One of the many things that has puzzled me about this conflict is why Russia have apparently relied so little on airpower given that the Ukrainians seem to be wholly reliant on artillery.If the Ukrainians are contemplating lobbing cluster munitions towards Russian infantry one might have thought that the Russians would respond with cluster bombs.Admittedly I have seen suggestions this is already happening?
Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-25
- Thread starter kebabking
- Start date
spitfire
Walty McWaltface
Every night tbf. Looking forward to it happening one day.
There might even be slides.
Chz
Stark Raving Sane
The one very capable bit of the Russian Armed Forces is their air defence. It's capable, and there's a lot of it. And they left quite a lot of it behind in Ukraine when the Soviet Union fell apart. The Russian Air Force has a healthy regard for the capability of their own systems and don't want to get anywhere near them unless they have to. Unlike with tanks, they don't have thousands upon thousands of aircraft sitting about ready to be mobilised, so every loss there hurts.
As for the cluster stuff, the Ukrainians are mostly wanting artillery shells. The bombs they are getting are being taken apart to use all the little bomblets inside for drones because - as you've rightly questioned - they don't have any fucking way to get bombs over the Russians due to the number of surface to air missiles littered about. On the Russian side, they've dropped cluster bombs since Day One, which is why this isn't really regarded as an escalation in any way, but they're limited as to how close they can get because of the above.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
One would hope so and also swings so that people could imagine that they are paratroopers slowly descending into enemy lines .
cupid_stunt
Where's the bloody sun?
Looks like there's no shortage of military hardware threads.
Search results for query: military hardware
www.urban75.net
None of which is about military hardware that is likely be used to deal with the illegal invasion of Ukraine, and funny enough this thread is about the invasion of Ukraine, you fool..
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
I think you’d be ok in switching off work mode to something more risqué
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Exhibit A
Chz
Stark Raving Sane
Having expended 5x the amount of space as the OP over a post that contained two acronyms (one of which was for something that... well that's it name, it doesn't have a different way of putting it), maybe we could move that discussion to a different thread. 
#CancelTheThreadPolice
#CancelTheThreadPolice
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
It is however noticeable that neither side really has air superiority at this point. Consider the usual state of affairs where the US and it’s allies are operating from a position of total air supremacy while blowing up farmers.
That’s not happening here, the airforces are locked to the front lines with Russia and Russia is lobbing missiles from miles away afraid to lose its assets
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
I'm surprised and disappointed that you have failed to start one. Some level of moral disapproval in the thread title would be nice, too.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
Having done it on more than one occasion, I can only remark on how friendly, interesting, and pleasant the encounters have been. FWIW, I can't recall any of the people there (which has included posters on this very thread) displaying any sign of being "military hardware and acronym enthusiasts". I think you're seeing something that isn't actually there.
Raheem
Well-Known Member
WEFILPOB, as they say.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
In a nutshell, it's because Ukraine has pretty good air defence. Russia knew it had some, and the initial assault was intended to - and very nearly did - completely cripple Ukraine's capacity in that regard. But they were a) better than Russia expected, and b) well dispersed and mobile. And, after the initial invasion, Ukraine suddenly found itself with a LOT of MANPADs (that's "man-portable air defence", for those of you at the back), which are pretty useful as frontline air defence.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
Well, if nothing else, I imagine there will be a few Urbanites at the Crimea Beach Party.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
AFAIK, that's the codename for the exact shade of lilac in which the boathouse at Hereford is painted
RedRedRose
Well-Known Member
Russia and Belarus won't be invited to the 2024 Olympics.
IOC declines to give Russia and Belarus formal invitations to Paris Olympics 1 year out
Russia and Belarus will not get a formal invitation to the 2024 Paris Olympics when more than 200 national teams receive their traditional invites later this month, the IOC said Thursday.www.ctvnews.ca
andysays
Love and solidarity
Looks like there's no shortage of military hardware threads.
Search results for query: military hardware
We all know the sort of military hardware thread you're interested in
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
If they have seen the videos of the NAFO conference in Vilnius a few is optimisticWell, if nothing else, I imagine there will be a few Urbanites at the Crimea Beach Party.
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existentialist
Tired and unemotional
Not everyone shares your judgement, you know...
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
All a matter of personal taste thank heavens
AverageJoe
...
I'd probably be NFI.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
ska invita
back on the other side
pure coincidence was watching this Sgt Bilko episode last night where a chimp makes it into the ranks - this clip has him passing his medical - great satire
kabbes
First intersubjective, then internalised
One of my favourite episodes of any sitcom ever!
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
This article from the New York Times doesn't reveal anything new but is a concise 'this is where we are at' imo
After Suffering Heavy Losses, Ukrainians Paused to Rethink Strategy
Early in the counteroffensive, Ukraine lost as much as 20 percent of its weapons and armor. The rate dropped as the campaign slowed and commanders shifted tactics.
Chz
Stark Raving Sane
Without air cover, their NATO friends can't offer much strategy help because NATO's is entirely based on air power. So they're going at it the old fashioned Soviet way, and it's a total slog. But it means they've got a lot of donated kit they really don't know how to use. Like the Fench light tanks they got. Tried to use them as supporting an armoured column instead of as a scout force and they got (rightly) shredded to bits. Then they bitched about scout tanks not being able to take a hit. (Hint: they're not supposed to) There's a real clash of heads between their generals and their Allies' ones. Both accusing the other of not knowing what to do under the circumstances.
ska invita
back on the other side
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