Russia's War Against Ukraine

[FarAway Sooner]

I think that the bigger issue with the F-16s is that their intakes suck up any loose debris on a landing field, making it much harder to maintain the runways when you're consistently within range of enemy drones and missiles.  This means that using isolated stretches of highway as impromptu airfields is extremely dangerous, which means that it's easier to spot F-16 runways, which means that it's easier to keep them non-operational.

None of which means that NATO shouldn't give Ukraine F-16s.  They're a definite step in the right direction.  They just aren't as likely to be a game changer as many of us might hope.

I haven't watched the entire article yet, but one piece that talks about the implications of the F-16 in some detail is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgHud7Z5vaE.

[GDS_Starfury]

pretty sure this is the same attack as my last post from a different drone.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1693633937124315404

[GDS_Starfury]

Taiwan seems to like the idea.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/ready-takeoff-taiwans-highways-can-host-f-16-fighting-falcons-193665

Singapore has also tried it.

https://borneotoday.net/fighter-jets-take-off-from-from-lim-chu-kang-road-in-rsafs-exercise-torrent/

https://en.defence-ua.com/analysis/the_armed_forces_of_ukraine_found_ways_to_improve_airfields_for_the_f_16_what_could_be_the_problem-3682.html

maybe it would just be best to give them F-18s instead. 

[Windigo]

pretty sure this is the same attack as my last post from a different drone.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1693633937124315404

Damn that happened it quick order. Helluva good placement too. Speaks to me that engineering vehicles are needed to make new lanes of approach.

[Windigo]

Taiwan seems to like the idea.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/ready-takeoff-taiwans-highways-can-host-f-16-fighting-falcons-193665

Singapore has also tried it.

https://borneotoday.net/fighter-jets-take-off-from-from-lim-chu-kang-road-in-rsafs-exercise-torrent/

https://en.defence-ua.com/analysis/the_armed_forces_of_ukraine_found_ways_to_improve_airfields_for_the_f_16_what_could_be_the_problem-3682.html

maybe it would just be best to give them F-18s instead. 

Hornets/Super Hornets for the win. Navy aviation assets built freaking tough.

Also... a wild assed idea, but why not some low teck solutions like .... the A-29 Tucano

[Uberhaus]

Can the Tucano operate in a high-threat environment?  Isn't it for anti-insurgent warfare? 

Star's idea of sending A-10s is a nice idea but what kind of upgrade to their defensive packages could they get.  P.I.T.S. right now.

[JasonPratt]

and the Ukrainian runways don't crumple their relatively delicate landing gear...

what makes you think that an F-16s landing gear is flimsy?
I found this but its an issue thats supposed to be fixed now.
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/long-standing-problem-with-f-16-landing-gear-caused-december-2019-mishap-at-kunsan/

Well, yes, that. {g} And not that the gear is supposed to be flimsy exactly, only that it needs smooth runways.

Could also depend on how old the Dutch planes are, which I don't know but usually platforms sent to Ukraine tend to be older models needing replacement. Relatedly, the timing for this transfer will also depend on when Holland receives its promised order of F-35s.

(Though now I'm a little paranoid wondering if I'm remembering Holland/Netherlands correctly as the source of the 16s.... I thought we used to have a greybeard smiley for poking fun at our aging memory and eyesight! It used to be right here, let's see...  there, did that work?)

[JasonPratt]

I haven't watched the entire article yet, but one piece that talks about the implications of the F-16 in some detail is

Activated the code in-window. :)


Also, yeah, doing a foreign object sweep down an F-16 runway is a hell of a lot more time consuming than for an F-18 on a carrier deck.

[Windigo]

I don't want detail, I want the "elevator pitch".

[FarAway Sooner]

I don't want detail, I want the "elevator pitch".

"We're professionals.  Trust us!"   

[acctingman]

After all these Russian losses (it seems like a lot to me) can they even field enough toys on the battlefield to deal with NATO? I know another big threat is China, but I'm not sure how or even IF Russia could stomach a conventional war with NATO. I mean, they probably have warehouses full of T-34's 

[JasonPratt]

I don't want detail, I want the "elevator pitch".

Remember the movie "Iron Eagle"? It'll be like that. NO NOT THE SEQUELS THE FIRST ONE!

[JasonPratt]

After all these Russian losses (it seems like a lot to me) can they even field enough toys on the battlefield to deal with NATO? I know another big threat is China, but I'm not sure how or even IF Russia could stomach a conventional war with NATO. I mean, they probably have warehouses full of T-34's 

Not for much longer if they go to war with NATO. A real war, I mean, not just a cold one.

[GDS_Starfury]

I imagine a hot war with russia would look a lot like Desert Storm.
a month or more of an even more impressive air campaign and then Poland and Finland take everything to the Urals. 

[Crossroads]

Also, yeah, doing a foreign object sweep down an F-16 runway is a hell of a lot more time consuming than for an F-18 on a carrier deck.

Finnish AF runs their F/A-18s from road bases too, has done for years and years, no incidents as far as I know. Cleaning a strip of paved road should be possible for F-16s as well. ROK does road bases too for one, don't they have F-16s as well? Norwegians did for their F-16s iirc. Edit, no, actually. Quick google showed Singapore doing that however. Edit2 and Taiwan, too.