[Goose]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukrainian-su-...13866.html

IMO a really good article, particularly the historical aspects of it. FWIW, the pilot being interviewed indicates the JDAM-ERs and SDBs are working well in the current EW scenario. So, what is true? Is Russia successfully jamming GPS everywhere or have we developed effective countermeasures? I have no idea.

IMO the main "takeaway" from the article is this:

Viking says, referring to the need for beyond-visual-range missiles to target the aircraft launching the glide bombs.
“Without all these means, if the Russians continue to throw glide bombs, then the consequences will be terrible, they will simply squeeze us out, no matter how incredible our infantry is.”

The Russian glide bomb problem became one of the main arguments for accelerating Ukrainian F-16 deliveries, although it remains to be seen how effective these might be in pushing back the Russian jets launching glide bombs from across the border.

Indeed. It also appears it will "remain to be seen" as there simply aren't enough F-16s with trained pilots ready to take on the mission. The article also states:

Despite limited F-16 deliveries so far and continued losses to the Soviet-era fleet of tactical jets, Viking says there is no shortage of trained manpower or aircraft at this point. Instead, what the Ukrainian Air Force lacks is air-launched weapons.

This is obviously nonsense. The F-16s delivered to Ukraine carry the AIM-120D AMRAAM. We know this because there are photos of Ukrainian F-16s carrying that missile and the US has stated it was supplied. If they had "enough" operational F-16s and pilots, they wouldn't lack air-launched BVR weapons.

The first quote references "across the border". This statement isn't literally accurate. The correct statement would be "from Russian controlled airspace". The Russia-Ukraine border is relevant only in so far as Russia assuredly controls the airspace on their side of that border, at least in most places :-). Obviously that is not true in parts of Kursk :-). Similarly, Russia controls the airspace in occupied Ukrainian territory. Their aircraft can launch glide weapons from these "sanctuaries". AMRAAMs can take away 90 miles of that airspace, which is "enough" to stop the glide bombs from reaching Ukrainian lines. Unfortunately, we aren't seeing this even attempted.

[Goose]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukrainian-su-...13866.html

IMO a really good article, particularly the historical aspects of it. FWIW, the pilot being interviewed indicates the JDAM-ERs and SDBs are working well in the current EW scenario. So, what is true? Is Russia successfully jamming GPS everywhere or have we developed effective countermeasures? I have no idea.

IMO the main "takeaway" from the article is this:

Viking says, referring to the need for beyond-visual-range missiles to target the aircraft launching the glide bombs.
“Without all these means, if the Russians continue to throw glide bombs, then the consequences will be terrible, they will simply squeeze us out, no matter how incredible our infantry is.”

The Russian glide bomb problem became one of the main arguments for accelerating Ukrainian F-16 deliveries, although it remains to be seen how effective these might be in pushing back the Russian jets launching glide bombs from across the border.

Indeed. It also appears it will "remain to be seen" as there simply aren't enough F-16s with trained pilots ready to take on the mission. The article also states:

Despite limited F-16 deliveries so far and continued losses to the Soviet-era fleet of tactical jets, Viking says there is no shortage of trained manpower or aircraft at this point. Instead, what the Ukrainian Air Force lacks is air-launched weapons.

This is obviously nonsense. The F-16s delivered to Ukraine carry the AIM-120D AMRAAM. We know this because there are photos of Ukrainian F-16s carrying that missile and the US has stated it was supplied. If they had "enough" operational F-16s and pilots, they wouldn't lack air-launched BVR weapons.

The first quote references "across the border". This statement isn't literally accurate. The correct statement would be "from Russian controlled airspace". The Russia-Ukraine border is relevant only in so far as Russia assuredly controls the airspace on their side of that border, at least in most places :-). Obviously that is not true in parts of Kursk :-). Similarly, Russia controls the airspace in occupied Ukrainian territory. Their aircraft can launch glide weapons from these "sanctuaries". AMRAAMs can take away 90 miles of that airspace, which is "enough" to stop the glide bombs from reaching Ukrainian lines. Unfortunately, we aren't seeing this even attempted.