Question: Are the weapons being sent to Ukraine equal to providing a No Fly Zone?

[BigmanPigman]

I don't know anything about military issues and weapons so I am asking in good faith. Since the US and NATO won't provide a No Fly Zone do the new weapons have the ability to do what a No Fly Zone would?

[Walleye]

1. A no-fly zone would involve American pilots shooting down Russian planes. Not the same.

But to answer your question I think that they are intended to provide air security by shooting down planes and missiles from the ground

[Ocelot II]

2. It would also involve striking ground-based anti-aircraft weapons

located within Russia and Belarus. If you create a no-fly zone (more accurately called a combat air patrol) you also have to be able to protect it, which would mean not only shooting down Russian planes within Ukrainian airspace, but also taking out the ground-based weapons that are targeting US/NATO aircraft, some of which will be in Russian territory.

[brooklynite]

3. No they are not the same.

In a no fly zone US pilots would be shooting at Russian pilots.

[COL Mustard]

4. If they can keep the Russians from flying over Ukraine, then yes...

Essentially the same thing. As I understand US and NATO policy, we aren't going to widen the war by our direct involvement. There is no way we put US or NATO pilots in harm's way like that, when the Russians have already shown that they can strike most parts of Ukraine from Russian airspace, as they did over the weekend. In order to stop that type of attack, we would have to shoot down their planes in their airspace...a clear casus belli from their POV. However, if we're giving the Ukrainians the capability to shoot down Russian aircraft over Ukraine from the ground, then we don't have to put ourselves in that position. S-300s are a pretty potent air defense weapon, and Stingers can do the SHORAD mission well...they've been proven for a long time.

[orwell]

5. Watch this video from the 40 minute mark...

...it will answer the question about what is a No Fly Zone.

It will also tell you why setting up a no fly zone would benefit Putler.

&t=2471s

[BigmanPigman]

6. That was very helpful, thanks!!!