Why can't we send A-10 Thunderbolts to Ukraine to wipe out all the stalled...

[brush]

Russian vehicle convoys? That's what those aircraft are built for...no US pilots, Ukrainian pilots can be trained quickly to fly them and thus not risk Pootie's nuclear threat. They can be taken on carriers to the Mediterranean and flown from there.

[Wingus Dingus]

1. The pilots couldn't be trained in time to be effective.

Drones (which they already have, apparently--from Turkey?) can do it, I think.

[brush]

4. Ukraine does have some pilots. How long would it take to train them? It's not like...

the Russians are leaving anytime soon.

[Wingus Dingus]

9. Several weeks, I imagine. I'm not sure how many A-10's are still maintained and active,

or where they are, or how feasible it would be for us to loan them.

[A HERETIC I AM]

42. Seven Squadrons.

At least according to this article;

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/seven-warthog-squadrons-to-remain-operational-through-2040s-despite-usaf-plans-to-cut-a-10-fleet/amp/

Wikipedia has different information. On that list I count 19

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt_II

282 still operating in 2017 (according to that article, but that info is obviously 5 years old)

[EndlessWire]

2. A good idea.

We do not know what assets we are shipping to them. We also don't know if Ukraine has any trainees in other parts of the world training on these very planes. We will see.

[uponit7771]

3. K&R, Americans would have to pilot them. The "convoy" is out of fuel and being attacked by UKR

... bombers.

The eastern part of UKR were Russia had separatist and a lot of munitions already are even hold their own even though taking a lot of hits.

[mitch96]

27. It would be better, faster and cheaper to send them existing russian/Ukranian type fighter bombers

They already know how to fly and maintain the SU-24/25. Gas, bombs and GO!
The trick is #1 where to get the SU24/25's and #2 how to get them into the country undetected...
The russians probably have every inch of the Ukrainian border under surveillance.. There was a post about a UKR SU-24 successfully attacking a russian column..
Being an armchair admiral this is what I think would work.. YMMV
m
BTW at this point russia and putin don't deserve capitol letters until they fix this..

[uponit7771]

28. +1

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. I wondered the same.....

A wing of A-10's would pretty much neutralize the convoy. I have to think UKR pilots could learn to fly these relatively quickly.

[USALiberal]

6. Because that means were involved in the war and who knows what that causes?

[brush]

11. We're already involved. We and other NATO nations have been sending all sorts...

of shipments to Ukraine all along...Stinger and Javelin missiles that are taking out Russian tanks and aircraft. The A-10s could do it in one fell swoop.

[Chainfire]

23. There is a big difference in sending Ukrainians bombs, and the US dropping bombs on Russian troops.

I wouldn't think that that would be to thin a hair to split.

[brush]

25. I specifically said Ukrainian pilots to avoid Putin's nuke threat, which is why I...

mentioned the shipments we're already making.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Very few if any trained Ukr pilots for A-10s. Not easy, though amazingly effective. Non-starter. .nt

[WHITT]

8. Article 5

[sl8]

10. I read that Bulgaria is transferring 14 SU-25 "Frogfoot" ground attack aircraft to Ukraine. n/t

[brush]

14. Are those the Russian answer to A-10s?

[sl8]

15. Yes.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-25

[KS Toronado]

26. That's a step in the right direction

hope they get there quick.

[mitch96]

29. EXCELLENT this is a good start.. NATO/EU could then offer newer aircraft in exchange..nt

[sl8]

31. I spoke too soon: "No, EU countries aren't sending fighter jets to Ukraine"

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2022/03/01/no-eu-countries-arent-sending-fighter-jets-to-ukraine/

No, EU countries aren’t sending fighter jets to Ukraine

[Hav]

34. I don't know what to believe anymore

I thought I read recently that some fighter jets were already delievered through the Polish border.
It feels the amount of questionable information in this conflict is way higher than usual and on both sides.

[sl8]

36. Me, too. n/t

[mitch96]

44. "countries aren't sending fighter jets to Ukraine".. True but But BUT if some soul offered to

"buy" a few of these ground attack planes and just so happen to "leave them" on the border all fueled up and ready to go.........hummm.. covers the plausible deniability aspect..
Kinda sorta like the Mujahadine in Afghanistan "found" some US built Stinger anti aircraft missiles to shoot down russian helicopters.........Hmmm..Kinda like the movie
"Charlie Wilsons War"...
m

[Quakerfriend]

12. I can't for the life of me understand what the world is waiting for-

It’s so painful to see such destruction.

[PortTack]

13. Agree..it is very painful.

But
1 we cannot act alone, the rest of NATO would have to agree
2 we cannot be the ones that cause WWIII. It would play right into pooties hand.
3 the world is pretty united, if we acted, that may fall apart..cannot risk that

[mitch96]

30. "It's so painful to see such destruction." It also is a wakeup call for me..

I see Afgans getting killed and bombed.. just another news day. People from the middle east and Africa dying while trying to get to Europe, yup it's sad. People on our southern border trying to get to safety and at some point I feel sorry.
When I see all the stuff that's going on in Ukraine I'm just a ball of tears..
What's that all about?
m

[albacore]

59. I'm a confirmed cynic... and even I am sad/dismayed/outraged...

by what's happening in Ukraine.

Of course, I was saddened/dismayed/outraged when it was the US blasting the shit out of people.... mostly brown-er people... in the last seven decades. And before that, too....
Quote from the US general Smith during the Filipino "Insurrection"...""I want you to kill and burn, the more you kill and the burn the better it will please me. I want all persons killed who are capable of bearing arms in actual hostilities against the United States. The interior of Samar must be made a howling wilderness..."

[Amishman]

16. Same reason the Ukrainians aren't drone striking it

Probably completely ringed by anti air missile batteries

[Stinky The Clown]

17. I bet we can muster a hundred or so A10 pilots to fight as mercenaries. Answer Zelensky's call.

There are thousands of them, almost certainly. How many would sign up, I have no idea. The A10 Warthogs were flown by a lot of reserve and guard units.

Not sure how many remain operational. I am betting at least a few hundred in our fleet. I know they have been trying to phase them out but so far, for a verity of reasons, they have not been able to.

[brush]

18. It's a good thing too they haven't been completely phased out. That dud F-35...

multi-purpose plane was supposed to be its replacement, but I think the Air Force and Navy aren't happy with it.

Also, the idea of mercenaries...I heard there's a possibility of the French Foreign Legion getting involved.

[mitch96]

33. "haven't been completely phased out".The USAF has been trying to get rid of the A10 for years

Too many people are rooting for the warthog. It just flat out works... Thankfully there is a bunch of upgrades to the A10 that will keep it flying for a few more years.
A 1.1 Billion with a B upgrade to 173 a10's will keep it alive.
m

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/08/13/a-10-re-winging-completed-will-keep-warthog-in-the-air-until-late-2030s/

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37233/the-a-10-warthog-is-preparing-for-its-biggest-upgrade-in-over-a-decade

[Sherman A1]

19. Jeepers

[TheRealNorth]

20. A-10's would need air cover and electronic counter-measures....

It's not like the Russians don't have an air force or surface-to-air missle systems that couldn't shoot them down.

[TheRealNorth]

21. A-10's would need air cover and electronic counter-measures....

It's not like the Russians don't have an air force or surface-to-air missle systems that couldn't shoot them down.

What makes the A-10 good is its ability to provide close air support while being able to absorb a lot of ground fire damage.

[sarisataka]

22. The planes given to Ukraine

By the Europeans were the same models they already used. Ukraine could use them immediately.

A-10s would be totally new. Pilots would have to be trained along with ground crews and mechanics. Shipments of munitions would need to be sent, spare part depots, etc.

It would probably take six months before the A-10s would be operational.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

24. I don't think the planes are happening

It seems all the countries have issued denials that they will be sending them now.

[sarisataka]

32. Interesting development

NATO seems concerned about what could be considered involvement. However the Polish President said the planes will not fly to Ukraine. He didn't say they are not going.

This will bear watching.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

37. For sure

For all we know, they are publicly saying no planes. All while a few surplus ones go missing lol.

[Papa-Ron]

35. Europe has them

and this is where

Germany

United Kingdom.

Of course

United States.

and

South Korea.

[Gore1FL]

38. The Ukrainian air force is striking them with ground-attack Migs. nt

[Emile]

39. I trust President Biden is doing the right thing!

We don't need to start a nuclear war over broken down vehicles blocking a road!

[brush]

40. Who said anything about starting a nuke war? We and other NATO nations are...

actively shipping weapons and supplioes to Ukraine and the Russians know that. Aircraft piloted by Ukrainians, not Americans, would fall into that category.

[Emile]

43. Putin

[brush]

46. You do get that we're shipping weapons to Ukraine and Putin knows it, right?

[Emile]

47. You do get we have President Biden and a whole bunch of professional

people on top of this?

[brush]

61. Ok, buddy. You want to argue. We're on DU. That means we are Dems who support Biden...

and the Ukrainians. It's A discussion board. You have your opinion. Others have their's.

[Emile]

62. That's right, I have an opinion too. You are the one wanting to argue!

[dumbcat]

41. And, BTW,

A-10’s cannot land or take off on aircraft carriers. Not designed or equipped for it.

[brush]

48. Thanks for that info. They've been used in other combat operations overseas...

so I guess they'd have to be refueled by tankers. It probably won't happen though, even though they're great close air sopport craft.

[Midnight Writer]

45. Drones. Give Ukraine lots of drones, armed and unarmed. Most teenagers can fly them.

Even the "toy" ones.

The thing is, if Russia troops are hit by an occasional armed drone, they will not know if the drones buzzing them will kill them or not.

Morale among Russian troops is already low. Overload their nerves with constant drones buzzing around.

And if Russia shoots them down? Big deal. They're drones.

[brush]

49. That works.

[Wingus Dingus]

53. That's good thinking.

[Midnight Writer]

56. What's more, they can foul up enemy radar and guidance systems. Keep Putin's planes out of the air.

[Wingus Dingus]

57. Yes, lots of unidentified craft.

Is that what you mean?

[Midnight Writer]

58. Israel uses them to confound incoming guided munitions. They can't lock onto targets.

There is too much "noise", too many signals for them to negotiate.

And if a plane hits a drone, it can do significant damage. Even flying geese can stop a plane.

Blanket the airspace with drones, and again, even cheap, unarmed drones, and they can negate a lot of Russia's air superiority, at little risk to Ukrainian personnel.

Edit. They are also invaluable for recon.

[Kaleva]

50. One can't quickly train a pilot to fly an A-10 and they can't be launched from carriers

Plus you'd need to train the ground crew to maintain and load them

The movie Independence Day isn't real world

[brush]

51. Thanks. Another poster mentioned they can't fly off carriers. If this war goes on...

for months/years, who knows if such craft, tanker-fueled, might come into play as they're tank killers, which is why western European nations have many of them (Russians have plenty of tanks).

[Kaleva]

52. If some nation would donate SU25s, that'd be another matter

I believe Ukraine has such planes and thus they have experience with them.

[brush]

54. That would be good. They're Russia's answer to the A-10. Maybe that will happen.

[Kaleva]

55. +1

[BlueIdaho]

60. Time to re-start America's Lend-Lease program.

Especially when it comes to close air support. The Ukrainian pilots are outflying the Russians - let’s give them something to fight with.