Supplement on Rare Species: RFA’s JFAC

For days….no: weeks already, everybody is wondering where are RFA’s JFACs (i.e. forward air/artillery controllers).

For days….no: weeks already, everybody is wondering where are RFA’s JFACs (i.e. forward air/artillery controllers).

This was especially valid for Separatist units, multiple brigades of which are sent into human-wave attacks on best Ukrainian fortifications along the LOC, without any kind of air- and/or artillery support (indeed: without platoon-leaders, and far too few company-commanders!).

For Western observers, this was quite estranging considering that already 8 years ago, the Keystone Cops in Moscow couldn’t stop bragging about their Metronome IT-system, integrating all operations of air- and ground forces in Syria.

Now, arguably, the Russians them mumbled something about abandoning the Metronome: supposedly, it didn’t work and they launched a new project on something that would. AFAIK, it remains unclear what came out of that.

One way or the other, in the light of related complaints, Putin’s PRBS-machinery was sent into action — and was promptly successful. Indeed, during their safari in Ukraine, they’ve found one of that rare species: a Russian JFAC operating the Fara VR artillery radar (apparently somewhere on their southern frontline, perhaps even Mariupol?).

The video is shown him marking targets to direct tankers and BMP-crews of the 150th MRD, who are then alternately opening fire.