What happened to Russias Air Force? U.S. officials, experts stumped

Post by redisman » Wed, Mar 02, 2022, 9:08 PM UTC

ukraineally wrote: post #193

aix1 wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's hard to be sure, but he is now surrounded by (ex?) multibillionnaires who have all of a sudden lost much of the ability to enjoy their airplanes, yachts, houses etc, ONLY because of voices in Putin's head telling him about his historic mission (or whatever those voices are telling him). I think his life expectancy has gone down as of about a week ago.

>It's hard to be sure, but he is now surrounded by (ex?) multibillionnaires who have all of a sudden lost much of the ability to enjoy their airplanes, yachts, houses etc, ONLY because of voices in Putin's head telling him about his historic mission (or whatever those voices are telling him). On paper they are still billionaires because the stock exchange was shutdown. I really don't know how much power they have exa…

Post by tguvot » Wed, Mar 02, 2022, 9:10 PM UTC

akimball wrote: post #489

tguvot wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

maybe they were avoiding in few first days, but gloves are off now because they are failing to advance. planes are bombing cities in residential areas (i have relatives in kharkiv). heavy artillery, etc. there is footage that looks like footage from WWII, of residential neighborhoods of apartment complexes in rubble and half collapsed buildings on fire.

This is destroying Putin's legitimacy in Russia too

Post by oezi » Wed, Mar 02, 2022, 9:11 PM UTC

ginko wrote: post #421

LAC-Tech wrote: post #245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Russias military budget is only slightly higher than that of the UK (61.7 billion vs 59.2 billion), even though Russia has a bit more than twice the UK population. France and Germany aren't far behind - 52.8 billion and 52.7 billion respectively. I believe Germany recently pledged to raise it's military spending to 100 billion (a lot of flashy headlines but couldn't find details), so soon it will far outspend Russia.

>I believe Germany recently pledged to raise it's military spending to 100 billion (a lot of flashy headlines but couldn't find details), so soon it will far outspend Russia. Not to 100 billion, by 100 billion. Euros that is. https://www-tagesschau-de.translate.goog/inland/innenpolitik...

Post by littlestymaar » Wed, Mar 02, 2022, 9:11 PM UTC

simonh wrote: post #467

littlestymaar wrote: post #453

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Russia doesn't have a big track military track record in recent years, but there's one thing that they have proven to do really well: leveling a city to the ground while slaughtering the civilians who didn't flee. Having the Ukrainian legitimate government agree to surrender to save Kiev (or “just” Khariv) from such a fate isn't completely impossible to imagine. And giving infantry weapons isn't going to be enough to…

That thing is only really useful against static, or near static high value targets. Against insurgents dispersed across the countryside with Javelins the weapon itself is effectively useless while the aircraft delivering it is still vulnerable.

Post by dogleash » Wed, Mar 02, 2022, 9:13 PM UTC

vintermann wrote: post #277

_moof wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing all the engineers you know are web software pukes. There are loads of people who could build these today.

Oh, I'm pretty sure the stuff we "web software pukes" have to work with would drive all those old-timer Real Engineers crazy in its own way. It's a bit like how a middle school teacher doesn't necessarily have an easier job than a prestigious professor.