Clark Griswold

Giving them some time to take back some territory / pressure the Russians is fine but there will come a point where I fear if the Russians really start to screw it up the temptation to go low yield tactical nuke becomes irresistible, the world gets really scary then. If they lose conventionally they lose deterrence against other foes they face, if the nuke first as they start to lose they end the conflict and they establish fear of nuclear reprisal with a recent example that assures them no one will f with them even though they lost a conventional conflict, yeah they’re a super pariah now but they have so much in natural resources it won’t last long term (isolation via extreme sanctions). If Russia gets territorial concessions and a land bridge to Crimea, then the West can beat that for the new Ukraine, basically a Marshall Plan plus immediate entry into the EU and NATO with US boots on the ground day 1 after conflict cessation Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1945 had a pretty good summation of our strategy in Ukraine and pretty much everywhere else too: Civilian leadership: Just do something, anything, I don't know just something and right now. Military: Ok What Is America's Goal for the Ukraine War? Answer: We Don't Have One - 19FortyFive The cost to the United States for all these failures has been profound – and now we’re creating a new mission without a clear objective and no identifiable end state. Where things are right now: Not to be dismissive of the Ukrainians rightful cause against aggression but our interests are involved too as we are their patron keeping them from being defeated, but it's time for this to end. Bleeding Russia to the last Ukranian is not a good idea in the long run and Europe hence a huge portion of the world's economy is getting unstable, food prices, energy prices and inflation, etc... besides I'm not convinced we are weakening Russia to the extent we think we are. No Russian presence west of the Dnieper River and cede the Donbas to the Russians. End hostilities with an armistice and an enduring US military mission in Ukraine. No formal peace, no further kinetic actions, another Korea. Best we can do.

West Virginia Coal Miners Push Stranded Electric Car to Plant in Order to Charge Up Randy Smith - Some days are just better than others. Today... | Facebook

Someone at the puzzle palace get the Ukrainians a fox 3 capability https://en.topwar.ru/188648-azerbajdzhanskie-istrebiteli-mig-29-poluchili-izrailskie-rakety-vozduh-vozduh.html Homework has already been done Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Another excellent discussion on WC’s channel, posted here to get comment on the Ukrainian MiG 29 domestically produced MU2 ground attack variant and Gripen as a fighter type to be supplied (potentially) to Ukraine Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fair enough - I'm not sure the MAGA phenomenon has shaken the stupid from people I think it should but we'll see.

FWIW @nsplayr I don't think you are a member of the #unholycabal, maybe a supporter of what they say that seems appealing but not a per se member, not implying anything negative towards you overtly or subtly. I guess I'm annoyed at their arrogance and dismissiveness, they're just another decadent corrupt aristocracy fucking over little people while telling them to be grateful while making short sighted decisions that just seem coincidently to make them lots of money. Done. I'll just respectfully disagree and we can argue about it again. To follow your lead and return to the thread's topic: This was interesting at least to me https://warontherocks.com/2022/08/amateur-hour-part-ii-failing-the-air-campaign/

The backlash against globalism / internationalism / multi-lateralism and all the other entangling alliances, obligations and other costs with a large part of the American people (and other Western nations) is that it has been done at the cost of the working / middle classes of those countries All the “great ideas” from the unholy cabal of coastal elites, globalists, the permanent administrative state, corporatists - pointless wars in shitholes, unfair free trade, lax immigration enforcement or de facto open borders, cowing to China to save their investment in that country or to retain access to it, etc… all the negative ramifications of those policies and others are suffered by them but the limited benefits are all funneled to that unholy cabal, all while being told that they deserve it and to stop complaining, that’s why they hate it, hate the rich talking heads that promote it, the purple haired gender studies that extoll it while living in a sheltered subsidized academic bubble… I can old man rant longer but you get the gist, the neo liberal world that the TED Talk crowd tell us is just around the corner if only open up a bit more is in reality if we screw over everyone except us in our own countries a lot more Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Best use but alas I think they’ll be foreign military gifts as soon as the af can do it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not hypocrisy per sr but irony, mining for the RE metals for “green” energy ain’t do green Report: China Destroying Myanmar with Rare Earth Mining for ‘Green’ Energy https://www.breitbart.com/environment/2022/08/10/report-china-destroying-myanmar-with-rare-earth-mining-for-green-energy/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Concur - since we don’t GAF about the Russians opinions on much these days why not let our aerospace industry reverse engineer parts for Ukraine to solve support problems for existing equipment and new used equipment to be acquired by hook or crook? Just a thought Added for discussion on 3/4 gen attack aircraft (do attack platforms have generations?) - write up on improved Frogfoot variants deploying to Syria https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-03-22/further-improved-su-25sm3-redeploys-syria Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not A-10s but maybe Su-25s… https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ukraine-situation-report-rumors-spin-around-macedonian-su-25-delivery?fbclid=IwAR1-s2XyICYO5qZz0ZP03_U1f35In4kXv8z_rhmIDpViV-AKsRX718PgTj0 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Billionaires, Hollywood Celebrities Join Call to End Public Plane Tracking After ‘Climate Criminal’ Backlash https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2022/08/07/how-dare-you-billionaires-hollywood-stars-join-call-for-end-to-public-plane-tracking/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Every red state / county should be doing this Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And that was why I posted that video… I agree with you, Carrol and Hertzinger on the White Elephant problem US platforms in the immediate term would generate for the Ukrainians, MiG 29s are not a great solution but a feasible one IMHO for the Ukrainians as they fly them now, would pick them up and use them right now and are good enough for right now, long term post-conflict the next platforms can be figured out Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ll keep stirring the pot because the comments are good Ward Carrol plus guest are not on board, don’t think anyone really is but again the discussion is good Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1945 not too keen on the idea… https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/07/why-sending-the-a-10-warthog-to-fight-in-ukraine-is-a-bad-idea/?fbclid=IwAR0471vkKHIIZGTPLQyM4T8YK32fp7Flry4Wx24TbsLK-pG-DAJ1KTBNkCY Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Concur with that idea Related idea to that one (US dominance and use of Airpower causing an overreliance and assumption we will always achieve it and use it as we have previously used it to achieve objectives and finally victory): https://warontherocks.com/2022/06/in-denial-about-denial-why-ukraines-air-success-should-worry-the-west/ Bremmer and Grieco at WOR have an interesting and I think prescient idea on what we need to consider is realistically possible when faced with capable adversaries, our model that has worked well in previous conflicts is at an end methinks

From what I've read, they've (the Ukr AF) have done okay but for the most part when there have been openings where manned fix wing strike can occur or where they accepted the risk and flew the mission(s) both sides have been wary and wisely IMHO, have been reluctant to risk difficult to replace manned platforms when the threat is very potent from their opponent. The Ukr AF lack of SEAD (and Russia) seems to be keeping assets (particularly manned assets) from being used how we (the US with Western Allies) would use them for attack missions. https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/rusi-defence-systems/getting-serious-about-sead-european-air-forces-must-learn-failure-russian-air-force-over-ukraine 500 kts may be not much more survivable than 325 kts but for delivering what kind of weapons and what standards of ROE? They could have requested the Hog but didn't as they are fighting right now, I think you've got a point as the inherent effectiveness of the Hog at these missions but I'll also take the Ukrainians at their word and if they say they don't want the Hog, I think it is for good reasons. The Russians have been losing the Su-25 in some numbers, not a perfect analog to the Hog but similar: https://www.businessinsider.com/soviet-su25-ground-attack-aircraft-takes-heavy-losses-in-ukraine-2022-4

I think given the density and overlapping WEZs of SAMs on both sides plus MANPADS is making a very quick ingress then quicker egress after weapons were released a premium vs persistence / redundancy / a really big gun on your jet High speed and low altitude, guessing both sides are flying 500 KTAS below 100’ AGL to try to avoid / defeat the threat while using ECM, decoys, countermeasures https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/06/24/russian-jets-are-flying-so-low-to-dodge-ukrainian-air-defenses-that-theyre-running-into-the-ground/amp/ I’m assuming CAS that is performed to any extent (majority I assume is being done by the Russians) is likely a quick dash, pop up, attack then scoot for reattack one more time Wiki says a Hog C clean at seal level will go 381 kts, with stores that’s gotta be way lower, no spear thrown at the hog but it’s not a Ferrari The better gift horse IMHO would be F/A-18C models we are divesting as we supply MiGs plus a shit load of other gear Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Article didn’t say but have the Ukrainians even asked for them? Seems like they want long range surface to surface missiles, artillery, drones, SAMs and whatever MiGs we can get for them from other nations. As to the Hog operating there, is there any area close to their FLOT that they could operate without being in the sweet spot of double digit Russian SAM? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

But the guy said she was “really hot” How an Unqualified Sex Worker Allegedly Infiltrated a Top Air Force Lab

Concur - I don't know why such a superior and innovative design could not spur the interest of the AF, my hunch is that they didn't design it and they already had in mind the AT-6 or A-29 for LAAR because culturally / historically people had in their nuggets that you adapt an existing or older aircraft for this mission. Reminds of Verbal in The Usual Suspects Call it bias, prejudice, preconceived, whatever... the powers that be already decided that if they were going to get a LAAR to bring air support to the long mission of COIN / Occupation in Iraq & Afghanistan in a low-ish threat environment that a turboprop was gonna be it. If I'm out of my lane as you were involved in this process back in the day tell me to correct back to course but that's just my hunch.

Two similar but different requirements (AOW & LAAR) AOW for AFSOC, LAAR for ACC AOW - AT 802 LAAR - Calidus B350 or Scorpion Jet Posted only because GOs, SESs and CODEL staffers lurk on this forum looking for the best new ideas on Airpower and they need guidance on where to spend billions of dollars...

Sweet Jesus... someone take the jet from him please... https://www.theblaze.com/news/biden-reads-teleprompter-cue