"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (3 Viewers)

[Admiral Beez]

The Typhoon, for all the bad press it's gotten, has something like 1/3rd the maintenance requirements....

And 1/2 the aircrew can't but help keep the costs down. What happens to backseaters when their dual chair birds are retired? Are they qualified pilots?

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The UAF is probably lucky the Tornados were scrapped. Fabulous aircraft when everything was working, but very prone to going wrong and an absolute maintenance hog in terms of manhours.

Like most variable swing wing aircraft. Look at the F-14. At the end of its career it was a maintenance pig. Very expensive and maintenance intensive to keep them mission and airworthy.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

And 1/2 the aircrew can't but help keep the costs down. What happens to backseaters when their dual chair birds are retired? Are they qualified pilots?

Usually no.

 

[GrauGeist]

When you see the term "loiter over the battlefield", it means "in the area, within quick access when needed".
Not literally over, or near, enemy lines.

We just watched a video of a Ukrainian Mi-24 (which is also 50 years old and travels at 200mph max.) upthread do the exact same mission and I'll be dammed - it wasn't shot down...

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

You don't see Frogfeet loitering over the targets nowadays. They race in, lob some unguided rockets or bombs in the general direction of the enemy and then zoom away, dumping flares as they scoot. I have to wonder if those air strikes accomplish anything relative to drone-directed artillery and GPS-guided HIMARs. Either way, I'd not want to be loitering over the Russians in a slow A-10 whilst slowly turning to line up my big gun.

"Loiter" in this case doesn't mean hanging around over enemy positions, it means remaining in the area, over one's own lines, to provide prompt support if needed -- a la cab-rank Typhoons.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I find it amazing that with their recon satellites the Russians still have not found and neutralized the Ukrainian air force. The UAF has over one hundred MiG-25, Su-24, Su-25 and Su-27. They must be experts at dispersal, diversion and disguise to keep them all operational and intact.

My understanding is that the UAF moves its planes daily from base to base.

 

[Admiral Beez]

My understanding is that the UAF moves its planes daily from base to base.

Considering that Russian-made jet engines have a TBO of about 200-400 hours and a total life of 4,000 hours, this shuttling about must draw down on available engine hours. I wonder how many pre-war Ukrainian MiG-29s, for instance are broken down for spare parts now that replacement MiG-29s from NATO are arriving.

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Yea, long enough to get shot at more frequently.

Is the A-10 Warthog the new Groundhog?

It could be a good clickbait headline.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yea, long enough to get shot at more frequently.

Not when used correctly. Used correctly, the most of the flight-time will be behind one's own lines and at low level, presenting a difficult target.

But let's face it: all frontline CAS/BAI aircraft are going to get shot at. None of them have magic force-fields. What alternative did you have in mind?

 

[RogerdeLluria]

How Ukrainian military spies are beating their Russian rivals

President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied Ukraine has any designs on Vladimir Putin’s life but last week the deputy head of Ukrainian military intelligence was

www.thetimes.co.uk

 

[Ovod]

My understanding is that the UAF moves its planes daily from base to base.

I would doubt that - how would the UAF be able to carry out combat operations if they had to migrate to a different airfield every day - it wouldn't be just the aircraft that would have to move.

 

[GrauGeist]

I would doubt that - how would the UAF be able to carry out combat operations if they had to migrate to a different airfield every day - it wouldn't be just the aircraft that would have to move.

They operate from various locations that are not typical airfields or bases.

At one point, it was an industrial warehouse located alongside a highway, where the aircraft were parked and maintained inside during the day.

 

[SaparotRob]

I would doubt that - how would the UAF be able to carry out combat operations if they had to migrate to a different airfield every day - it wouldn't be just the aircraft that would have to move.

Prepositioned satellite fields? Just guessing.

 

[Dimlee]

I may have overstepped, as 54 tons is likely too small for mounting fixed anti ship missiles. Even the very small Russian Osa-class missile boats are over 200 tons. I suppose the best the Gyurza-M-class gunboats can get is anti air MANPADS.

List of missile boat classes - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

True. What I think is a platform for light anti-air defence as Oerlikon 35 mm autocannons, Avenger, and Vampire. Similar to current land-based mobile platforms.

 

[syscom3]

Not when used correctly. Used correctly, the most of the flight-time will be behind one's own lines and at low level, presenting a difficult target.

But let's face it: all frontline CAS/BAI aircraft are going to get shot at. None of them have magic force-fields. What alternative did you have in mind?

The only alternative is F16's. Go in fast. Get out even faster. The A10 simply does not have the speed to do it.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I would doubt that - how would the UAF be able to carry out combat operations if they had to migrate to a different airfield every day - it wouldn't be just the aircraft that would have to move.

I imagine they could integrate the mission with the move by landing in a different location. The servicing would sure be more complicated.

This article alludes to some of the issues: Ukraine Uses 'Jump Airfields' To Attack Russian Military, A Skill Taiwan's Fighters Have Been Polishing To Thwart China

 

[Jerad]

New long video showing Ukrainian troops attacking positions of Russians near Bakhmut

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LulaA-U7-M

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

The only alternative is F16's. Go in fast. Get out even faster. The A10 simply does not have the speed to do it.

How is it then that Frogfoots are doing okay?

F-16s are not going to be that much faster on the deck anyway. Not fast enough to baffle the radars guiding missiles, to be sure. Better hope it doesn't get hit in its single, underslung engine, too.

This is not Syria or Afghanistan. CAS airplanes will need to be robust and very careful.

 

[syscom3]

Someone explain to me why Bhakmut is so important? I'd say securing the ports on the Black sea is even more important.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Someone explain to me what Bhakmut is so important? Id say securing the ports on the Black sea is even ore important.

Putin will one day discover the folly of pursuing objectives based on domestic political sentiments.