So far, I have explained different ‘basics’ of modern-day air warfare: the ‘bare bottom’, the ‘very essence’ of how are integrated air defence systems and surface-to-air missiles operated nowadays – at strategic and at operational levels. Pending discussion of tactical level it is necessary to ‘do a step back’, sort of, and discuss the weaponry involved. This is explaining why is the VKS operating its fighter-bombers the way it operates them nowadays, and why is the PSU operating its ground based air defences along the frontlines the way it does.
I guess F-16 would be as ineffective as interceptors against glide bomb launchers as Iranian F-14s were? The terrain near Ukrainian borders is not mountainous, so the Russian aircraft should be harder to hide on approach but there's likely not going to be enough time to scramble them, right?
Dear Colleagues. This war once again showed that tyrannies (Moscow, Iranian, Chinese, Korean, etc.) can mobilize their resources for war much faster. In democracies, this process is slow. Even their own security does not consolidate them. Until an agreement is reached within each democracy, and then all democracies among themselves, tyranny, even one, but aggressive, will terrify them all, and especially those who are closer. It's like an aggressive drug addict attacks a group of intellectuals and beats the one who gets under the arm, while the rest of the intellectuals decide what to do - call the police, run away, and if they defend themselves, then which one of them will do it ...
May 23, 2023·edited May 23, 2023Liked by Sarcastosaurus
#5 read: Thanks Tom very interesting read on the Russian bomb assy and its rudimentary upgrades, I guess for them it works and the story about the navigation system explains why the Ukrainians have found handheld GPS units duck taped to the instrument panel of some of the downed planes
Tom, thanks so much for this. I have learned about the modularity of US dumb bombs and their advantages over Soviet designs. One thing that struck me is the figure of 40+ jets destroyed in the early months of the war. This makes sense considering Russia has a large airforce and is rumored to have put 3 airforce armies with ~500 combat jets at the disposal of the war. I find it odd that a year later they've only lost 78 combat jets according to Oryx and its taken as the undisputed truth about the number of Russian combat jets lost in the conflict. Surely there is a lot to the air war we dont know in terms of combat jet losses. The figure of 40 losses by march makes sense considering the early intensity of the conflict but the current Oryx figure of 78 Russian jets lost(a year later) only seems like a solid conservative estimate and not the ultimate truth for me. I wonder what your thoughts are about this. Otherwise thank you for the post and will be reading part 6
Thanks a lot
Thank you again. Еverything is clear and understandable. Easily understood language. Looking forward to continuing.
Thanks Tom, good stuff.
I guess F-16 would be as ineffective as interceptors against glide bomb launchers as Iranian F-14s were? The terrain near Ukrainian borders is not mountainous, so the Russian aircraft should be harder to hide on approach but there's likely not going to be enough time to scramble them, right?
I like how all the parts are falling together. Keep them coming. Thank you for all your work.
Thanks for the explanation Tom. Please consider editing this in your future book about this war!
I have worked on these bombs (Chinese version) ,and it's identical to us version , almost the same with the two section
Thank you, very interesting and meaningful!
Dear Colleagues. This war once again showed that tyrannies (Moscow, Iranian, Chinese, Korean, etc.) can mobilize their resources for war much faster. In democracies, this process is slow. Even their own security does not consolidate them. Until an agreement is reached within each democracy, and then all democracies among themselves, tyranny, even one, but aggressive, will terrify them all, and especially those who are closer. It's like an aggressive drug addict attacks a group of intellectuals and beats the one who gets under the arm, while the rest of the intellectuals decide what to do - call the police, run away, and if they defend themselves, then which one of them will do it ...
#5 read: Thanks Tom very interesting read on the Russian bomb assy and its rudimentary upgrades, I guess for them it works and the story about the navigation system explains why the Ukrainians have found handheld GPS units duck taped to the instrument panel of some of the downed planes
Thanks for writing this, very enlightening!
Tom, thanks so much for this. I have learned about the modularity of US dumb bombs and their advantages over Soviet designs. One thing that struck me is the figure of 40+ jets destroyed in the early months of the war. This makes sense considering Russia has a large airforce and is rumored to have put 3 airforce armies with ~500 combat jets at the disposal of the war. I find it odd that a year later they've only lost 78 combat jets according to Oryx and its taken as the undisputed truth about the number of Russian combat jets lost in the conflict. Surely there is a lot to the air war we dont know in terms of combat jet losses. The figure of 40 losses by march makes sense considering the early intensity of the conflict but the current Oryx figure of 78 Russian jets lost(a year later) only seems like a solid conservative estimate and not the ultimate truth for me. I wonder what your thoughts are about this. Otherwise thank you for the post and will be reading part 6