10 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Hmmmmm, wonder who is going to be maintaining them. Norway can donate all the F16s it wants if they can't be fixed, and it probably takes longer to train the guys that keep them flying than it does to cross train pilots to fly them.

I wonder if they'll try and sneak some Norwegian mechanics in.

 

Plus, they require lots of spares, so is Norway donating them as well? Can't fly if a part is broken. Computer systems? I have no doubt F16s have lots of computerisation, so do they have the specialists for them, also such as communications, weapons, protection systems. Are the runways fit for purpose?

 

It's never as simple as just handing over the keys and waving the planes goodbye.

 

BTW, all Russia has to do is send a missile or 50 to damage the runways before they land. Can't land one if there are a few potholes. It's not like they can build dozens of runways and they can't be disguised under a couple of cammo nets.

 

I could be wrong, but IMO this may turn out to be Leopard tanks version 2.

 

Never mind, just keep taking the pills and it'll all be over soon enough.

 

They are not the Wunderwaffe some think they are. Russian kit is much more robust and grunt proof, and they have the benefit of a unified, consolidated supply chain. The logistics nightmare of Western kit donated to Ukraine must be horrendously and fiendishly complicated.

 

https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-f-16-fighter-jets-war-russia-base-runway/

 

Falcons indeed need some adaptation — this is the preparation of the runways because the landing gear is more delicate in the MiGs, the wheels are small, the air intakes are low to the strip, there may be a danger of swallowing objects. But all this can be solved. There are risks for all aviation,” Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson of the Ukrainian air force, told POLITICO.

That care will extend to deploying teams with sealant to cover cracks and crevices or uneven concrete on runways as close to the frontline as possible to avoid making an obvious target out of just a few well-maintained sites, said Justin Bronk with the Royal United Services Institute think tank.  

“For a start, runways and taxi routes at multiple sites will need to be smooth and constantly checked for debris given how susceptible the low-slung, single-engine F-16s are to ground debris compared to MiG-29s,” he said.

1 hour ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Vladimir Putin may be weeks away from a breakthrough in Ukraine but the West is asleep - Comment
 

There is a growing understanding across the Western allies that Ukraine is losing the ground war against Russia, and by summer could face defeat.

Russia is pounding front lines with artillery, rocket and drone fire — and at over five times the rate the Ukrainian army can reply. Volodymyr Zelensky’s troops are exhausted — after sustaining in some sectors a heavier concentration of incoming artillery than at the Somme in 1916, or the Normandy Bocage after D-Day in 1944.

 

The Western alliance seems oddly at sixes and sevens. The American Ukraine policy is ensnared by congressional in-fighting. European partners like Germany, gas-strapped Italy and Spain covertly or overtly are looking for a soft deal with Russia.

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/ukraine-war-russia-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelensky-b1148294.html

 

Is that the UK Standard owned by  former Russian  KGB agent Alexander Lebedev oft referred to as one of the Russian Oligarchs? 

 

Didn't he work in foreign intelligence for Russia? Also as a KGB spy according to The Sunday Times.

 

From Italy: According to a report by the Italian External Intelligence and Security Agency, Lebedev's resignation from the FSB might have been fictitious and he "continued to participate in annual KGB meetings".  [ref]

 

1 minute ago, rabas said:

Is that the UK Standard owned by  former Russian  KGB agent Alexander Lebedev oft referred to as one of the Russian Oligarchs? 

 

Didn't he work in foreign intelligence for Russia? Also as a KGB spy according to The Sunday Times.

 

From Italy: According to a report by the Italian External Intelligence and Security Agency, Lebedev's resignation from the FSB might have been fictitious and he "continued to participate in annual KGB meetings".  [ref]

 

Well it is and the scandal of Boris Johnson disgracefully giving a peerage to his son still rages on. That said, the same claims are appearing across a wide range of Western MSM now - such as WAPO here. Tusk and Macrons call to arms are a reflection of the new reality. This is the author ;

 

Robert Fox, Journalist and broadcaster, Defence Correspondent for The Evening Standard and Senior Associate Fellow, Centre for Defence Studies, King's College London.

 

https://archive.is/gm41Z

 

“We are trying to find some way not to retreat,” Zelensky continued. After the Russian capture of Avdiivka in February, he said, “we have stabilized the situation because of smart steps by our military.” If the front remains stable, he said, Ukraine can arm and train new brigades in the rear to conduct a new counteroffensive later this year.
Zelensky summed up the zero-sum reality of this conflict: “If you are not taking steps forward to prepare another counteroffensive, Russia will take them. That’s what we learned in this war: If you don’t do it, Russia will do it.”

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/30/ukraine-war-briefing-us-aid-delays-could-force-ukrainian-troops-to-retreat-step-by-step-zelenskiy-warns

 

 

22 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Boris Johnson disgracefully giving a peerage to his son

Please provide a link to that statement!

12 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Please provide a link to that statement!

Nice one, but the rumour you are alluding to it's his daughter !

36 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Well it is and the scandal of Boris Johnson disgracefully giving a peerage to his son still rages on. That said, the same claims are appearing across a wide range of Western MSM now - such as WAPO here. Tusk and Macrons call to arms are a reflection of the new reality. This is the author ;

 

Robert Fox, Journalist and broadcaster, Defence Correspondent for The Evening Standard and Senior Associate Fellow, Centre for Defence Studies, King's College London.

 

https://archive.is/gm41Z

 

“We are trying to find some way not to retreat,” Zelensky continued. After the Russian capture of Avdiivka in February, he said, “we have stabilized the situation because of smart steps by our military.” If the front remains stable, he said, Ukraine can arm and train new brigades in the rear to conduct a new counteroffensive later this year.
Zelensky summed up the zero-sum reality of this conflict: “If you are not taking steps forward to prepare another counteroffensive, Russia will take them. That’s what we learned in this war: If you don’t do it, Russia will do it.”

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/30/ukraine-war-briefing-us-aid-delays-could-force-ukrainian-troops-to-retreat-step-by-step-zelenskiy-warns

 

 

The Guardian, I might have guessed.......😂

37 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Nice one, but the rumour you are alluding to it's his daughter !

Not my rumour but from @beautifulthailand99 !

What daughter, what peerage and what link?

15 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

 

Trump is a narcissistic, inward looking blowhard who is the answer to nothing. Who will spend most of his term in office if he wins, polishing his own dirty halo and working through revenge on his past grudges. The working class dispossessed that think he is the new Messiah will be just as worse off after he's gone and even more bitter. That said he's outside the magic circle of the beltway, and he gets building stuff not war and in that specific arena his opposition to ever more endless wars destroying people, influence and wealth are to be applauded. Whoever wins the US is f**cked anyway. It really is the devil and the deep blue sea. Basically, if you vote Biden/Harris you are getting the Obama White House.

I don't see anything to disagree with there.

 

I just think that if we are at such a pass that either of them ( and that means Harris ) are elected it's all over for the west anyway. If western politics is so bereft of good people that either of them becomes POTUS it's time to party hard as the fat lady will be singing any time soon. Like the man said, "better to burn out than to rust". I just hope I've passed over before our new overlords turn up.

Russia-Ukraine war – live: Kyiv fortifies with 10,000 ‘dragons teeth’ as Putin targets power plants

https://au.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-russia-war-live-putin-121324773.html

Why Ukraine will never give up, 2 years ago Bucha was liberated

 

Two Years Later, Massacre Of Ukrainian Civilians In Bucha Is 'Impossible To Forget'

 

 

 

 

later and aging but better than nothing

France to send ageing armored vehicles, advanced missiles to Ukraine

https://au.yahoo.com/news/france-send-ageing-armored-vehicles-170803083.html

Zelenskiy Vows Drone Strikes on Russia Despite US Dissent

https://au.yahoo.com/finance/news/zelenskiy-vows-more-drone-strikes-105627966.html

the guy will not stop at Ukraine, question is who's next, but it sure looks like there will be a next.... Moldova/Transnistria? Romania? Baltic States?

Putin signs conscription decree calling up 150,000 men for military service

https://au.yahoo.com/news/putin-signs-conscription-decree-calling-090105170.html

The West has the capability to halt Putin's brutal war - but does it have the resolve?

https://au.yahoo.com/news/west-capability-halt-putins-brutal-150400284.html

with the conscription of 150K Russian canon meat feed, the Baltic States do have to think about what can happen

Baltic states tell of Russian invasion fears in stark warning

https://au.yahoo.com/news/baltic-states-tell-russian-invasion-074201607.html

 

 

 

Ukrainians with little resources keep kicking the "so-called" 2nd best army in the World  555

Putin major assault fails with 12 tanks and 8 infantry vehicles 'destroyed' by Ukraine forces

https://au.yahoo.com/news/putin-battalion-sized-assault-fails-172611376.html

he did say the same thing before invading Crimea in 2014 and now before invading Ukraine, if that's the case why does he need conscription of 150K men, can't trust the sob

'Nonsense': Putin rules out attacks on NATO countries

https://au.yahoo.com/news/nonsense-putin-rules-attacks-nato-132209704.html

Lesbian Power Couple: Top Sniper and Machine-Gunner Are Taking on Putin’s Army

https://au.yahoo.com/news/lesbian-power-couple-top-sniper-044733367.html

On 3/30/2024 at 11:13 PM, beautifulthailand99 said:

Tusk and Macrons call to arms are a reflection of the new reality.

Perhaps Tusk and Macron should show what they are made of and go lead from the front. However if I were to bet a million $ that they will never go anywhere near an actual live bullet fired in anger I doubt I'd get any takers.

War mongers make me quite miffed, to be polite.

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Perhaps Tusk and Macron should show what they are made of and go lead from the front. However if I were to bet a million $ that they will never go anywhere near an actual live bullet fired in anger I doubt I'd get any takers.

War mongers make me quite miffed, to be polite.

Bit like Putin then..............

Please don't laugh  

 

The Ruskies idea of hiding a helicopter.....................

 

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1775094054444785745

 

 

Apparently called a Foxbat, Ukraine designed and built, bit smaller than a cessna.

Low slow and not very visible on radar, 5 hours flight to that drone factory

3 minutes ago, kwonitoy said:

 

Apparently called a Foxbat, Ukraine designed and built, bit smaller than a cessna

How can something that size get through Russian airspace? 

30 minutes ago, Wobblybob said:

How can something that size get through Russian airspace? 

 

Most of their radar is focused on the frontlines,

It's a VERY big country

This kind of plane is almost transparent to radar, very little metal, fabric covered wings etc

Precedent 

 

On May 28, 1987, West German Private Pilot Mathias Rust managed to make international headlines by flying his Reims Cessna 172P from Helsinki Finland to a spectacular landing in Moscow's Red Square. His flight was both an amazing achievement, and an immense humiliation to the Soviet War Machine.

1 minute ago, kwonitoy said:

 

Most of their radar is focused on the frontlines,

It's a VERY big country

This kind of plane is almost transparent to radar, very little metal, fabric covered wings etc

Precedent 

 

On May 28, 1987, West German Private Pilot Mathias Rust managed to make international headlines by flying his Reims Cessna 172P from Helsinki Finland to a spectacular landing in Moscow's Red Square. His flight was both an amazing achievement, and an immense humiliation to the Soviet War Machine.

Amazing, thanks. 

 

... here's a bit more on their quite far-ranging drones:

 

 

22 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Please don't laugh  

 

The Ruskies idea of hiding a helicopter.....................

 

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1775094054444785745

 

I couldn't hold it, had to laugh at so much stupidity 555

Bungling Russian helicopter pilots reveal site of 'decoy' fighter jets painted on air bases by landing on them

https://au.yahoo.com/news/bungling-russian-helicopter-pilots-reveal-105235749.html