A little free OT&E.
63-Year-Old Retired Russian Fighter Pilot Shot-Down In Su-25 Over Ukraine (msn.com) A bloke S.H. Ivan was shot down in combat.
All fighter pilots are interesting characters. They are a different breed from the rest of us. I recall. A fresh Marine Air Corps pilot was interviewed by his new squadron commander. His new boss posed a question. " "You have been separated from your group and you are surrounded by 30 Japanese fighters. What is your plan of action?" Answer. " I'd shoot all of them down!"
The Turks bought the S400 system from the Russians. I bet they regret that now. For Russia, their Air Defense is toast. https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1547991959632982018.html Tweet— Twitter API (@user) date
The Turks really have buyer's remorse on the S-400 and it was really an ego thing with Erdogan. "The US is not telling me what we can buy." Cost them the F-35 program with a lot of production and maintenance work in Turkey. Suggested solution to save face, help the Ukrainians, and get back into the F-35 program is to give their S-400s to Ukraine.
Air Force Open To Sending Warthogs https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/07/21/air-force-open-sending-10s-ukraine-fight-against-russia.html Image Unavailable, Please Login
Warthogs are slow, easy targets. US uses them after they establish complete air space dominance which Ukraine never will. .
Turn the music on. The Hog's have bolt on defensive options and other assets which will make it difficult for the radar-controlled AAA/SAM's to respond. The grunts and Congress love them. Go Ugly Early. Silk scarf syndrome? No burner and supersonic speed resulted in the A.F. intelligentsia providing no love towards the Hog.
I don't think that was the plan in the early 80's over Germany. They were to be used immediately to help stop Warsaw Pact armor.
SEAD is a dangerous role for the A-10. Really need an ARM if you want to do that and really good IRCM.
A-10s are great and all, but the Ukrainians currently operate Su-25s, which are comparable and they know how to fly and maintain them already. Maybe the A-10 is marginally better (or even a lot better-- like to hear opinions), but the experience factor almost certainly outweighs that for the Su-25.
