Raptor341

ISW's take on Ukraines campaign against Russian air defenses.

Looks like this might be happening:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/g7-leaders-finalizing-deal-to-use-frozen-russian-assets-to-fund-ukraine-war-efforts-1.6924866

Maybe the argument laid out in the article is overstating it, but there's been quite a rash of exploding air defense batteries in Crimea, it is interesting how those in Crimea seem to disappear more than other parts of the Russian occupied zones. Article suggests that Ukraine is gradually setting the stage to strangling Crimea and enable F-16s to be used to target Crimea. 
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/ukraine-is-making-the-russian-occupation-of-crimea-untenable/

What is cool about this topic is we are basically untouchable by paid Russian trolls/bots here...We are like the Untouchables starring Kevin Costner. 😀
We are a group of a dozen or so well informed guys who post here on a regular basis. By this point we know each other's posting styles and online personalities quite well.
When some new account comes in pushing pro-Russian propaganda it is ridiculously easy to spot. It is not like on Twitter, Reddit, YouTube or some online newspaper comment section where they and can use fake accounts to upvote their nonsense, and blend in easier because of how many users are on those platforms.

Sanctions expanded on Russia including IT sector, Moscow Stock Exchange will be halting trading of dollar. 
 

So why is this guy still here?  I mean I get counter thinking and all but this is not “thinking”.  “Clear superiority”?!  A global power who outspent a weaker opponent by nearly 10 to 1 before the war just got pantsed and punked on the global stage.  They are coming up on 1/2 million casualties as they “invade” Ukraine 100 feet at a time.
Russia will run out of gas, is running out of gas and best of all will be next to useless militarily for a decade…all for another 8-10 percent of Ukraine, which they now cannot use because it will be contaminated by mines and UXOs for another century.
Yet, this guy demonstrates the height of “classy” by crowing Russian tactical successes at every turn in complete absence of the operational and strategic picture:
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-11-2024
So I do have to ask what value this individual is providing? These are not valid points. This is bald face Russian propaganda.

So, we lost two villages. The end of war?

Intersteng - Argentina can hand over to France for refurbishing and modernization five Super Etendart bombers, which France then will hands over to Ukraine. Echo of Folklands %) UK, prepare Hurriers !
https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2024/06/12/novyna/bezpeka/ukrayina-mozhe-otrymaty-arhentyny-partiyu-nadzvukovyx-bojovyx-litakiv-zmi

I have to admit that these next two make me a little uncomfortable
 

A U.S Patriot battery currently in Poland will be given to Ukraine soon. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/11/us/politics/patriot-missiles-ukraine-war.html
 

There's also this:
Czech Republic hands over 9 cogeneration units to Kharkiv
https://gwaramedia.com/en/czech-republic-hands-over-9-cogeneration-units-to-kharkiv/

We have the Lynx, which if one squints could pass for an M114.  But these will be in the Canadian TOEs

As we are expanding back to 1976 for BOAR, I can say that the Sheridan is definitely on the wish list of new vehicles.  And our wish list is looking good.
Oh and thanks for the kind words on Lions ‘79….

I envy anyone who only uses “X” to follow non-political topics. Seriously following this war on Twitter sometimes feels like swimming in a sewer with how much Russian trolls you can find and idiots who repeat said trolls talking points.

I also like astronomy, some of the most relaxing moments I can remember is just spending time with my Celestron telescope watching the night sky during summer. Not that big of a wrestling fan, I’m more into boxing. by the way congratulations to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk for winning the undisputed heavyweight title. One of the best matches I have ever seen. He knew he was not just fighting for the title he was fighting to lift the spirit of his whole country.

Anyway, here is some content from the sewer known as X that I wanted to share with you guys today.

Watching Ukrainian pilots shoot these things never gets old, bonus points for the way the sun looks in this video, Reminds me of the movie Top Gun. 😎
The folks running Rheinmetall have been great during this war. 🙂

long thread with twitter videos, from the 2024 Fires Symposium. 
 
 

Speaker of Air Forces Command told in own interview that Ukraine through several weeks at last will strart tests of own kits for converting usual bombs to gliding bombs - analog of JDAM-ER. It's very sad, first offers of development of such devices were as far as in 2017-18, but neither General Staff, nor MoD didn't interested in this. GS because own dumb Soviet conservatism, MoD because "who will pay for this?" We lost several years, in that time when Russia actively researched and experimented with own UMPK proigram and Turkey already had own kits for converting usual FABs to guided bombs, which they supplied to Azerbaidzhan and theese weapon was very effective
Also he told that Su-25 were adopted for French AASM/Hammer missile-bombs . He said in first year of war Su-25 exhausted almost all stocks of unguided rockets. In next years there were supplies of these rockets from other countries and Zuni rockets from USA, but they also were almost waisted. So, was made a decision to adopt Su-25 to precision weapon, beacuse renewing of unguided rockets on the west was not feasible.
 
 

Fresh detaiuled satellite photos of Akhtubinsk airfield where Su-57 were hit
Russian TG Fighterbomber claims not one, but two Su-57 got damages. But he writes the second jet got very light damages, which will be  repaired on airfield. The second jet was damaged much badly and now will be assesments about feasibility of repair. Fighterbomber claims this damged Su-57 is a prototype and wasn't involved in combat work, so mayve by this reason this aircraft may not be repaired. 
In 2010-2017 total 10 flying prototypes and test batch aircrafts were produced. Serial producing was launched in 2019 and first serial batch had to be 12 Su-57. Total number of orderd jets is 76 for rearmament of three fighter aviation reginents up to 2028. By assesment 15 Su-57 now in service (including first 10 prototypes), but only half of them are combat ready. 

 
 
 

I wonder is Budanov smiles now?
Reportedly In Barentsev Sea "Admiral Levchenko" pr.1155 ASW-frigade (some media mistakingly named it as "destroyer") is on fire. Aleegedly because of engine failure.

Aw, remember when the Kharkiv thing was “the beginning of the end?” The RA was going to drive up from the south and “link up”?  Big red arrows all over the place?  Imminent Ukrainian collapse?
In the end more Russian leg humping; horrendous loses for next to zero gains.