Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Zero.

I've said it on thread already, I believe we should be returning any Russians that are already here. The "not political" cohort can suffer the consequences of their apathy towards their country's criminality (and worsen it's economic situation when they arrive in need of housing, welfare etc.) and, given our own history of rebellion and the expertise in counter-terrorism within our defence forces, I'd imagine our defence forces could put together some pretty good training in insurgency for those who genuinely oppose Putin.

Never been, no. I try to avoid supporting terrorist regimes with my recreational travel.

If elections are rigged and protests are ignored (or quashed), there's an obvious next step: full scale rebellion. Given that the demographics of the Russians fleeing to live in our more civilised Western world skew towards the college educated young, it shouldn't be that hard to help out such a rebellion with a million or more men of fighting age by sending them home (preferably armed and trained).

Any Russian who considers himself a patriot should be dying in the streets of Moscow fighting the criminals in charge of his own country instead of pillaging, raping and murdering his way across Ukraine.

Decent article giving a summary of the situation.

"imagine the propaganda if a kinzhal missile was shot down."

Kinzhal missile successfully intercepted a missile launched from a patriot AD system - Putin

Russia has systematically attacked and shelled and threatened nuclear power stations in Ukraine with little regard for safety.

They are repeatedly hitting energy infrastructure which powers nuclear power stations - with no regard for the consequences.

They've even openly discussed nuking Ukraine.

Does it really need to be spelt out in any more obvious terms?

The SAMP/T system is due to be delivered in the next few weeks (start of Feb France/Italy said 7-8 weeks). No update on The Patriot system yet.

They can fly them now, sure, but can they do what they want to be able to do? No.

I am just passing on what I have read the Ukrainians say themselves as to why they want more modern western aircraft. The first is the AA radars, targeting and tracking are vastly more advanced and sophisticated, meaning they get a large edge on the SU-34 and their ilk, so when it comes to providing air cover, they can do a better job with a greater chance of survival. At the moment they are seriously outclassed with 1980's era SU-27s up against a couple decades younger SU-32s and 35s. The other feature is the hugely superior ground attack and target designation systems which would hugely improve their ground attack and fire suppression capabilities.

The big killer feature is they can carry and deploy a very wide range of sophisticated western munitions and exploit those to their full capabilities. You can't retrofit all of the capabilities and firing/targeting requirements of these munitions to Mig-29s. They have managed to cobble together a basic way to get HARM and JDAMs to work, but they can't be used to their full capabilities because the systems in the cockpit and electronics bay simply aren't there.

I shall see if I can find an explanation the UAF representative gave on a Telegram channel, that I read. The way he put it made it out to be a clear chalk and cheese difference.

Here's the thing. I have said multiple times that people in the west should stop telling Ukraine what it bloody needs - condescending or what? They are not stupid; they have just as many aviation mil nerds and geeks as we do and their pilots have been training with US pilots for nearly 30 years.

In 2018 the US and UA held a joint exercise called Clear Sky. Over 40 aircraft and all their support crew took part - in Ukraine. This is well worth a look and might give a sense as to the Ie Ukrainians know what western aircraft, systems and weapons can do:

A Ukrainian pilot being shown an F-15C

At the start of this war, the youngest of Ukraine's jets was built in 1991.

It's as if I were to write out your families shopping list for the week and you had to cook and eat what I chose for you.

The Ukrainians know that it will take 3 months to get operational at a basic level and 6 months to become really proficient, but it's still what they want and are asking for. You, me, Gen Miley, Stoltenberg - no one in the West knows better than the Ukrainians what they need. They are the worlds greatest experts on combat operations against Orc forces. Even US pilots have said they know more than them when it comes to flying against Orc fighter jets.

So saying more of the same - Mig-29s - is the best thing for Ukraine, is simply wrong. A Polish Mig-29 is not somehow magically better against an SU-35.

Jesus, you're not even going to try to hide your affiliation are you?

"Absorbed into Russia" "100% part of Russia". Are you being paid in Crypto, or in Rubles so you can head down to the corner shop afterwards to get your daily ration of "Victory Gin"?

You remember last year at the same country the Russians where caught red handed trying to erase a nation and systematiclly rape & murder civilians in the process? I remember.

Nothing in that say's they have actually recruited and deployed afghans to Ukraine or elsewhere

It does Mach 10-12.

The US modified the AIM-54 to intercept satellities in low orbit and it's speed was increased to greater than Mach 5. The kinzahal is more than double the length of an AIM-54 and its warhead payload is greter than the entire weight of the AIM-54.

According a German investigation. Details below. Not much else confirmed.

I think the continued strikes on Ukrainian civilians from deep inside russia and the Black sea must give the green light for improving the long range strike capabilities for Ukraine. NATO needs to let russia know it will no longer restrain itself from providing the longer ranged attack systems when these types of terrorist actions continue. Saw a report from the early hours of the morning on reddit saying the russian aircraft were airborne and an attack imminent. Fighter aircraft with long range antiaircraft missiles and long range missiles to hit russian military bases from where these attacks are being launched should now be a priority for Ukraine. Russians hitting the electric grid of Ukraine when it could start a nuclear meltdown in Europe's largest nuclear power plant is enough of a reason for this to happen now.

Again the Baltics continue to impress. As promised Latvia are now taking seized cars from drunk drivers and sending them to Ukraine (to be used by Ukr military and hospitals)