[dabigv13]

RE: The aircraft announcement by the Pentagon, I believe they were intentionally leaving it vague, but it sounds more likely that a large number of parts for airplanes were provided, and likely not complete airplanes. That being said, I wonder if they are trying to slyly lay the ground work for an announcement in a week or so that Slovakia has already provided their MiG 29's to Ukraine, or something of that sort.

Yes, I think if Slovakia, Bulgaria, or Poland sends MIG 29s or SU 25s, they will send them before they announce them (with very good reason). Possibly relevant here last week from John Kirby the Pentagon Press Secretary, though perhaps just referring to parts.

John Kirby:

Well, I would tell you that there are some nations that are helping Mr. Zelenskyy with his fixed-wing aircraft fleet, and he has more aircraft available to him now than, frankly, he did just a couple of weeks ago.

Now, every nation-state that does this does this on their own terms. They talk about it or they don't talk about it. That's their decision, and we respect that. But he continues to be able to put more aircraft into operational condition even as the war goes on.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/pentag...nian-lives

Medium or long range SAMs still will be much, much more useful to Ukraine than aircraft given the risk of Russian long range air defenses that Ukraine probably cannot significantly degrade operating from Russia or the separatist areas. Norwegian/US NASAMS would be very effective likely if Ukraine can get them. Hopefully this training may be underway already, I would think Ukraine's S300 stocks are going to run out at some point.

[dabigv13]

RE: The aircraft announcement by the Pentagon, I believe they were intentionally leaving it vague, but it sounds more likely that a large number of parts for airplanes were provided, and likely not complete airplanes. That being said, I wonder if they are trying to slyly lay the ground work for an announcement in a week or so that Slovakia has already provided their MiG 29's to Ukraine, or something of that sort.

Yes, I think if Slovakia, Bulgaria, or Poland sends MIG 29s or SU 25s, they will send them before they announce them (with very good reason). Possibly relevant here last week from John Kirby the Pentagon Press Secretary, though perhaps just referring to parts.

John Kirby:

Well, I would tell you that there are some nations that are helping Mr. Zelenskyy with his fixed-wing aircraft fleet, and he has more aircraft available to him now than, frankly, he did just a couple of weeks ago.

Now, every nation-state that does this does this on their own terms. They talk about it or they don't talk about it. That's their decision, and we respect that. But he continues to be able to put more aircraft into operational condition even as the war goes on.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/pentag...nian-lives

Medium or long range SAMs still will be much, much more useful to Ukraine than aircraft given the risk of Russian long range air defenses that Ukraine probably cannot significantly degrade operating from Russia or the separatist areas. Norwegian/US NASAMS would be very effective likely if Ukraine can get them. Hopefully this training may be underway already, I would think Ukraine's S300 stocks are going to run out at some point.