08-27-2024, 07:42 AM
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraines-f-16...56296.html
Ukraine is starting out conservative and using their F-16s to target cruise missiles and drones. This is exactly what they should do, at least until they are close to having at least a functioning squadron of aircraft operating. Then they can go offensive occasionally with well-planned missions that will do maximum damage to the Russians.
One baffling thing (to me at least :-) is that Russia has not established a drone-cruise missile barrier around Ukraine. They could fly one or more Mainstays safely well inside Russian airspace. This aircraft could detect and track anything that is moving at say 100 knots and entering Russian airspace. This capability all by itself would give "early warning" of hostile targets and where they are going. This capability would at a minimum improve the effectiveness of Russian SAMs. Russia is not doing it. Russia could also maintain "many" fighter aircraft both already in the air and alert on the ground. These aircraft would be steered by the A-50s towards the targets until the fighters could lock them up. Russian fighters do have "look down shoot down" capability and are quite capable of doing this mission. Yet they aren't. Why not? Ukraine is already starting to get there with their pitifully small stock of F-16s.
Granted the PVO is no more and the VKS hasn't demonstrated such a defense in its history. However, it isn't rocket science. You can bet your last nickle the US would establish a barrier defense in depth immediately in a similar situation. The destruction of the Iranian drone/cruise missile element by "coalition" aircraft showed how to do it. This was done with a competent yet improvised air element that had never done exactly that mission before and certainly not with each other. Russia absolutely could do it.
Ukraine is starting out conservative and using their F-16s to target cruise missiles and drones. This is exactly what they should do, at least until they are close to having at least a functioning squadron of aircraft operating. Then they can go offensive occasionally with well-planned missions that will do maximum damage to the Russians.
One baffling thing (to me at least :-) is that Russia has not established a drone-cruise missile barrier around Ukraine. They could fly one or more Mainstays safely well inside Russian airspace. This aircraft could detect and track anything that is moving at say 100 knots and entering Russian airspace. This capability all by itself would give "early warning" of hostile targets and where they are going. This capability would at a minimum improve the effectiveness of Russian SAMs. Russia is not doing it. Russia could also maintain "many" fighter aircraft both already in the air and alert on the ground. These aircraft would be steered by the A-50s towards the targets until the fighters could lock them up. Russian fighters do have "look down shoot down" capability and are quite capable of doing this mission. Yet they aren't. Why not? Ukraine is already starting to get there with their pitifully small stock of F-16s.
Granted the PVO is no more and the VKS hasn't demonstrated such a defense in its history. However, it isn't rocket science. You can bet your last nickle the US would establish a barrier defense in depth immediately in a similar situation. The destruction of the Iranian drone/cruise missile element by "coalition" aircraft showed how to do it. This was done with a competent yet improvised air element that had never done exactly that mission before and certainly not with each other. Russia absolutely could do it.