T̶a̶n̶k̶s̶
-A̶T̶A̶C̶M̶S̶
S̶t̶o̶r̶m̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶d̶o̶w̶
F16
Ukraine has enough long straight highways.
Takeoff Requirements: An F-16 typically needs about 5,000 feet runway length to take off under standard conditions.
SU-27 needs a runway length of 1,200 meters (3,940 feet).
That’s an interesting thought...airborne from other than Ukraine
Every time Ukraine received new US weapons, Moscow issued threats and warnings. For two years, they have failed to act on them.
Article 5 is one hell of a deterrent.
“The US government is continuing to eviscerate our military, started by Bill Clinton.”
Back when I was in college the Leftists, including some high-level elected Democrats DEMANDED that the military cut its budget by 50%. Since then, that’s exactly what we did. Now, I guess, the Neocons want to dispose of our existing military hardware by another 50% and they are doing GREAT at that.
And, I guess, we’ll dispose of the rest once the Neocons get their war started with China.
Yup, its even worse, Air Force is retiring military planes, helicopters and predator drones rather than handing them over to Ukraine.
US Air Force pursues major aircraft retirements in 2024
The Air Force wants to retire 310 aircraft, including 42 A-10 Warthogs, as part of its fiscal 2024 budget to free up money for its modernization programs.
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/03/13/us-air-force-pursues-major-aircraft-retirements-in-2024/
Old Putin sounding more and more like a RAT American politician.
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