International Russia/Ukraine Megathread V9

[GhostZ06]

Really hoping we get an ATACMS surprise in spring.

good for hitting the bridge again would be good

 

[GhostZ06]

Ukraine says it has received “positive signals” from Poland that indicate that the NATO country is willing to supply Kyiv with the F-16 fighter jets that it’s long been campaigning to get. Meanwhile, Polish officials have confirmed that they could send some of their F-16s to Ukraine, although it would have to be done as part of a coordinated effort with other NATO allies. Moreover, the advanced capabilities of these jets, in particular, and Poland’s own need for them, appear to make such a transfer at least questionable.

Andrii Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, provided the following statement on Telegram today:

“Work on obtaining F-16 fighters continues. We have positive signals from Poland, which is ready to pass them on to us in coordination with NATO.”
Morawiecki had been asked whether Poland would be willing to transfer some of its F-16s, which are the most sophisticated fighter jets it currently operates.

The Polish prime minister said that the country would be open to providing Ukraine with F-16s, provided that a more comprehensive framework deal was set up and then approved — this would require likely signing off among an alliance of NATO F-16 operators, as well as the U.S. government, as the original source of the jets.

“Just as it happened a few months ago with MiG-29 aircraft, any other aircraft assistance [to Ukraine] will be coordinated, implemented and, possibly, transferred together with other NATO member states. We will act in full coordination here,” Morawiecki emphasized.

Morawiecki was pointing to previous plans to transfer Soviet-era MiG-29s from the Polish Air Force (and potentially other NATO operators) to Ukraine, although these came to nothing after a proposal to deliver the jets via the United States collapsed. The delivery of fighter jets has, at least until now, been widely viewed as a provocative move, as far as relations with Moscow are concerned. So far, only various helicopters have been supplied to Ukraine, as well as weapons and spare parts for its existing fighter jets.

The Polish Air Force acquired 48 F-16C/D Block 52 jets under the Peace Sky program and these were delivered between 2006 and 2008, making them some of the younger — and most capable — Vipers available to NATO commanders in Europe. The fact that these jets are so modern would make them a highly surprising choice for transfer to Ukraine, not least because Poland still needs them for a wide range of frontline missions.

Able to be configured with conformal fuel tanks (CFTs), the Polish F-16s are armed with AIM-120C-5/7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and AIM-9X Sidewinder that can be fired off-boresight using the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS). Offensive stores include the AGM-65 Maverick missile, AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), and AGM-158A/B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), as well as Paveway laser-guided bombs and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). The aircraft are fitted with Sniper targeting pods and can carry the DB-110 tactical reconnaissance pod.

there is NO WAY poland would do something this stupid. F-16B52s are actually important to theyre modernization

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ukraine-claims-poland-in-talks-to-transfer-its-f-16s

The mig-29s are more likely to happen

 

[Denter]

Fake news I'm afraid.

 

[Hog-train]

there is NO WAY poland would do something this stupid. F-16B52s are actually important to theyre modernization

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ukraine-claims-poland-in-talks-to-transfer-its-f-16s

The mig-29s are more likely to happen

I disagree that the F-16's are important to Poland's modernization.

Because they already have deals with the US to get 32 fifth generation F-35's and also a deal with South Korea for 48 FA-50's.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...ks-46-billion-contract-for-f-35-fighter-jets/

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...fa-50-light-attack-aircraft-from-south-korea/

 

[Hog-train]

Really hoping we get an ATACMS surprise in spring.

Agreed. Here's a retired US General explaining why they'd be so impactful. I think they're actually more important than the tanks and also more easily deployable.

I don't know why it's okay for Russia to launch missiles from their country killing Ukraine citizens but not okay for the Ukrainian military to attack the sites in Russia or Crimea launching missiles?

ATACMS on the existing HIMARS will allow Ukraine to target all the missile launch sites coming from Crimea.

 

[GhostZ06]

I disagree that the F-16's are important to Poland's modernization.

Because they already have deals with the US to get 32 fifth generation F-35's and also a deal with South Korea for 48 FA-50's.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...ks-46-billion-contract-for-f-35-fighter-jets/

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...fa-50-light-attack-aircraft-from-south-korea/

But F-16B52 are still more capable then the FA-50s probably better at complimenting the F-35. If i recall the only reason why they didnt buy more F-16s was because we couldnt deliver them in the time frame that that the polish government wanted.

Plus im fairly certain FA-50 was there to replace Su-22 and mig-29s

 

[PEB]

Insane video of some kind of weapon the speed it works at got people horrified. Ukraine is using it on Russian soldiers. It's sending a message to Russia. Looks like nothing I have seen before an it's pretty perfect at targeting.

 

[Hog-train]

But F-16B52 are still more capable then the FA-50s probably better at complimenting the F-35. If i recall the only reason why they didnt buy more F-16s was because we couldnt deliver them in the time frame that that the polish government wanted.

Plus im fairly certain FA-50 was there to replace Su-22 and mig-29s

That's probably true. But long term, Poland is probably going to replace the F-16's with Korea's KF-21 in development and probably start co-producing it with them. The KF-21 is being designed by South Korea to complement their current F-35 Fleet and similar to the F-22 Raptor.

Still I can see Poland giving up some F-16's. Because the entire point of them revamping their own military is due to Russian fears on their border. So helping Ukraine is super important to them.

 

[SandisLL]

I disagree that the F-16's are important to Poland's modernization.

Because they already have deals with the US to get 32 fifth generation F-35's and also a deal with South Korea for 48 FA-50's.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...ks-46-billion-contract-for-f-35-fighter-jets/

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...fa-50-light-attack-aircraft-from-south-korea/

Poland's task today isn't to fight with Russia or donate all equipment to Ukraine.

Their main task is to guard Suwalk corridor and border vs Belarus and Ukraine and....to use weapons as detterent to prevent invasion.

This....

We already had managed in plain language to tell Lithuania that IF they will sent NASMS batteries to Ukr or gave them RBS stuff or self propelled guns....

We will remove guys and mortars from Suwalk corridor.

Interestingly how Poland is preparing to def their northern border?

It is easy to talk and to walk and do is different thing.

Media is for mainsteam...
Pentagon will not allow to transfer Poland's F-16 without downgrading and not likely Ukr anyway will get anything better than stuff allowed to export to non NATO countries...


Also they will need before this to get replacement...in reality not on paper!

We aren't idiots.

Maybe we also should remowe self propelled hoteizers and tell Poland and Lithuania: if they will attack, this is your problem?
Btw will be interest to imagine how good mod the same guys from U.S and U.K then will feel.

If Poland will afford to make detterent forces weaker ....Belarus and Russia might attempt to capture Suwalk corridor....

This will induce financial crisis in eurozone and create opportunities for Belarus and Russia to attack Poland from northern direction + being better supplied....


Kaliningrad oblastj and Belarus are huge weapons warehouses.
So don't dream about articles in some media " they are running out of ammunition ".
Nope.

Poland really should start to think about reality .....not populistic BS ...

Poland really might help to Ukr and very quickly IF they might deliver spare parts etc for USSR era aircraft, there Ukr will not need to be trained....
All might be used immediately after had been delivered Ukr ... in the same day btw.

 

[SandisLL]

IMHO for the same U.S best step to deal with Poland will be ASAP to deliver them these old Abrams to manage that they migh keep detterent value and then Ukr might get more these polish T-72 type tanks.

Also ppl usually are thinking that T-72 models from 1974 th approwed as suitable to sell to, sorry, pavians, are even on pair with USSR era T-72 from 1988 th?
Ammo alone if compare with stuff Iraq had is different world.

 

[SandisLL]

Also I don't agree that 1 old Abrams is 2 normal T-72 worth. It isn't and never will be.

Cos westerners are thinking about T-72 like about tanks Sadam had.

One example ppl are using is mainstream media vomit.

Iraq mainly had 1974 th era APFSDS ammo. With steel ( ofc from different blends and layers )....alloy body.
The same purpose shells in 1988 th cos order from Gorbachev had ...
the same famous depleted uranium + tungsten alloy and steel alloy coating.
Under incapable from westerners opinion Yeltsin these had been ......improved further....

This beauty....

 

[Rholk]

 

[Rholk]

Insane video of some kind of weapon the speed it works at got people horrified. Ukraine is using it on Russian soldiers. It's sending a message to Russia. Looks like nothing I have seen before an it's pretty perfect at targeting.

From what i gather from some other comments, its most likely an ATGM, scoring a direct hit on a a soldier, and what you see flying after that would be the molten metal from the shaped charge

 

[SandisLL]

Ofc one westerners opinion is real thing.
These tanks if will be properly hit immediately will be mobile crematorium. .
T-64 and T-80 autoloader is more vulnerable than T-72 or T-90....

Still all these are with high risk to be mobile crematorium.

 

[SandisLL]

Armata too btw....

 

[Videer]

Insane video of some kind of weapon the speed it works at got people horrified. Ukraine is using it on Russian soldiers. It's sending a message to Russia. Looks like nothing I have seen before an it's pretty perfect at targeting.

Seems like someone is well stocked with ATGMs. Those are clearly HEAT warheads and on the better quality version (with catchy tunes) you can clearly see the missiles flying before detonating. Also shows how ATGMs are quite ineffective for targetting enemy personel. A single 40mm with fragmentation casing would have been much more deadly.

 

[curryjunkie]

Seems like someone is well stocked with ATGMs. Those are clearly HEAT warheads and on the better quality version (with catchy tunes) you can clearly see the missiles flying before detonating. Also shows how ATGMs are quite ineffective for targetting enemy personel. A single 40mm with fragmentation casing would have been much more deadly.

i saw this the other day , same weight as an machine gun. would be very effective, unfortunately its still a prototype , i know the 40mm version exists

 

[crystallake]

i saw this the other day , same weight as an machine gun. would be very effective, unfortunately its still a prototype , i know the 40mm version exists

South Africa loves them crazy weapon designs. Interesting stuff.

 

[Videer]

Fighting in the trenches. I weep at the bunched up grouping, it is one drone dropped munition away from your whole god damn squad being KIA/WIA. A bit suprised that some even have active ear protection.

 

[AWilder]

remember when russia was dominating everyone economically? <Lmaoo>
one man set them back for decades.

Russia Can’t Replace the Energy Market Putin Broke

https://www.washingtonpost.com/busi...38551e88239c_story.html?utm_source=reddit.com