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

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Re the SYPAQ 'Cardboard' drones being supplied to Ukraine, they are supplied as flatpack kits easily assembled in minutes in the field. Here's what 24 look like (plus an assembled one on top):

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Re the SYPAQ 'Cardboard' drones being supplied to Ukraine, they are supplied as flatpack kits easily assembled in minutes in the field. Here's what 24 look like (plus an assembled one on top):

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What will we do with all the bits left after construction? I have ikea stuff and hunted by the thought i have stuff left. Lots of it. I live dangerously.
 
No one, now. But what the West is doing now, commencing F-16 training and procuring/preparing such aircraft for Ukrainian service after another 12-16 months, is what we could have started a year ago.

If Storm Shadows, HIMARs, Leopard 2s and now Vipers, ATACAMS, Abrams and cluster munitions are deemed worthy for Ukraine in July 2023, they were worthy in July 2022 and plans for their eventual deployment should have been underway then. Our dithering is costing Ukrainian lives and giving respite to the Russians.
As it is, the AFU of autumn 2024 is what the AFU could have been in autumn 2023.
I think 'dithering' is a little unfair. The dynamic of war between nuclear armed powers - whether by proxy or not - has changed. There is an instability and deliberate unpredictability to Russian thinking and strategy that wasn't there in the days between Stalin and Putin - and I think dealing with that intelligently requires a degree of subtlety. Going balls-out from the off would have given Putin and whole series of pretexts for his own escalation, whilst also being something of a self fulfilling prophesy regarding his own propaganda that he's in a war/'special operation' against 'fascists' and NATO. The other fly in the ointment is that the European gun-cabinet is pretty much empty of reserves anyway. Extra weapons from who's front line stockpile? Two sides exercising brinksmanship and escalation from the off might have been catastrophic.

The deepening privations of sanctions, the proof that their weaponry, technology, morale and now economy are all second best is the slow burning flame which will probably do for Russian intent, sooner or later. The wick needs to be turned up gradually because a threat can be increased incrementally without someones bluff being called all in one go. Putin's pals have already dented their own credibility by rattling their sabres ad infinitum.

TBH, I wonder if a Russian offensive which can then be isolated beyond their entrenched positions might not be *exactly* what the Ukrainians are hoping for. Russian intelligence, planning, logistical support and all-arms operations have been utterly woeful so far, and don't seem to be showing much evidence of improvement. Where they can currently offset some of those deficiencies is by sitting tens of thousands of troops behind barbed wire, inside bunkers and protected by artillery, missiles and airpower. Personally, Im hopeful they'll try a foolhardy but politically necessary offensive, because it will probably play to the Ukrainians strength.
 

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