It’s kicking off

Russian police arrest over 1000 protesters

Alexei Navalny, has been poisoned and arrested and still had this documentary released 

His wife has been arrested as well. 

Some serious minerals on this chap 

Edited February 27, 20224 yr by Rudy

4 minutes ago, Dimron said:

We used to have a lot of banter... My mate unfortunately eventually suffered dementia (probably from to much Rugby) and I was good pals with "bad boy" Moley before he was flown into a welsh mountain sat in the back seat of a Cessna... but we did have some good old piss ups

Ah man, very sad on both counts.

9 hours ago, Marc505 said:

Ah man, very sad on both counts.

Can't believe 25 years have gone by!

The thunderflash in the snowball on the counter of the bar was a classic 🙂

Edited August 5, 20241 yr by Dimron

12 hours ago, Marc505 said:

They might be the unusual looking things that are part of one of the wing pylons. How in depth the training has gone into all the systems I don't know, this has been seriously fast tracked!

Yes, multiple sensors, and a "computer" to do the analysis. The chaff/flair pod releasing its stuff in a particular downward direction to avoid hitting other parts of the aircraft.

Aren't the Swedish E generation Gripens better than F16s?

Reports suggest they are and they might be more compatible with the Ukraine war zone as they are better at gaining air superiority and can land on a road if required - whereas F16's are bigger and clumsier, need more support but do carry more weapons/payload.

Maybe both are needed?

 

20 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

Aren't the Swedish E generation Gripens better than F16s?

Reports suggest they are and they might be more compatible with the Ukraine war zone as they are better at gaining air superiority and can land on a road if required - whereas F16's are bigger and clumsier, need more support but do carry more weapons/payload.

Maybe both are needed?

 

For this specific conflict, yes.

But there's a whole political optics thing of Ukraine being able to use F-16, a real sign of western support allowing them to use this iconic American fighter that's been a symbol of NATO for decades. Zelensky wated to be seen to have brought the F-16 to Ukraine, rightly or wrongly. Helps that there's scores of surplus F-16's knocking around now everywhere is converting to F-35.

Justin Bronk has done a lot of stuff about Gripen's advantages over F-16 in Ukraine that's worth a listen/read. We'll see where all this leads.

 

 

 

We're Grippens even available, certainly in any numbers?

Not sure the Swedes would part with too many.

Nice to see Ukraine involved in a ‘special operation’ in Russia. The first time in 83 years that another country has conducted a ‘special operation’ in Russia. 

Edited August 10, 20241 yr by BobyBrno
83 not 73

4 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

Nice to see Ukraine involved in a ‘special operation’ in Russia. The first time in 73 years that another country has conducted a ‘special operation’ in Russia. 

Russia doesn't understand irony.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2024/08/09/ukraines-kursk-offensive-blitzed-russia-with-electronic-warfare-and-drones/

One for Marc.

I'm watching the Klitschko documentary

He really doesn't like Zelensky

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/26/putin-will-soon-turn-his-war-machine-on-britain/?WT.mc_id=e_DM393544&WT.tsrc=email&etype=Edi_Edi_New_Reg&utmsource=email&utm_medium=Edi_Edi_New_Reg20240829&utm_campaign=DM393544

 

Nice bit of scaremongering

3 hours ago, gonzo said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/26/putin-will-soon-turn-his-war-machine-on-britain/?WT.mc_id=e_DM393544&WT.tsrc=email&etype=Edi_Edi_New_Reg&utmsource=email&utm_medium=Edi_Edi_New_Reg20240829&utm_campaign=DM393544

 

Nice bit of scaremongering

They've been warning of war with Russia for some time.

Backed up by a number of current and former military top brass in fairness. 

Lots of nefarious activity going on by them too.

They couldn't manage a larger war though- be twatted in no time.

23 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

They've been warning of war with Russia for some time.

Backed up by a number of current and former military top brass in fairness. 

Lots of nefarious activity going on by them too.

They couldn't manage a larger war though- be twatted in no time.

They would, and they certaibly won't be directly poking a member of NATO anytime soon I wouldn't have thought - NATO would crush them very, very quickly

19 minutes ago, Sweep said:

They would, and they certaibly won't be directly poking a member of NATO anytime soon I wouldn't have thought - NATO would crush them very, very quickly

Would that not depend on what China's thoughts on the situation were?

8 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Would that not depend on what China's thoughts on the situation were?

I'm not sure China will get involved, they've got their eyes on Taiwan - although, if Russia do decide to go up against NATO, that would tie up the US a bit, and maybe give them a better chance of actually taking back Taiwan. 

Although, if push does come to shove - fuck Ukraine off, and get Taiwan fully protected 😁

"The Kremlin holds us responsible for its failures"

China aren't stupid- economically they need the west.

Russia is getting skint, the ruble has plummeted, they're already on a war footing in terms of manufacturing, and last 12 months have yielded almost 10% inflation.

We may need to take some positive action at some point though with all the stuff Russia is doing- maybe a no-fly zone for example, and definitely shoot down their spy drones over Germany and Norway. 

Can't keep letting them get away with stuff.

Lost an F-16 and more importantly a pilot in an accident already 

18 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

Lost an F-16 and more importantly a pilot in an accident already 

Have they had enough training?

18 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

Lost an F-16 and more importantly a pilot in an accident already 

Oh dear. 

Been reading quite a bit about them, and they're being used for air defence, and quite successfully too.

The modern (Danish) pods have been tweaked by American EW specialists and they're taking down a number of missiles and drones.

2 minutes ago, Spider said:

Have they had enough training?

Don't suppose you can ever have enough training. 

Experience in theatre is something else.

As above, if they're mainly being used for air defence missions, then hopefully they will be getting that experience, without too much engagement with enemy aircraft. 

8 minutes ago, Spider said:

Have they had enough training?

 

3 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Don't suppose you can ever have enough training. 

Experience in theatre is something else.

As above, if they're mainly being used for air defence missions, then hopefully they will be getting that experience, without too much engagement with enemy aircraft. 

Fast tracking pilots isn't ideal but sounds like this one was very experienced, was returning from successfully shooting down 3 or 4 incoming russian missiles/drones.

I've read they only had 6 trained pilots including this one so it's a pretty serious setback

15 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

 

Fast tracking pilots isn't ideal but sounds like this one was very experienced, was returning from successfully shooting down 3 or 4 incoming russian missiles/drones.

I've read they only had 6 trained pilots including this one so it's a pretty serious setback

Presumably more are being trained at the moment?

Plenty more f16s are seemingly en route over the next few years.

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Presumably more are being trained at the moment?

Plenty more f16s are seemingly en route over the next few years.

Must be more in the training program, but they also do need to keep some of their best pilots in country as well to keep up the fight, be difficult to keep the balance right.