"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (5 Viewers)

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Some very interesting goings on around Bakhmut. Several pro-Russian/pro-Wagner accounts (notably Rybar) are reporting rapid Ukrainian advances to the north of the city, into the town of Berkhivka or even beyond it.

Ukrainian forces reportedly overran defensive points between a couple of water features and then penetrated at least another 1 km, if not further. This is territory that Russia only took about 6 weeks ago.

If the Russian accounts are true (and that's a big IF), it puts a large section of the Russian line under immense pressure. In particular, Russian troops who have been advancing Northwest from Dubovo-Vasylivka would have their main supply route cut. There could be a very rapid volte face for troops there, collapsing the salient.

Of course, this could just be Wagner linked milbloggers spreading shit. But, Rybar has been reasonably accurate with its mapping, so that's something to consider.

That is in line with this, that the ukrainian counteroffensive goes better that expected so far

Ukraine Situation Report: Offensive Going Better Than Expected, U.S. Says

The White House says it's too early to tell how the destruction of the Nova Khakovka dam will affect Ukraine's counteroffensive.

www.thedrive.com

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

In general, government tends to favor local production of European hardware due to obvious benefits in terms of industrial base and job generation, even if its detrimental in terms of military capabilities.

While this is true generally, don't forget that the policy of the air force is to have 2 different provideers for its main fighter plane, one european and one american.

 

[Snautzer01]

Russian Tank spotters guide

View attachment 724200

Fixed it

 

[RogerdeLluria]

While this is true generally, don't forget that the policy of the air force is to have 2 different provideers for its main fighter plane, one european and one american.

Well, before the 70's planes where only American (and before that, where German)
That policy started in the 70's where the air force had a mix of French and US planes.
Mirage III + Phantom F4 + Mirage F1

After the acquisition of the F-18 in the eighties the mix became.
Mirage F1 + F-18

However none of those had a significant impact on the local industry, technology or job generation capabilities.

After joining the Eurofighter program the mix became.
F-18 + Eurofighter

The Eurofighter changed the equation in terms of technological, industrial and job benefits.
While the air force may push for an American plane, its understandable that the government (whatever party is there) may push for a pan-european plane.
In fact it makes sense to keep Eurofighter production active to maintain the industrial, technological, and specially the job base until (if) the future FCAS starts production. Otherwise its very hard to recover those capabilities once you have lost them.

 

[RogerdeLluria]

Ukraine has not yet launched counteroffensive, senior security official says

Ukraine has not yet launched a planned counteroffensive to win back territory occupied by Russia, and its start will be obvious to everyone when it happens, a senior security official said on Wednesday.

www.reuters.com

"When we start the counteroffensive, everyone will know about it, they will see it."

 

[Ascent]

View: https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1666441410306768899?t=dL9LbG62RMbCEqx0F3KEOw&s=19

Looks like the Chinese are starting to supply the Russians in an undeniable way.

 

[Greg Boeser]

View: https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1666441410306768899?t=dL9LbG62RMbCEqx0F3KEOw&s=19

Looks like the Chinese are starting to supply the Russians in an undeniable way.

So what began as a Russian attempt at territorial aggrandizement is evolving into a proxy war between USA NATO and China.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Ukraine has not yet launched counteroffensive, senior security official says

Ukraine has not yet launched a planned counteroffensive to win back territory occupied by Russia, and its start will be obvious to everyone when it happens, a senior security official said on Wednesday.

www.reuters.com

"When we start the counteroffensive, everyone will know about it, they will see it."

The Ukrainians have the best of both worlds.... an expert understanding of the Russian military mindset and flaws (drunkenness, low morale, poor supplies, no initiative, shite leadership, tendency to flee, etc.), along with modern Western weapons, communications, training and intelligence gathering. I expect the Ukrainian counteroffensive will be a rapid punch of Desert Storm proportions - modified for plains rather than the desert below.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

The Ukrainians have the best of both worlds.... an expert understanding of the Russian military mindset and flaws (drunkenness, low morale, poor supplies, no initiative, shite leadership, tendency to flee, etc.), along with modern Western weapons, communications, training and intelligence gathering. I expect the Ukrainian counteroffensive will be a rapid punch of Desert Storm proportions - modified for plains rather than the desert below.

View attachment 724358

Here's hoping you're right, Beezy.

 

[Frog]

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Well, before the 70's planes where only American (and before that, where German)
That policy started in the 70's where the air force had a mix of French and US planes.
Mirage III + Phantom F4 + Mirage F1

After the acquisition of the F-18 in the eighties the mix became.
Mirage F1 + F-18

However none of those had a significant impact on the local industry, technology or job generation capabilities.

After joining the Eurofighter program the mix became.
F-18 + Eurofighter

The Eurofighter changed the equation in terms of technological, industrial and job benefits.
While the air force may push for an American plane, its understandable that the government (whatever party is there) may push for a pan-european plane.
In fact it makes sense to keep Eurofighter production active to maintain the industrial, technological, and specially the job base until (if) the future FCAS starts production. Otherwise its very hard to recover those capabilities once you have lost them.

Purchasing the F-35 makes sense in following the dual provider policy, since they could be used as sustitutes for part of the F-18 fleet of the EdA ( A version) and the Harriers of the FAA (B versión), both american.

FCAS is a very long way until (if, as you appropriately remarked) in service and keeping the Eurofighter in production makes sense in that regard.

As makes sense purchasing the F-35 due to the integrability with most NATO members (I think the F-35 could be the most widely used plane in number of NATO user countries, more that F-104 or F-16) and even between the EdA and the FAA.

Not to speak about capabilities of the plane.

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Meanwhile in the Netherlands, less F-16s for Draken and more aviable for eventual transfer for Ukrainia:

Dozens Of Dutch F-16s Were Just Freed Up Potentially For Ukraine

Draken, a U.S. adversary air contractor, will now take just six former Dutch F-16 fighter jets, leaving more potentially for Ukraine.

www.thedrive.com

Very interesting this part:

"In December last year, the Dutch parliament was informed that there had been a delay in this transfer [to Draken], although the precise reasons are not specified in the new letter."

How long in the making the F-16 deal?

 

[Glider]

Russia is also having significant problems with some of the smallest pieces of equipment which is impacting them in the field

Another Russian equipment shortage is manifesting itself on the battlefield, according to the Russian Ghost of Novorossia Telegram channel.
This time, in the form of the V625U LR9 battery, which powers the KPTM-3 anti-tank mining system.
"We were given a good anti-tank cassette remote mining system KPTM-3, but in order for it to become armed after being launched from the cassette, it needs a battery, which we were not supplied with and the analog of this battery on the civilian market ranges from 300 to 500 rubles ($3.69 to $6.15)."
Without a battery, the mining system "will not be on a combat platoon," the Ghost of Novorossia Telegram channel claimed. "And yes, you could buy it. But the battery is quite rare. Because there is little demand for it. It is hard to find in large quantities at retail. Wholesale too. As a result, we get a good mine, which we cannot apply

Does it remind you of the famous line, 'for the want of a nail a shoe was lost, for the want of a shoe a horse was lost'

A five dollar battery

 

[SaparotRob]

Quick, everyone see if we can buy some! It'll drive up the price and keep them off the market.

 

[RogerdeLluria]

We have all been mocking Russians.
It just happens that they actually did destroy a Leopard

 

[manta22]

Russia is also having significant problems with some of the smallest pieces of equipment which is impacting them in the field

Another Russian equipment shortage is manifesting itself on the battlefield, according to the Russian Ghost of Novorossia Telegram channel.
This time, in the form of the V625U LR9 battery, which powers the KPTM-3 anti-tank mining system.
"We were given a good anti-tank cassette remote mining system KPTM-3, but in order for it to become armed after being launched from the cassette, it needs a battery, which we were not supplied with and the analog of this battery on the civilian market ranges from 300 to 500 rubles ($3.69 to $6.15)."
Without a battery, the mining system "will not be on a combat platoon," the Ghost of Novorossia Telegram channel claimed. "And yes, you could buy it. But the battery is quite rare. Because there is little demand for it. It is hard to find in large quantities at retail. Wholesale too. As a result, we get a good mine, which we cannot apply

Does it remind you of the famous line, 'for the want of a nail a shoe was lost, for the want of a shoe a horse was lost'

A five dollar battery

What nitwits would not include a battery in a system if it (the battery) were necessary to operate it?

 

[RogerdeLluria]

Nato members may send troops to Ukraine, warns former alliance chief

Security guarantees and membership path needed at Nato summit to avoid escalation, says Anders Rasmussen

www.theguardian.com

 

[Glider]

What nitwits would not include a battery in a system if it (the battery) were necessary to operate it?

At a guess, people who want to send the kit and insist that the battery was with it when they sent it. Passing the buck to the poor souls who have to use it in the front line.

 

[GTX]

Putin calls dam breach a 'catastrophe', Ukraine says it's made advances in Bakhmut

Russian President Vladimir Putin says the destruction of the Kakhovka dam is an "environmental and humanitarian catastrophe" during a call with Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan.

www.abc.net.au

 

[GTX]

A flood of biblical proportions: Southern Ukraine will be inundated with 36 Sydney Harbours in days

Satellite images show the extent of the damage as one of the biggest reservoirs of water in the world drains across war-ravaged Ukraine.

www.abc.net.au