General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf Russia is actually flying 300 sorties in a day over Ukraine
It is pretty clear their air defense is no longer able to keep the sky contested. Any clue if Ukraine's going to get anything else to help them out yet? Those S-300s/400s coming through yet???
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2973395/senior-defense-official-holds-a-background-briefing/
CanonRay
(14,080 posts)I find it hard to believe they're able to do that when Russian pilots usually only get 8 hours a month flying time.
ColinC
(8,277 posts)Link to tweet
?s=20&t=omeIrXcIIn5EmxLHga-5nQ
Kaleva
(36,240 posts)"What I would tell you is that in the last 24/48 hours we have seen air activity from both sides increase. I mean, the Russians flew more than 300 sorties in the last 24 hours and the Ukrainians have likewise picked up the pace of sorties, I'm not going to get into their numbers. But they've picked up their pace of flying as well."
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2973395/senior-defense-official-holds-a-background-briefing/
looks like RU hasn't achieved air superiority yet.
ColinC
(8,277 posts)To get that many jets over Ukraine makes me think substantially more air defense would be helpful.
Kaleva
(36,240 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Military jets and planes require a lot of upkeep and maintenance, and I'm not sure where Russia is going to get replacement parts for all the aircraft that are going to need it. It'd be a damn shame if Russia was bereft of offensive air power in pursuit of Putin's . . . well, whatever Putin's goal is.
yagotme
(2,911 posts)Lots of wear and tear on those aircraft, can Russia easily replace what they're wearing out???
relayerbob
(6,536 posts)They increased some in the last day or so, and *this* is critical info: "And a good number of Russian sorties never leave Russian airspace or Belarusian airspace. They're not not venturing very far or for very long into Ukrainian airspace. Because, again, the Ukrainians have been -- they have been defending their airspace with great dexterity."
The sorties can include airborne recon, elint and defensive CAP to ensure that Ukraine doesn't start going after their airbases next. Read the whole answer, don't just cherry pick the part you personally find the most scary.