Admiral Beez
Major
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?
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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?The Typhoon, for all the bad press it's gotten, has something like 1/3rd the maintenance requirements....
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.My understanding is that the UAF moves its planes daily from base to base.
Is the A-10 Warthog the new Groundhog?Yea, long enough to get shot at more frequently.
Yea, long enough to get shot at more frequently.
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.My understanding is that the UAF moves its planes daily from base to base.
They operate from various locations that are not typical airfields or bases.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.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.
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.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.
The only alternative is F16's. Go in fast. Get out even faster. The A10 simply does not have the speed to do it.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?
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.
The only alternative is F16's. Go in fast. Get out even faster. The A10 simply does not have the speed to do it.
Someone explain to me what Bhakmut is so important? Id say securing the ports on the Black sea is even ore important.