Aaron Barrett79 said:There’s nothing left to transfer from our Mi-24 fleet except maybe some scrap metal. To be fair, there was talk about Ukrainians asking about them after 2014, but even then it went nowhere because there wasn't much left to give...
If they had bothered to cover them with some kind of waterproof tarp, they wouldn't be sitting there rusting away.
On another note, I'm reading reports that the Germans might donate or sell their Leopards within three months—by which point this entire battle will likely be over. Honestly, I find it hard to believe how foolish some people can be.
According to reports from The Washington Post, the latest aid package might include weapon systems that the USA hasn't provided to Ukraine quite yet. Their sources suggest we could see Mil Mi-17 helicopters outfitted with specialized equipment designed to strike Russian vehicles, alongside armored Humvees and various other armaments. The proposed assistance also reportedly encompasses howitzers, drones, and essential protective gear for soldiers to defend against potential chemical, biological, or nuclear threats. That being said, it remains somewhat uncertain whether this entire suite of weaponry will ultimately make the final cut once the White House gives its official approval.
darkrider55 said:I was wondering, could we actually launch those Harpoons from land? Honestly, I think that would be the absolute best way to handle it. 🤔
3.8 meters for the air-launched version 4.6 meters for the submarine and land-based versions
I believe those are likely the longer variants we're looking at.
nimbleharbor10 said:$17 million apiece is a total rip-off.
Germans have always had a reputation for being quite stingy, if you ask me. Personally, I believe this amount of armor should be more than enough for Ukraine; what they truly need is a steady influx of Javelins, more small rocket systems, and plenty of drones—then we'll see the Russians flying through the air.
Nancy Gomez26 said:Can someone please explain what the Russian Federation actually does with the revenue they pull from selling gas to the EU? What can they even accomplish with those funds once they've been cleared? I should clarify—I'm not talking about physical piles of cash, but rather simple digital entries sitting in some computer database somewhere.
They are essentially purchasing things they don't actually possess, since nobody else is willing to touch the Ruble.
Unless those Russian oil and gas pipelines are shut down completely, the Russians aren't going to budge; I truly believe we ought to consider this move as soon as possible. After all, summer is just around the corner, and we simply won't be needing the heating.
Morgan Wright5 said:I suspect it almost doesn't matter which aircraft we ended up purchasing. Honestly, none of the options on the table would have integrated seamlessly into our current framework anyway. It felt more like we had to build the entire infrastructure from the ground up first, and then select a plane that actually fit that newly designed system.
The Rafale features a twin-engine configuration, which provides a much-needed safety margin against engine failure; I’d say it was quite a prudent investment.
Timothy Nelson5 said:People seem to forget that Ukraine didn't exactly declare independence just last month. They have an army, and honestly, it isn't some incompetent mess.
About a month and a half ago, they managed to halt an entire armored push toward Kyiv, even if they were caught off guard.
Now, the force ratio might even be tilting in Ukraine's favor. It’s probably not about whether the Russians can make some minor breakthrough here or there... I guess the real question is whether they can actually sustain those losses long-term, and how the Russian public is going to react once they finally catch wind of what's really happening.
Well, I doubt the public will care much; they’re acting like mindless drones, much like those folks who were waving flowers at tanks heading toward El Paso. Honestly, one has to wonder what kind of person would truly believe they are marching in to liberate anyone from Nazis.
stormygardener15 said:If you just search "CIA Ukraine War," you'll find plenty of info showing that the CIA basically called all of this and got the intel to the Ukrainians right when it mattered. Honestly, if you look up the Battle of Kyiv, you'll see the timeline of the fight. The Ukrainians weren't blindsided by any of this; if anything, I'd say they saw it coming. Maybe they should have gone for a bigger mobilization earlier, but whether that was a massive screw-up or a calculated move to keep the Russians from sniffing out their plans is just speculation on my part.
I get the sense that the CIA has absolutely wrecked the Russians, literally dismantled them through everything they've been doing since 2014.
It is certainly true that the sheer readiness and motivation displayed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces caught just about everyone by surprise.
It is quite evident that they simply don't stand a chance in an open field engagement; instead, they really need to leverage those Javelins and Stinger missiles to strike from the flanks, especially since the skies are no longer a safe haven for the Russians.
There are reports circulating that these Australian armored vehicles are actually driving right over minefields—I wonder if they're somehow neutralizing them on the fly, but if this turns out to be true, it's quite an impressive feat; it would mean all that Russian mining was essentially for nothing. Here is the detail:
Australia has also stepped up by announcing the shipment of heavier weaponry, specifically donating their Bushmaster light armored vehicles. These units are designed to protect against mines and small arms fire, and they have the capacity to transport up to ten soldiers at speeds of up to 62 miles/h.
It appears that Russ intends to manufacture Ladds stripped of all modern electronics; one can only assume this approach will eventually extend to their aircraft and tanks as well.