Pentagon Dragging Its Feet Over F-16 Gifts To Ukraine
Pushed by the weapon industry the U.S. Defense Department is dragging its feet over the delivery of F-16 airplanes to Ukraine:
Pentagon: Ukraine battlefield situation currently 'not ideal' for F-16 deployment
The battlefield conditions in Ukraine are currently "not ideal" for the employment of F-16 fighter jets, said Lieutenant General Douglas Sims, the director of operations of the Joint Staff, on July 13."The conditions right now for the employment of the F-16s are probably not – they're probably not ideal," the general said at a press briefing.
"I mean, the Russians still possess some air defense capability. They have air capability. And the number of F-16s that would be provided may not be perfect for what's going on right now," he clarified.
Lockheed-Martin, which still builds and sells the F-16 to various countries, is obviously not happy that the markets will soon learn that the F-16 have no fu**ing chance against modern Russian fighter planes and air-defenses.
Their coming destruction will scream "Buy Russian!" to the world and several countries will probably switch their provider and do so.
Use as open thread for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict.
Posted by b on July 14, 2023 at 15:39 UTC | Permalink
next page »just in case anyone wants to read simplicius - here it is..
SITREP 7/14/23: Popov's Sound and Fury and Vilnius Signifying Nothing
Posted by: james | Jul 14 2023 15:49 utc | 2
The F16 is 40+ year old tech, and the pentagon RIGHTLY doesn't want to send it up against modern weaponry. The F16, like most US military aircraft, is overhyped, and underperforming
in the late 80's- early 90's, the rank and file of the USAF called F16's "LAWN DARTS"
Posted by: Oldcutlas | Jul 14 2023 15:49 utc | 3
"I mean, the Russians still possess some air defense capability. They have air capability."
Does he deserve a prize for.
Recognition of,or,Understatement of reality?
Posted by: jpc | Jul 14 2023 15:54 utc | 4
@jpc #4
No current U.S. general has real battle experience; instead they play, talk, walk politics. Petraeus is a perfect example, and Sims obviously falls in that category too.
Posted by: Ernesto Che | Jul 14 2023 16:05 utc | 5
Victoria “Fuck the EU” Nuland & the Neocons will not be happy, they want escalation:
‘The very fact of the appearance of such [F-16] systems within the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be considered by us as a threat from the West in the nuclear domain,’ Lavrov said.”
https://jamesburrillangell.substack.com/p/strange-diplomacy-victoria-fck-the
Threw a few euros into the pot & if I can donate with my meagre income then I'm sure others can do the same.
Someone should break it to the nafoids over at Twitter than the F16 is not the wunderwaffe they are making it out to be.
Having said that, most are still convinced the Leopards featured in the Russian MOD videos only sustained cosmetic damage ;)
Posted by: FakeBelieve | Jul 14 2023 16:14 utc | 7
US cluster bombs in Ukraine. When U starts using clusters Russia will fire back clusters slaughtering Ukros with it 5 or 10 to 1 advantage. What are Ukros thinking?!!
Posted by: Cyclingnut | Jul 14 2023 16:15 utc | 8
I always thought that it was General Dynamics who designed and built the F16, not Lockheed Martin
Posted by: Manage without me | Jul 14 2023 16:26 utc | 9
when I worked with General Dynamics, I had to plan some field testing for some equipment we were developing, so I had to put together a representative platoon, battalion, brigade and division. I had a guy who was an instructor at the military college so I thought I would ask him details about the sizes and roles of each grouping. He had spent over 20 years in the military teaching. He didn't have a clue but had a real big mouth about how the US Army was the best in everything.
Posted by: Manage without me | Jul 14 2023 16:28 utc | 10
The F 16, no matter how upgraded, has one crippling problem.
It is, like all the rest of the Westernazi equipment bar the (absolutely superb*) A 10 Warthog, a boutique weapon made for combat where one has absolute security in one's own territory from the enemy.
Its chin mounted air intake requires a runway that is kept free of debris by constant maintenance, unlike Russian aircraft that can take off from the roughest strips. Its single engine means a failure means loss of aircraft while a MiG 29, let alone an SU 35, can get home even if one engine is wrecked. It, like all Western airframes, requires far more maintenance per flying hour than Russian weapon systems. And, of course, its weapons are outranged and outclassed anyway.
[*The A 10 is the best ground attack aircraft ever, if you have air superiority. When I was in the Indian Air Force a pilot and I decided to design the ideal counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft. It ended up looking exactly like the A10 except for the fact that we used turboprop engines.]
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jul 14 2023 16:28 utc | 11
I would also like to add that it's not just the aircraft that will seen to be lacking, but the whole panoply of military equipment from EW to anti-missile technology made by Lockheed Martin and all the other American military suppliers.
Posted by: Manage without me | Jul 14 2023 16:30 utc | 12
@ Cyclingnut: Russia does not and will not match war crimes with war crimes or terrorism with terrorism. It is leading by example. That is the only way to build a multi-polar world under the U.N. charter and International law.
Posted by: par4 | Jul 14 2023 16:31 utc | 13
Regarding F16 ... didn't I read somewhere that the air intake is too low and lacks covers so any airstrip they take off from has to be swept clean and be free of any debris?
Doesn't bode well to my no military mind for airstrips in a war setting.
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 14 2023 16:33 utc | 14
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jul 14 2023 16:28 utc | 11
... snap ...
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 14 2023 16:34 utc | 15
Ukraine is trapped now with:
-a non-existent economy
-no domestic production of commodities
-no wheat/grain production
-no oil, no gas
-no capability to produce domestic weapons
-no ability to fund or raise taxes for the domestic budget
-currency looking at the prospect of hyperinflation at any point in time the west decides to pull the plug
Nato is stuck with (flipsides of the coin):
-devastated battlefield
-no reliable logistics support for wunderwaffen like F-16
-black hole they are committed to funding with seemingly no way out
-fighting in a partial and disadvantaged manner
-Initial Afghanistan guerrilla plan for Russia foiled, and mitigated through frontal means of destruction
-decreasing USD share resulting domestic pain
-increasingly difficulties in suppressing inferiority of US MIC products
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 14 2023 16:34 utc | 16
Question:
Why couldn’t F-16s be used with (really long range) stand-off weapons ?
It’s all a PR gig anyways.
Posted by: Exile | Jul 14 2023 16:35 utc | 17
Running from the truth
At the Vilnius NATO summit, there was a momentary threat that it would end in an open rift between Ukraine and the West. Ukraine was angered that NATO uses it to fight Russia, but refuses to guarantee its membership in the club. President Zelensky threatened the allies that he will not come to the summit if he does not see clear commitments regarding Ukraine's entry into the Alliance.
Ukraine felt (probably correctly) that it had the last chance to push the Alliance into fundamental decisions. Not to mention the "prospective place of Ukraine in NATO". He has been listening to them since 2008. Until the decision.
They didn't come. NATO put it in neutral. It repeated the old liquid promises, but the decision on Ukraine's entry into the Alliance was not the topic of the day.
The restrained attitude of the Alliance is understandable and correct. The decision on Ukraine's membership in NATO - even if only conditional - could lead to a world war. And the West will not run into this risk.
The Western European members of NATO and the United States agreed on this. And American progressives and Republicans agreed on that. NATO cannot open its doors to someone who is at war with a nuclear power. You have to wait for the end of the war. And on peace agreements with Russia.
The NATO 2023 summit was a cold shower for Ukraine. At the same time, he also cooled down naive activists who called for a hard-line policy. And after the decision on Ukraine's future membership in the Alliance.
A realistic approach prevailed over the strongman speeches and the fighting poses of the hawks. What is good.
More precisely: it is better than gambling with Ukraine joining NATO.
On the other hand, from Ukraine's point of view, the summit ended very badly. Absurdly bad.
Ukraine learned that it cannot count on being accepted into the EU and NATO because it is at war. And at the same time, she learned that the West will continue to supply her with weapons in large quantities to continue the war.
At the same time, somewhere in the background, there are flickering promises that someday, sometime after the war and after peace agreements with Russia, Ukraine could continue its integration efforts. But before that, she should receive a shipment of new weapons...
It probably goes without saying that Ukraine is stuck in a trap.
There are two ways out of this trap. Either a major military defeat for Russia - with the conquest of Crimea and Donbass by the Ukrainian army. Or peace agreements with Russia, which would mean the division of Ukraine and the loss of territories with millions of Russian minorities.
The first option is unrealistic. The second is disgraceful.
The core of the problem is that the United States and Britain are not looking for solutions for Ukraine. Not even for Europe. They are looking for ways out for the United States and Britain. They are pushing for escalation of fighting. Regardless of Ukraine's losses and regardless of poor results. The goal is to weaken Russia in a war of attrition. Even at the cost of the destruction of Ukraine and the energy starvation of the EU.
This cynical policy of the West is ultimately anti-Ukrainian. After all, the fight makes sense only if it leads to results with acceptable losses. If it is the other way around, a cease-fire and agreements must be negotiated.
Ukrainians would benefit if at least someone from the free "collective West" told them the truth: no, don't count on membership in the EU or NATO; they are only promises to keep you at war with Russia; in that war with Russia, which Western countries don't want to get into - and that's why they use Ukrainian hands for it...
Of course, a large part of the Ukrainian elites is aware of this. He just has no choice. It went too far. Even with the aggressiveness of Russia, and with the armament of the West. The Ukrainian leadership, dependent on Western money and Western weapons, is no longer able to make its own policy (who pays, is in charge).
He can only hope that Russia and the West do not lose their remaining inhibitions. And in the conflict over Crimea and Ukraine, they will not go all the way.
https://twitter.com/prisoner16670/status/1679764593709662208
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 14 2023 16:37 utc | 18
Posted by: doim | Jul 14 2023 16:12 utc | 6
whatever makes Nuland and the neocons unhappy makes normal humans happy.
Posted by: pretzelattack | Jul 14 2023 16:37 utc | 19
"I mean, the Russians still possess some air defense capability. They have air capability. And the number of F-16s that would be provided may not be perfect for what's going on right now," he clarified.
Lying sack of shit ... Russia has total air defense supremacy in E. Ukriane.
Eat shit and die, worthless sack of flesh Pentagon anal douche!
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jul 14 2023 16:39 utc | 20
It is interesting watching the social changes going on in Russia and Ukraine as a consequence of the war. The way Ukraine is westernizing itself and abandoning its native culture seems quite pathetic from an outside perspective. The moving Christmas thing especially makes it obvious that the West is attempting to erase Ukrainian national culture. Everything about this conflict is insane to me, but these cultural changes are the most mond boggling. The psychological and cultural power of the West is so extreme that they are able to run a Western cultural revolution in the slavic-speaking, orthodox borderlands of Russia. It's the same as they've done elsewhere, mentally colonizing oppressed peoples to make them hate themselves. It's easier that they just assimilate themselves rather than having to violently assimilate them.
At the same time Russia is asserting its national and cultural sovereignty by marginalizing and persecuting queer people, now even going so far as to ban gender reassignment surgery. For a country like Russia it makes sense to take such measure to preserve their population. I wish they could be less heavy-handed in their approach, but like I said, Western psychological and cultural power is extreme. Queer people deserve to exist in peace, but so do the Russian people.
Posted by: DeathToAmerica | Jul 14 2023 16:42 utc | 21
The US may be dragging its feet over F16 but it is still moving forward with escalationary behaviour.
Ordering the Selected Reserve and Certain Members of the Individual Ready Reserve of the Armed Forces to Active Duty (The White House)
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 121 and 12304 of title 10, United States Code, I hereby determine that it is necessary to augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation Atlantic Resolve in and around the United States European Command’s area of responsibility.
Is Biden Preparing to take the U.S. to War Against Russia? (Larry C. Johnson)
This is disturbing and alarming — Biden issued an order activating up to 3000 Ready Reserve and Select Reserve military personnel and sending them to Europe for potential combat with Russia. This is not a hoax.
https://sonar21.com/is-biden-preparing-to-take-the-u-s-to-war-against-russia/
US 3,000 reservists, mission creep or trip wire. Putin to ditch grain deal (Alexander Mercouris & Alex Christofarou)
https://rumble.com/v3006ss-us-3000-reservists-mission-creep-or-trip-wire.-putin-to-ditch-grain-deal.html
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 14 2023 16:50 utc | 22
Take a look at an F-16. The placement of the air intake makes it a big vacuum cleaner. It needs a spotlessly clean runway to operate. I can't imagine Ukraine is the ideal place for it to operate.
Posted by: ian | Jul 14 2023 16:55 utc | 23
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 14 2023 16:50 utc | 22
Just a guess, but it seems more likely that US is sending reservists in an effort to tighten their grip on (newly acquired) vassal states and enforce Cold War 2.0 borders than make an attack on Belarus and Russia.
US most likely doesn't have the economy or industry to back up large arming of large scale war effort on Russia, especially on the context of industrial slaughter of equipment in Ukraine. It might attempt to rebuild industry, but it will be at further horrific costs on society and its global empire / currency status.
Nevertheless, it is a troubling sign.
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 14 2023 16:56 utc | 24
The F16 is 40+ year old tech, and the pentagon RIGHTLY doesn't want to send it up against modern weaponry. The F16, like most US military aircraft, is overhyped, and underperforming
Posted by: Oldcutlas | Jul 14 2023 15:49 utc | 3
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Regular MoA readers knew this months ago.
Zelly has been strung along with lies and half-promises.
Now it's "shit-or-bust" time.
Who's going to tell the idiot that he's not going to get his F16s.
The US don't want the embarrassment of them being shot out of the sky like pigeons by superior Russian fighter aircraft.
Zelly wants to watch his back - His time is up !
Posted by: Engineer-John | Jul 14 2023 17:03 utc | 25
regarding the comments on the f16 requiring a level, pristine surface to take off from...some months ago this was discussed, & it was suggested the flights would fly out of poland or romania. it was a while ago & cannot recall if it was before russia upped belarus' defences or not.
Posted by: emersonreturn | Jul 14 2023 17:06 utc | 26
Re: Old Cutlass (Lawn Darts) @ #3.
In a moment of idle curiosity I googled 'F16 Lawn Darts' and here's the response:
"The F-16 is known in Air Force circles as the "lawn dart" for its tendency to plunge back to Earth when its single engine flames out, and in most years, engine failure causes more accidents than any other factor."
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jul 14 2023 17:13 utc | 27
regarding the comments on the f16 requiring a level, pristine surface to take off from...some months ago this was discussed, & it was suggested the flights would fly out of poland or romania. it was a while ago & cannot recall if it was before russia upped belarus' defences or not.
Posted by: emersonreturn | Jul 14 2023 17:06 utc | 26
Does anyone think that the levels of hubris and delusion to do the above is present?
We're going to use Romania and Poland as bases for Ukrainian F16?
See the Russians do something about that!
Given the cold shoulder at Vilnius I wouldn't think so.
Posted by: jpc | Jul 14 2023 17:25 utc | 28
Nevertheless, it is a troubling sign.Posted by: unimperator | Jul 14 2023 16:56 utc | 24
To be honest with you this is one of those times when I feel like I don't have a clue. There are times when various aspects of this S.M.O. makes perfect sense to me, even things that I don't necessarily agree with I can sometimes see a certain logic.
But this refusal to sue for peace and the continued escalation?
I looked at some of the images of Vilnius where the "leaders" were all in small groups talking, smiling and laughing and Zelensky was alone. Even his wife seemed loath to show any affection towards him. In that moment, against the backdrop of well suited and well dressed individuals he looked small, insignificant and totally lost. Any allusion to power totally stripped away. A mouse of a man.
I contrast those images at Vilnius with others I looked at earlier in the day of clumps of rotted flesh and desiccated bones littering various trenches of the battle field. There was one particular image of a partial face amongst a mass blackened ... stuff. I realised there were bits of uniform in it and that the blackened stuff was actually internal organs spewed on the ground. When I think of it I am unable to articulate how much these people disgust me.
Whenever I hear their voices or see their faces all I can see and hear is evil.
Writ large.
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 14 2023 17:48 utc | 29
Are there any updates on the Wall Street Journal reporter likely CIA spy currently sitting in a Russian jail? Haven't seen any stories on prisoner exchanges for a week or two.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jul 14 2023 17:49 utc | 30
RE: Zelensky and the NATO summit - It's become clear that he actually expected full (if not direct!) NATO support by now. He must be feeling the sting of knowing he was played like a puppet while sending hundreds of thousands of men to die in a fool's errand. NATO must have made some serious back room promises over the years and months leading to and during the SMO which they have reneged on. At least the 'penist' has half a billion $$ sitting in an off-shore bank account if he can survive the wrath of his own people.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jul 14 2023 17:53 utc | 31
jpc @ 28
All the RF would have to do is send drones over Polish and Romanian airstrips scattering metal shavings. Use a small drone, smaller than a Geran-2. Something that does not exist on radar. Crash the drone 5 or 10 km away from airstrip. Repeat many times per day with small cheap drones. NATO can complain about littering
Posted by: oldhippie | Jul 14 2023 17:56 utc | 32
The Duran had a good discussion on the 3000 US reservists to Europe and the grain deal.
It's possible that Nuland-Blinken-Biden-Sullivan gang were angry at the inconclusive summit at Vilnius and decided to simply revive the "Polish-Lithuanian contingent to Ukraine" scheme. 3000 Americans to act as tripwire or replace their domestic garrisons while they go on excursion in western Ukraine.
The grain deal is an utter disgrace. EU hasn't held any part of its end on the deal, Ukraine has used the grain shipping lanes for military purposes every chance it gets, and now the deal will (most likely) get scrapped for eternity.
Ukraine will lose the opportunity to export grain with sea-routes, EU will get into trouble with growing food price.
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 14 2023 18:00 utc | 33
Posted by: DeathToAmerica | Jul 14 2023 16:42 utc | 21
We are told only left-wing political parties care about nature; and only countries that are US allies care about homosexuals.
Posted by: Passerby | Jul 14 2023 18:16 utc | 34
"I mean, the Russians still possess some air defense capability."
Some air defense capability? Who is this clown?
Posted by: Galahad | Jul 14 2023 18:35 utc | 35
"I mean, the Russians still possess some air defense capability. They have air capability."
Does he deserve a prize for.
Recognition of,or,Understatement of reality?
Posted by: jpc | Jul 14 2023 15:54 utc | 4
More like denial of reality, or fabrication of an alternate 'reality.' The statement implies that Russian AD has been attrited over the course of the war, but I've never seen any evidence that Ukraine has been destroying Russian AD, which is behind the line of contact. Another example of a western mouthpiece making a statement based on fictions that have been created by their own propaganda. We live in an echo chamber, with the exception of sites like this.
Posted by: Mike R | Jul 14 2023 18:38 utc | 36
For one thing F-16s flying from Romanian and Polish airfields to the battlefields of Eastern Ukraine is about a 2000 km round trip. F-16s only have a range of 500 km with a full payload.
Posted by: ronmac | Jul 14 2023 18:39 utc | 37
No, NATO will not continue to supply UKraine with "lots of weapons" because it no longer has lots of weapons..I read that live fire artillery practice has been suspended in the US because of the shortage of the 155 shells, while Germany just sent its last 155s, which won't last long...F-16 simply doesn't work for such environments, and is obsolete anyway..The tanks have proven deathtraps...etc..
Posted by: pyrrhus | Jul 14 2023 18:41 utc | 38
Like the F16s supposedly going to Ukraine, the reservists from the US going east are similar, most of these reservists were born in the 80', 90's, they need a massive amount of maintenance like prefab McDonald's erected on their base, hot showers every day, drag queen shows twice a week etc etc..
Also, like the f16 which needs to take-off and land on pristine runways, the 3000 will only enter a battlefield once it's pristine and safe.
Posted by: Eoin Clancy | Jul 14 2023 19:08 utc | 39
More like denial of reality, or fabrication.
Posted by: Mike R | Jul 14 2023 18:38 utc | 36
You're correct Mike.
Reality hasn't been left enter the discussion since the beginning of this operation.
Fabrication (no longer of industrial goods though!) Of narrative is the reality since the Rove/Cheney administration times.
But technological advances has changed the process of war since then.
This is the new way of waging war.
Posted by: jpc | Jul 14 2023 19:24 utc | 40
Just shoot the F16 out of the sky.
F... These American shites.
Posted by: G wiltek | Jul 14 2023 19:30 utc | 41
In response to par4@13,
Although that's true, it needs to be understood that, for some of these weapons, the main aspect that makes their use controversial -- which is long-term contamination of the soil -- becomes irrelevant to the calculation once either side starts using them. Whether we're talking cluster munitions or du rounds, Russia will release their self-imposed restriction on using them if Ukraine starts using them first, because their decision will have mooted the reason for restricting their use in the first place. Whether or not Russia subsequently uses these armaments will then depend exclusively on tactical battlefield considerations -- perhaps there won't be any cause to use them regardless.
Posted by: Skiffer | Jul 14 2023 19:33 utc | 42
LOL.
Conditions are "not ideal" and the situation is "not perfect".
That sounds like F-16s are "not suitable" for real warfare conditions.
Which to be fair is true. A mile-long glass-smooth runway is probably pretty hard to find in the Ukraine these days. And then there is the little matter of getting blown out of the sky by Pantsirs and S-400s.
"Not ideal" indeed!
Posted by: Figleaf23 | Jul 14 2023 19:50 utc | 43
Posted by: ronmac | Jul 14 2023 18:39 utc | 37
All it takes for an F16 that takes off from a NATO air base is a brief touch down at an Ukrainian air strip for refueling, and we can claim the plane took off from Ukraine.
Posted by: Passerby | Jul 14 2023 19:51 utc | 44
THE END IS NIGH
Its a huge Maskirovka. Remember, "Wagner PMC" was/is in fact GRU, so they were ALWAYS part of the Russian Army. The whole "coup attempt" was troop Kabuki, to give Stavka a reason to dissolve Wagner. "Wagner PMC" was "disbanded", because the Stavka needs their troops, who are very proficient in urban battle and hand-to-hand combat elsewhere, where they don't need their heavy weaponry anymore, so they "passed" them over to the regular Russian Army this week. The clues for what's next in store for those troops are as follows: 1. The discontinuation of the "Grain Treaty" by Russia. 2. The recent heavy bombardment of the Odessa region by the russian Aur Force and Navy. 3. Quite some time ago, Russia relocated two landing ships for marine troops from Sewastopol to Kerch. But actually, their exact whereabouts are unknown, AFAIK. 4. General Surovikin has allegedly been sent "on vacation", yet his daughter says he's actually busy. 5. Busy with what? He's busy planning a pincer movement of the Russian Army and Navy from a. Belarus, and b. through a naval landing a là D-Day in the Odessa region, from North to South WEST of the Dnjepr, in order to cut Ukraine in two, while 80 percent of the remaining ukrainian troops actually are bogged down EAST of the Dnjepr fighting the Russian Army, which does just enough to lure the Ukrainian Army to throw everything they have left at them in a desperate attempt to achieve anything presentable to show their NATO masters. This probable pincer movement serves several purposes at once: 1. To block the US-troops in Romania from seizing Odessa. 2. To liberate Odessa. 3. To secure the ukrainian border against a Polish incursion, 4. To reinforce and secure Belarus from a Polish incursion. 5. To cut off all western arms deliveries to the ukrainian troops EAST of the Dnjepr in one fell swoop. 6. To catch all ukrainian troops EAST of the Dnjepr in one huge, yet easy to hold and defend cauldron, in which the left-over ukrainian troops then systematically can be decimated and mopped up by the russian and allied troops from the East. and 7. To finally close in on Kiev from all sides simultaneously, until Kiev faces their own "Saigon Rooftop Moment" and surrenders. (BTW: I am German. Please excuse any potential misspellings and mistakes I made while writing this. Thank's in advance for your patience.)
Posted by: Montanamotor | Jul 14 2023 19:55 utc | 45
early 1980’s f-16 with pratt engine too frequently flamed out in flight and failed to restart, becoming a lawn dart and demanding the ejection seat work as spec’ed sadly too many pilots lost that bet.
usaf restarted ge engine program, now f-16 have mix of engines, and engine reliability is low. spare engines for f-16 are always short supply.
f-16 has failed to perform budgeted readiness the past 11 years!
getting a lot of sorties out of f-16 a thousand miles from home base would take assets away from other f-16 units.
those are some of the logistic problem, keeping them from being blown out of the sky is more problem.
while the f-16 is multi role, jack of all trades master of none.
what the general implied: f-16 not suitable to wunderwaffen act
Posted by: paddy | Jul 14 2023 19:57 utc | 46
Martyanov and Larry Johnson have an excellent discussion with Anya. Especially on topics focused on Polish involvement, (in)ability of Nato, Ukrainian mobilization and problems, how much can Ukraine take, prospects on neocon and their desperation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPWFMUtrzYs
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 14 2023 20:22 utc | 47
Whether we're talking cluster munitions or du rounds, Russia will release their self-imposed restriction on using them if Ukraine starts using them first.
Posted by: Skiffer | Jul 14 2023 19:33 utc | 42
As long as the war is only inside Russia, the set of options is not the same. One of the many side effects of their litte smo.
Posted by: rk | Jul 14 2023 20:24 utc | 48
"Not ideal" means the Russians will destroy them on the tarmac, destroy the tarmac itself so they can't take off (they require pristine conditions) and in the unlikely event they did get airborne would shoot them down. So yeah, not ideal.
Posted by: Sentient | Jul 14 2023 20:29 utc | 49
Two interviews were published today with Vilnius, Ukraine and France being the main topics. This one with Russia's ambassador to France notes that NATO weapon deliveries are now arriving prior to or at the same time as their announcement, meaning SCALP missiles are likely in Ukraine already, not in-transit as France implied. In the interview with Zakharova, she coined a new term, "False Flag War". IMO, it's wise to read the Ambassador's interview while recalling what Crooke wrote about France.
As for F-16s, Abrams, and what little remains of anything approaching modern weaponry NATO might supply, they'll merely serve to prolong the conflict which is Russia's view as expressed by those who matter.
I thank the 106 barflies that have subscribed to my substack and to those who extended rather flattering compliments. Again, there's no fee to subscribe just like MoA; it's up to individuals to determine if support is warranted and however much they decide to provide. Thanks again!!
"I mean, the Russians still possess some air defense capability. They have air capability. And the number of F-16s that would be provided may not be perfect for what's going on right now," …
ROFLMAO!
…still possess SOME air defense capability. Who is he trying to kid?
Russian Air defenses have come toe to toe against the best American systems and decimated them.
America, sadly, is cinder-burnt inedible toast on so many levels. America long ago lost moral authority. The permanently entrenched deep state administration decades ago squandered the country’s most precious asset. No, not gold, but the love and respect of people around the world. Once loved and revered. Now hated and despised. And for good reason. Ladies and Gentlemen, witness the spectacle of Russia righteously handing America its arse.
Posted by: Áobh O’Sheachnasaigh | Jul 14 2023 20:48 utc | 51
A warplane with a design going back some 40 years at least that requires a smooth and constantly manicured runway for take-off?
Could Hollywood not come up with a better design from its CGI creators and technicians, that could improve upon product from Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, British Aerospace and all the other big private military manufacturers?
This is beyond satire.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Jul 14 2023 20:53 utc | 52
@ Tom_Q_Collins | Jul 14 2023 17:49 utc | 30
hi tom.. i heard there were intense talks of a prisoner swap that involved him... i heard that in the last week, closer to a week ago..
Posted by: james | Jul 14 2023 20:58 utc | 53
NATO must have made some serious back room promises over the years and months leading to and during the SMO which they have reneged on.
Above Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jul 14 2023 17:53 utc | 31
Of course it did: that's its specialty. That's exactly how it played Russia before and considerably after the collapse into disarray of the Soviet Union and well beyond Minsk 1 and 2. Putin had learned to start hedging Russia's bets well over a decade ago but that was still too late to be fully prepared to take them on recently.
Many people far brighter than Zelenskyy have been taken in by the West's mendacity especially during times they and their countries were under serious stress and desperate for salvation. How helpful it is that the current situation has made that so crystal-clear to most of the rest of the world and is at least starting to to the populations of most of the NATO members who are currently suffering the consequences of their membership.
Posted by: StirThePot | Jul 14 2023 21:00 utc | 54
Áobh O’Sheachnasaigh | Jul 14 2023 20:48 utc | 51--
Part of what you wrote is correct, but Russia has yet to "righteously [hand] America its arse."
The overall issue is well considered in today's Strategic Culture editorial, "Cold War Returns With Vengeance? It Never Really Ended", which provides a good if incomplete history lesson, although it does say:
"The Western powers, their capitalist and imperialist war machines are the font of all wars in recent centuries. Nazi Germany was but a marque of a larger suite of vehicles whose modern souped-up iteration is NATO." [My Emphasis]
That would actually begin with the Crusades which began again the imperialist quest to acquire the capital required for the later onset of Capitalism, the previous capital having been lost with Rome's fall.
In response to rk@48,
Don't rightly know what you're trying to say. That Russian military and political elites wouldn't have any reservations about the use of any type of armament if the conflict was occurring on foreign soil? Maybe that's true, I have no way of knowing that, but the point I expressed remains regardless. Once a territory has been contaminated, there's no point worrying about contaminating it further. You'll forgive me if I wasn't successful in guessing the meaning you were trying to get across, but your post looks like a cryptic non-sequitur to me.
Posted by: Skiffer | Jul 14 2023 21:15 utc | 57
Worked in the F-16 program in the 80s in Fort Worth. Was run by General Dynamics back then but has since moved to Lockheed. F-16 was state of the art back then and unfortunately still probably the best the US has to offer. Even then, the bloat and inefficiencies observed were rampant. Continuous delays and massive billing of government. We were paid maybe half per hour for every hour GD charged the government so they strove to charge as many hours as possible using as many schemes as possible. Strikes by line workers occurred yearly. The F-35 and Patriot missile system are even worse examples of MIC largess. What makes them worse is they do not even fulfill roles designed for. Any money spent on F-35 or Patriots is just money thrown away. See Boeing also, do anything to make a buck. Any F-16s given to Ukraine will be shot down. Would not be good for sales.
Posted by: Thurl | Jul 14 2023 21:17 utc | 58
NATO can complain about littering
Posted by: oldhippie | Jul 14 2023 17:56 utc | 32
It would be interesting to hear the outrage and threats of really serious sanctions.
Posted by: jpc | Jul 14 2023 21:32 utc | 59
If Poland is smart, they will negotiate with Russia directly as a means ro securing some of their historical lands back. We know that will never happen though, as long as their allegiance is to ‘the great satan’..
Posted by: Áobh O’Sheachnasaigh | Jul 14 2023 21:37 utc | 60
Why! We haven't heard a blip from the F35 JSF cheerleading crowd since the start of this conflict!? /s
The skies seem to be somewhat favorable though"...still possess some air defense capability"
The "still" and "some" of the above statement should reassure Nafo pilots, with "still" as less than at first and "some" as just a few. Go Nato ! Go !
Posted by: Stephane | Jul 14 2023 21:38 utc | 61
Dima reports:
-new AFU regrouping in the trenches or forest lines in front of Robotino bombed with TOS systems
-AFU planning a new larger offensive operation east of Robotino, towards Ivano Franka, supposedly to be launched from 3 sides
-here too the accumulations were bombed with TOS systems
-AFU launched attacks in Vremievka bridgehead toward Staramayorske and Urozhaine
-the accumulations making the attack were discovered beforehand and bombed with howitzers which weakened the coming attacks which were repelled
-AFU managed to retake a trench between Marinka and Novomikhalovka
-no updates from Avdeevka
-AFU launched large artillery preparation on the forest west of Klischeevka followed by their armored vehicle attack, resulting larger clash
-RU expanding their bridgehead SE of Torske, inside the forest
-Also led to bunch of AFU surrendering
-AFU launched attacks near Yampolovka, south towards the RU bridgehead next to Torske the attacks being defeated
-fighting for Novoselivske, which is important for further control of Stelmakhivka, an important settlement on AFU supply road supporting this entire front
-RU bombed AFU positions inside Stelmakhivka with TOS systems, but there could still be lot of older short range (3.5km) in use causing more risks to the system if need to be parked next to the combat line
-either there are the longer ranged version of TOS used near Stelmakhivka or RU managed to push AFU out closer to Stelmakhovka to use shorter range version
-AFU announced evacuation of Kupyansk
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 14 2023 21:46 utc | 62
A really cogent, well argued discussion of the West’s hypocrisy and duplicity over Ukraine. The ever readable Jonathan Cook.
https://www.jonathan-cook.net/2023-07-14/nato-ukraine-stab-back/
Posted by: Vragtes | Jul 14 2023 22:04 utc | 63
So, what’s next after Zelensky has shot his load of conscriptable males in creating stiff-topics on the steppe?
Cocaine is a helluva drug.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jul 14 2023 22:17 utc | 64
Sorry shoulda read “”stiff-topia”
Rhymes with, grifttopia.
Damn spell checking !
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jul 14 2023 22:22 utc | 65
"The "still" and "some" of the above statement should reassure Nafo pilots, with "still" as less than at first and "some" as just a few. Go Nato ! Go !"
Posted by: Stephane | Jul 14 2023 21:38 utc | 61
No NATO pilot with any sense is going to fly against Russian defences. Of course they may be able to find a sew with no sense.
Posted by: dh | Jul 14 2023 22:23 utc | 66
F16s will fly to the edge of danger, launch rockets and "Run Away!", to quote Monty Python.
The 3000 reserve call ups are a desperation move. The US military has gone woke, gone broke, full retard. They need some old hands back probably to reset the logistics chain into something the Russians won't entirely laugh at from afar.
Is there no btc address to donate to? PayPal will exchange it. Should be easy enough.
Posted by: Sideshow Bob | Jul 14 2023 22:24 utc | 67
To Manage without me:
The F16 was indeed designed & built by General Dynamics Corp until exiting the military airframe industry having sold the business unit to Lockheed Martin.
Posted by: Keenan | Jul 14 2023 22:32 utc | 68
@ Biswapriya Purkayast | Jul 14 2023 16:28 utc | 11
Talking of COIN , do you know what "a fire force" is? It was a system to counter insurgency crated by Rhodesian. Very efficient extermination system.
Posted by: whirlX | Jul 14 2023 22:35 utc | 69
F16s need a team of buttlers sweeping the tarmac to a pristine condition for it to land and take off.
Meanwhile Russian machines be like this copter flying without its tail:
https://t.me/rtnews/43249
It's not even funny.
Posted by: Madame Guillotine | Jul 14 2023 22:35 utc | 70
@ Hoarsewhisperer | Jul 14 2023 17:13 utc | 27
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tEQbHT_WtKk&pp=ygUVTG9ja2hlZWQgc3RhcmZpZ2h0ZXJz
Bring on the F-35s!
Posted by: John Kennard | Jul 14 2023 22:40 utc | 71
The F-16 plan was worked up thoroughly here at MoA a while ago.
Remember that the Russian fighters deploy screens to prevent foreign object damage from being sucked in. All F-16 flight ops are preceded by a complete FOD walk down, just like USN carriers prior to flight ops. Some USAF have mobile vacuum cleaners to clean the runway. If there was ever a good use for cluster munitions, that would be it.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Jul 14 2023 22:44 utc | 72
Posted by: Oldcutlas | Jul 14 2023 15:49 utc | 3
There are modernized variants of the F-16, they are more than capable washing machines, but I really don't think that is the true reason,
as Russia not only has 'some' air capability, but has it fu**ing "all" and worlds best! and enough to wipe the crap out of anything the Americans bring into theatre.
They want to save themselves from utter shame and disappointment, it's all about the money, ego, and fighting Russians only when they
have a clear advantage, like acts of 'terrorism' is all they can succumb to.
Posted by: TheCanuck | Jul 14 2023 22:52 utc | 73
Enough of this stuff already, let's speculate where the Russians will cross the Dnieper.
We can wait about the 'when' until later this year.
Is the terrain east of Zaporizhzia viable for a land crossing or do they have to go further North?
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Jul 14 2023 22:58 utc | 74
re: 3000 U.S. reserve Executive Order
this excerpt from Responsible Statecraft´s latest piece demonstrates the fallacies on so many levels:
"(...)
Update: Defense Priorities fellow and RS contributor Daniel Davis sent along these comments on the E.O.:
“If there’s anything Russia has proven after 17 months of all-out warfare, is that the most they have been able to accomplish is to hang on to 17% of one neighboring state, 1/4th its size, which has no air force to speak of an no navy at all — and we believe we need to ramp up to a ground force of 300,000 “at a high state of readiness” to protect a 32 member alliance, with a population five times larger than Russia, an economy that dwarfs it, and an especially powerful and large air force and navy? I wholeheartedly agree with my colleague Raj Menon in today’s New York Times: it’s time for Europe to defend itself (based on reality of Western military and economic superiority, not on the fiction of a massive Russian conventional giant).”
(...)"
Posted by: AG | Jul 14 2023 23:13 utc | 75
Posted by: Montanamotor | Jul 14 2023 19:55 utc | 45
Excellent comment. The unusual and difficult-to-explain events unfolding recently, including Proghozin’s crazy mutiny, could indeed be an incredible ruse, an ingenious Maskirova designs to prepare for a crushing blow to the NAZIs.
Posted by: Áobh O’Sheachnasaigh | Jul 14 2023 23:18 utc | 76
In Joseph Heller's brilliant anti-war comedy-satire novel Catch-22* we saw a moment in time when an Air Force (Army Air Corps) suffered losses so steep that it allowed the air crews to rotate home after X-number of missions, and the brutally satirical moments in the story often revolved around that "X-number" constantly getting raised.
The military was willing to lose the men and machines, because they saw a great utility in hammering at Germany's war machine, especially its factories.
A modern day Heller would be hard pressed to conjure up the huge increase in bitter cynicism and satire needed to deal with how the Zelenskyy regime and its Western backers are willing to burn through men. These F-16s would, imo, be intended primarily to deliver splashy results that could be widely disseminated as propaganda to the effect that Ukraine was still in the fight.
They'd hope that some ammo dumps would get blown up, a few Russian aircraft would get damaged on the ground, some Russian officers would get taken out, and Russian civilians would get terrorized as men, women, and children, were wounded and killed on their streets, and in their homes.
Soon after that there would no longer be any F-16s making attacks like that, but Zelenskyy would have had a couple of weeks of propaganda that would get recapitulated for months. And he'd think he'd made a very important point to the West.
"Give me what I ask for, long range aviation and missiles, and I will bring the war to within Russia".
With bloodthirsty war criminals like Lindsay Graham still having a lot of influence, and still able to cow their fellow legislators, and the media, some might be thinking that's Zelenskyy's best shot at keeping the flow of money and aid from getting diminished. That it would almost certainly provoke Russia into adjusting its calculations to consider inflicting pain on the West wouldn't worry Zelenskyy much at all, and he might even be hoping for that. But it seems there's a rising mood in the West to consider the benefits to be had of cutting Zelenskyy and his fascist clique loose, and trying a different tack in bringing about a resolution vis a vis Russia and Ukraine.
*That book also went on its later chapters to speak volumes of how big business will collude with fascists, and how it profits off of wars. It's as relevant today as ever.
Catch-22 (2/10) Movie CLIP - It's an Egg (1970) HD
https://youtu.be/g0UV6ug96c0
Where's My Parachute? - Catch-22 (3/10) Movie CLIP (1970) HD
Posted by: Babel-17 | Jul 14 2023 23:21 utc | 77
If the Seppoes send F16s to the war and fly them from Polish and Rumanian airfields, all the Allies have to do is used cluster bombs to strew the runways with empty coke cans.
Posted by: Squeeth | Jul 14 2023 23:23 utc | 78
re: Mercouris Hersh Biden
Mercouris today quoting Seymour Hersh extensively on fundamental changes to be possibly expected in the Biden administration under the pressure of the Democratic Party regarding election season
Posted by: AG | Jul 14 2023 23:27 utc | 79
F-16 is nuclear capable, Putin has made it clear if they appear in the battlezone they will be treated as a nuclear threat. This has been told to the USA and NATO. So it goes on. Not sure what the actual response is by RF, bombing the Naato airfields in Poland or wherever , its an escalation nobody needs
Posted by: hankster | Jul 14 2023 23:29 utc | 80
@hankster
Yes, the f-16 can carry nuclear payloads. There were projects for LRU and SRU systems plus test equipment at GD to support nuclear weapon payloads in the 80s.
Posted by: Thurl | Jul 14 2023 23:43 utc | 81
Acco [email protected] issue, for both sides, regardless of which river one crosses, east west north or south, it is, in the majority, open field farm land. Some rolling hills and some forest, watch the smash and grab vids the Russians post. Once Russia tries to advance, through those same fields, they will get smashed. There will be no major Russian advance, the LOC is static.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jul 14 2023 23:54 utc | 82
@ Montanamotor | Jul 14 2023 19:55 utc | 45
...and b. through a naval landing a là D-Day in the Odessa region, from North to South WEST of the Dnjepr,
I agree with everything you position in your analysis.
But few things are not really happening.
D-Daying is not the way to get Odesa.
It might be doable somewhat South to get to the Romanian border blocking any NATO traffic there. But Odesa can be only liberated from the North, in a continuation of the sweep down to where you point.
There were some concerns of not having enough man-power to liberate large teritories. Some people say additional 500.000 would be needed to hold such parts safe. But a current military combat body is sufficient to liberate it.
Good news is that RF widen its NOTAM to a triangle between Odesa, Snake Island and Sevatopol, where air patrols will be flown together with Russian ISR planes.
That clearly indicates that something is in the making.
Posted by: whirlX | Jul 15 2023 0:00 utc | 83
re: 3000 reserves
Larry Johnson added the info which I did not know, that along the 3000 there are another 3 armored brigades (15,000) dispatched to Poland, not reported in the press, as he claims.
B-52s are re-stationed to Alaska from Dakota. Too, symbolic, he states.
But its happening.
see 22:00 min.
https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/
Posted by: AG | Jul 15 2023 0:16 utc | 84
So, get this barflies, the British Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, had a little oopsie moment. He's all like, "Hey, guys, my words got all twisted up!" Apparently, he didn't mean to say that Zelensky lacks gratitude for the UK's military support. Oopsie-daisy! But fear not, my friends, because the UK government is still gonna be all like, "Hey, Ukraine, we got your back! We'll help you get all the cool military stuff you need to kick some serious butt!" Triumph, baby!
THE DRINKS ARE ON ME, FOLKS!
Posted by: HERMIUS | Jul 15 2023 0:35 utc | 85
''the Russians still possess **some** air defense capability. '
[emphasis mine]
Clowns.
Posted by: Paul Damascene | Jul 15 2023 0:38 utc | 86
NATO is like John Cleese's character in The People's Front of Judea, Reg, from the movie The Life of Brian. Zelenskyy is like Loretta, played by Eric Idle.
They see Zelenskyy's goals as laughably impossible, and thus NATO membership highly unlikely, but OK, sure, they'll affirm Zelenskyy's right to try to defeat Russia and take Crimea, and then drive Ukrainian tanks up to the doors of the Kremlin. Just like Loretta had a right to want to have a womb, and birth babies.
Once Zelenskyy is in Crimea raising the Ukrainian flag over the highest point there, then sure, they'll start the ball rolling on NATO membership, and have it approved the same day Zelenskyy frog marches Putin into the Hague for his trial. No problemo!
Monty Python's Life of Brian - Loretta - [1080p] [Subtitles]
Posted by: Babel-17 | Jul 15 2023 0:44 utc | 87
I am wondering, speculating really; but isn't the timing of Bidens announcement that he is sending 3000 US military forces to Europe (Poland perhaps?) to assist Ukraine in some form or fashion?
Among the 3000 military forces, could there be well trained F-16 crews and pilots? This could take time for the US to set up, so Zelensky will just have to play the piano with dick until the US is ready to fly F-16's for Ukrainian Nazis. I suspect that the previous plan to train Ukrainian Nazis to fly F-16's is not working out so well and the MIC is concerned that Russia will destroy the F-16's and confirm what many countries around the world suspect already: That the F16 is a piece of crap, just minimally better than the F-35.
Posted by: Ed | Jul 15 2023 1:04 utc | 88
Some videos for today.
Another war crime -- the Kiev regime’s military shot up a civilian car in the Donbass and then hid the driver’s body in a nearby forest plantation:
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230714/graphic-video-ukrainian-military-attacks-civilian-car-in-donetsk-region-1111871140.html
Ukrainian POW says they were given old Bradleys that don't work:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/4766483810883:7
More Ukrainian soldiers surrendered near Artemovsk:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/video_2023-07-14_13-49-38:a
Russian artillerymen strike Kiev regime positions along the Dnepr River:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/Giatsint_1407:e
Russian artillery working on the Zaporozhye front:
https://rutube.ru/video/8942a9b888ea7c31871008a325d32cfc/
Russian drone destroys enemy armored vehicle near Kupyansk:
https://rutube.ru/video/af059792d4cdf186875969acb5fbda93/
Russian Lancet drone destroys enemy radar:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/video_2023-07-14_09-26-19:a
NATO summit is ‘summit of death’ – Russian youth movements:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/activists_14:2
Posted by: Nate | Jul 15 2023 1:04 utc | 89
Posted by: Sideshow Bob | Jul 14 2023 22:24 utc | 67
Lol, playacting like Sterling Archer at the end of the "Danger Zone" clip? Mad praise to the show for getting Kenny Loggins (K-Log) to guest star in one episode.
Archer - Highway To The Dangerzone
Posted by: Babel-17 | Jul 15 2023 1:06 utc | 90
Seeing more and more reports of NATO troops surrendering. Are these still mostly individuals or are we starting to seek company sized unit surrenders ?
The size of unit surrender is the critical tell for the collapse of Kiev’s military.
Any insights ?
Posted by: Exile | Jul 15 2023 1:47 utc | 91
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jul 14 2023 23:54 utc | 82
-----------------------------------------------------------
I thought that the Germans went over similar terrain making it close to Moscow. One lesson from that episode that inspired post-war German tank design was to sacrifice armor and weight for mobility. Hence the 15MM armor on German tanks until recently.
One side of the Kursk battle followed traditional Russian land warfare doctrine, aka the Woody Hayes offense, 'three yards and a cloud of dust.' The other side relied on the superior range of the German tank guns, reaching the T-34s with an extra half kilometer of reach.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Jul 15 2023 1:57 utc | 92
This is a quote from a forum unrelated to Ukraine war which, I suppose, should be of interest to MoA readers (FOD = Foreign Objects and Debris):
20 years ago, I was an avionics technician on F-16 fighter jets in the USAF. We had 'FOD Walks' daily, which involved slowly walking down the flightline while staring at the ground, and picking up any loose objectsEven a tiny object, when ingested into a jet engine, can cause catastrophic damage. And F-16s have intakes very low to the ground, making them a much higher FOD risk.
The worst FOD events were when something broke. We used bit drivers to remove aircraft panels, and the bits were fairly standard screwdriver bits. Sometimes, one of those bits would shatter when applying force to remove a stubborn fastener. If that happens, you have to retrieve every single piece of metal. If you return your toolbox at the end of the day and it is missing anything that can't be accounted for, the entire flightline could be shut down while a search is carried out.
Dropping things in the cockpit could sometimes be much worse. If it drops down into a void left by removing a control panel, then it could potentially fall to the 'bottom' of the aircraft. If that happens, you'll be taking off all the panels in that vicinity, you'll have multiple people looking with flashlights, borescopes, etc.
If something is dropped but can't be found, that's probably a multi-day event that will involve some fairly high ranking people.
FOD was considered a serious threat, and a tiny piece of metal broken off of a tool could hinder operations for days at a time.
Posted by: Kavkaz | Jul 15 2023 2:35 utc | 93
Politico (Europe) came out with an interesting article Rust Belt on the Rhine describing deindustrialization of Germany currently underway.
Quote:
Chemical giant BASF has been a pillar of German business for more than 150 years, underpinning the country’s industrial rise with a steady stream of innovation that helped make “Made in Germany” the envy of the world.But its latest moonshot — a $10 billion investment in a state-of-the-art complex the company claims will be the gold standard for sustainable production — isn’t going up in Germany. Instead, it’s being erected 9,000 kilometers away in China.
Posted by: Kavkaz | Jul 15 2023 2:54 utc | 94
You say “Dnieper” ….. some say “diaper”
telegram:
According to Turkish sources, the Ukrainian army is making new preparations for the landing on the left bank of the Dnieper.
Reserve units of the national guard, local self-defense units and various units trained by NATO for small unit operations from many regions, especially from Kyiv and Lvov, began to gather in the Kherson region.
Special Forces teams from the United States, Great Britain and Poland identified suitable crossing points for the river. Every day they control the weakest defenses on the river. They are making plans of attack in that direction.
Therefore, the Russian army stepped up its strikes with artillery and MLRS, as well as planning bombs on targets along the river.
Reserves have also been transferred to this area and UAV activity has been increased throughout the region from the Dnieper Islands to Energodar.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine again began to gather artillery and air defense batteries on the river bank to support these assault groups. Russian artillery and loitering Lancet munitions are focused on finding and destroying them.
The previous attempt to force the river ended with the loss of about 1000 people.
This time, the Ukrainian army wants to make a larger landing in order to divert attention from the Zaporozhye region and, if successful, expand the bridgehead and surround the “Surovikin Line” in Zaporozhye from the rear and force the Russian group to withdraw.
t.me/llordofwar/173486
~~~~~
§|
“Hard times began at the AN/TPQ* counter-battery stations in the direction of Donetsk. Our Arta brothers have already destroyed several pieces in a week.
In the video the results of work on one of them.”
[Popov had a spray about this AN/TPQ capability. His rant might have lit a fire under someone’s arse. It seems to now have received extra attention.]
https://t.me/remylind21/5084
§| The Mastiff PPV armored car was driven away to the defense industry specialists for study.
Belarus + Wagner
§| Wagner fighters from Africa will arrive in Belarus in the next few days/weeks.
At the moment there are already over 30,000 Wagner fighters in Belarus.
At least twice that will now be added. In Mali, recruitment went on diligently throughout the year.
§| The Ministry of Defense of Belarus has developed a "road map" with PMC "Wagner" on the transfer of experience between different branches of the military
Lord of War telegram
https://t.me/lordofwar
§| A request from a number of countries to obtain permission to train the Ukrainian military to fly the F-16 is “still under consideration,” said Pentagon spokesman Garron Garn. According to Politico sources, the training could start in October in Romania, but in the meantime, according to European and American officials, almost a dozen European countries are waiting for Washington's approval.
§| Ukrainians began to train on Abrams. They gave the former Marines M1A1 FEP with a mine trawl, but without uranium armor.
We can all be “grateful“?
§| British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is considering leaving the post he has held since July 2019 and leaving politics, The Times reported, citing government sources.
They attribute Wallace's possible departure to the reshuffle in the Cabinet, which is being prepared by its head, Rishi Sunak.
[And motor mouth reverse gear…]
§| UK Defense Secretary Wallace commented on his words that Ukraine should be grateful to its allies and that the UK is not Amazon:
“My words were taken out of context, I will continue to support Ukraine as much as necessary”
Various telegrams report Zalhuzny latest in WaPo.
Translations vary, but basically. If you give him a weapon, he’ll use it.
He’s not “allowed” to use certain western weapons. He’ll use Ukrainian….
[does Ukraine have any of “its” weapons left?]
Cyberspec telegram
https://t.me/s/CyberspecNews
§| US Intelligence (that oxymoron): The military conflict between Russia and Ukraine has reached a dead end, despite the ongoing counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
▪️This was stated by the representative of the intelligence department of the US Department of Defense John Kirshhofer, writes Bloomberg.
▪️“Of course, we are in an impasse,” Kirschhofer said.
▪️Providing more powerful weapons to Kyiv, including cluster bombs and long-range Storm Shadow missiles, will not help to fundamentally change the course of hostilities in the short term.
▪️“None of them, unfortunately, is the holy grail that the Ukrainians are looking for and which will allow them to break through,” the intelligence officer emphasized.
“One of the things the Russian leadership believes in is that they can survive Western support,” the Pentagon spokesman added.
~~~ Ok war toys boys—-
WTF is this?
A swimming tank?
So…. A tank landing of Odessa …. is ?possible?
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/35993
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jul 15 2023 3:11 utc | 95
"just in case anyone wants to read simplicius - here it is..
SITREP 7/14/23: Popov's Sound and Fury and Vilnius Signifying Nothing
Posted by: james | Jul 14 2023 15:49 utc | 2"
...NATO is a guarantee for investors...
How will Blackrock et al and IMF collect after the war? Will they just write off their losses?
...
It's not even funny.
Posted by: Madame Guillotine | Jul 14 2023 22:35 utc | 70
It's a little bit funny. As the blurb with the clip explains, a chopper with 2 concentric contra-rotating main rotors doesn't need a tail rotor. So it was a waste of AA ammo to shoot off its tail assembly.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jul 15 2023 3:44 utc | 97
@ Catilina | Jul 15 2023 3:31 utc | 96
good question.. i don't know if they are thinking that far ahead..
Posted by: james | Jul 15 2023 3:51 utc | 98
RE: Zelensky and the NATO summit - It's become clear that he actually expected full (if not direct!) NATO support by now. He must be feeling the sting of knowing he was played like a puppet while sending hundreds of thousands of men to die in a fool's errand. NATO must have made some serious back room promises over the years and months leading to and during the SMO which they have reneged on. At least the 'penist' has half a billion $$ sitting in an off-shore bank account if he can survive the wrath of his own people.Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jul 14 2023 17:53 utc | 31
Bojo promised them a clean and swift victory. No no no peace! We have Wunderwaffen, technology and all seeing eyes in the sky to you! We have GDP and sanctions! It'll be all over in a week!
And since then has the Midged Monarchy touted this same theme: "Russia is in ropes. Just a little more needed. Russia is out of chips and shovels. They are drunk and bumbling idiots! Just a little more yet."
Who will do the explaining? To the Ukies and more importantly to the Europeans. There will be need for some really serious explaining.
Igor Strelkov's assessment of the situation in Ukraine (video). As always, critical of the RF Army's command. Discusses Prigozhin's revolt and Popov's removal. Russian language fluency required.
Posted by: Kavkaz | Jul 15 2023 4:02 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
thanks b! you are on a roll... i sure hope others contribute to your continuation here... cheers..
Posted by: james | Jul 14 2023 15:47 utc | 1