Clark Griswold

Fair enough Ukraine is a significant food (wheat) and mineral exporter, largest country in Europe and strategically placed for access to Mid-East / Central Asia so I'll just disagree on their importance but BO should not be an echo chamber so there we go.

Will respectfully disagree and my position is based not on nativity on the actual nature of the Ukranian government / society but on the successful historical examples of South Korea and Taiwan, both of which were fairly nasty dictatorships we supported and remained engaged with for decades in a slow, positive and ultimately successful transition to modernity and a western influenced, stable, democratic societies. I have no illusions about a post bellum Western Ukraine project and the difficulty of it being next door to Russia that would be doing everything just short of kinetic actions to undermine this new nation and I have no doubt that eradicating the scrouge of corruption when so many in the Western political classes are eager to personally profit from it would be exceptionally difficult but IMHO it is part of the long difficult road to eventually incorporating the Orthodox World into the West.

No not at all I think there is just a point where in the long term it is better for us and the Ukrainians that accepting some of their territory was lost is better than further war and the cost of further fighting. Not a fan at all of Russia or Putin. Free Ukraine will need large long term aid, I’m cool with that, it’s just that at some point if it can be had, ceasefire and focus on rebuilding. I’m also okay with a surprise deployment of 25k US boots on Free Ukraine with no end date to prevent Putin from trying round 2 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hear what you are saying and don't think we should cut off or cut down on the amount of aid now but.... there might be a point where the Ukrainians are willing to fight further using our money, weapons, support, etc... and it may be that we have done enough, they have done enough and just declaring a ceasefire and entering decades of a tense standoff may be the best for us, the whole team and I would include free and on the path to reform Western Ukraine. Would this reward Russia? No, the fact they would still hold some of Ukraine they wrongly seized is just a fact of life which is a four letter word and we have to accept it. This time is not now but I could see it in about 6-12 months, keep the aid and support flowing but behind the scenes begin to think about what and where a Western Ukraine would be acceptable. If this happens, China and other aggressors will see a greatly diminished Russia, a Western coalition that held firm and likely a price paid for some territory that was not worth it.

Not Aircrew Interview but an interesting video on the Soviets trained their fighter crews and insights into their AF's thinking over time from watching us and their own experiences

Very easily unfortunately but there is a logic too it Small fleet, expensive support, new hotnesss is the F-35 and money is needed for NGAD, B-21, TPS reports, etc... F-15EX with a great radar, AIM-260s and cued by F-35s forward and cloaked relaying targets via datalink and you have a good 5.0/4.5 team

Kirby was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force...

“tactical interim” - does this make room for an increased F-15EX buy? https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2023/04/air-force-tries-retire-jets-hascs-wittman-wants-gapfiller/384831/ My druthers aa we are focusing on the China fight, the Eagle 2.0 with CFTs is the right gap filler Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We had a good run Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For the hog driver’s desk https://csvnewsiten.com/products/a-10c-gau-8-brrrttt-inspiration-pencil-holder-spinner Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Onion had it right all the way back in ‘14 https://www.theonion.com/iranian-team-openly-working-on-bomb-in-negotiating-room-1819577235 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Because this is a good idea… Detroit murder suspect out on bond accused in fourth killing https://www.foxnews.com/us/detroit-murder-suspect-bond-accused-fourth-killing Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup, this Tom Clancy / Dale Brown scenario would have to have some serious gains in operational capability by the PLAN but it would not have to be a CBG necessarily I could see them having enough capability to deploy surface combatants, subs, AWACS, land based fighters, tankers, seaplanes (that would interesting for light resupply if the RN subs precluded initial naval resupply), etc… Draws a lot of their capabilities to a far flung potential ally but crawl before you walk, if they are serious about power projection a little practice would not hurt All that said I’m not for another fight over the Falklands, they are British by history and won in battle but it’s worth speculating on Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

M2 covered the flybys but that makes me wonder about a variation on Falklands 2.0, what if the Chinese decided to intervene? Test their equipment, people and tactics by using their own CBG to deter intervention by the US and defeat/intimidate the RN? That could detract even from a USN response to a Taiwan incursion as they don’t need CVN based air power there but in supporting Argentina in a Falklands 2.0 they likely draw away 1 USN CBG while their primary objective is being prosecuted #redstormrising2 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, that’s a debrief item for them ;-) but I found it interesting the idea of a modernized and well equipped Argentinian force with PRC weapons and how well it would do in an invasion scenario Single mainly AI driven DCS scenarios I think can give a bit o’ insight into tactical/operational outcomes but it’s the strategic aspects that I doubt any readily available combat simulation software could simulate and hence give a better combat simulation… still I thought a bit more about it from the aggressors perspective after watching those two videos and I think had the Argies had TBM or stand off cruise missile capability to hit the Typhoons in shelters, destroy their runways, EW radars, ships in port, etc… they might fare better. That is if launched from a total strategic surprise with a rapidly mustered invasion force immediately following it. They (Argentina) had and may still have Condor II missiles, an updated version of this would be a real threat methinks for the UK defending the Falklands If they chose aggression again, they would have to favor force preservation in the opening fight while trying to eliminate the garrisoned forces there now with stand off fires, then overwhelm the more capable survivors with what they have Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Watched these DCS gameplays on a Falklands 2.0 scenario(s), found them a tad interesting: and a future scenario

Doubt they do (the admin) but as to fighters my WAG is the PLAAF is / might be interested in seeing how the Brits react and gathering technical data on NATO systems, tactics, etc... No doubt the Chinese produced JF-17s (if the Argies choose to acquire will insist on ones with little Pakistani involvement as Myanmar is less than happy with their JF-17s with serious problems) will be there to gather trons on Typhoon radar, ECM, Meteor missile capes, etc... How applicable to a potential Taiwan scenario is that? Don't know but the partial analogy to their desire to take an island 90 nm from their coast is there

A few JF-17s aren’t likely to let them conquer the Falklands but I wonder if the PLA would wanna try a rehearsal there before they try in their own backyard Argentina Wants to Buy Chinese Fighter Jets https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2023/03/16/argentina-wants-to-buy-chinese-fighter-jets/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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How not to fight a war:

Interested story from the good old days https://theaviationgeekclub.com/foxhound-vs-blackbird-former-mig-31-pilot-explains-how-to-intercept-and-shoot-down-an-sr-71-mach-3-spy-plane/amp/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not drunk but this was interesting Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Copy all @Lawman @DirkDigglerand I think those are likely causes not the platform per se It's a mixed bag of reviews on it, some articles said it did well in Syria (lower threat environment) and then there's the disappointing performance in Ukraine, seems from scanning a few it's a matter of training, tactics and modern sub-systems versus overall concept. Not rooting for Russian AF also just to state that clearly as they are the only ones flying it there.

The Fullback is not having a great record in Ukraine-Russian war: Russia's Su-34 Fullback Fighter-Bomber: Paper Tiger or Killer in Ukraine? - 19FortyFive Kinda surprised but article gives some ideas about why that is, lack of modern weapons for the platform, training, friendly fire, mx issues, etc... but still interesting it has not been more survivable. Is the heavy fighter/bomber concept viable? Our version that was used heavily in combat, the F-105 in Vietnam, is largely derided but I think if you look at the whole record in context the Thud actually did well considering its design and the threats it faced (it flew 75% of the strikes over North Vietnam) and still had a slightly better than 1 to 1 kill ratio against MiGs (27.5 vs 17). All that said, is this just a fault of the Su-34 not being equipped with the modern systems to fight/survive and supported by the other enabling assets or is the concept wrong?