[Goose]

This is a deep dive into the deficiencies in the Russian Air Force. I’ve heard some critiques of the article, but I think it is directionally correct.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...ne/629803/

I heard a Ukrainian pilot interviewed, and he basically said that the Russian pilots are flying scared, and that the minute there is any sort of engagement, they fly back to safe territory. Hard to do effective sorties that way.

BC

The Russian pilots are doing the minimum and are coming home alive. Smarter than the average bear. The Ukrainian pilot is probably exactly correct. Given the disparity of numbers, Russia could exchange jets at a 1:1 or maybe even a 1:2 ratio until there were no more Ukrainian jets. The Russian pilots understandably don't care for that tactical approach.

The Atlantic article does have some problems IMHO. As it does point out, Russia has always emphasized tac air. Given that, why is their tac air effort so ineffective? My answer is that Russia has no SEAD/DEAD plan, their pilots know this, and aren't suicidal. In Syria, they didn't need one. In Ukraine, they do.

[Goose]

This is a deep dive into the deficiencies in the Russian Air Force. I’ve heard some critiques of the article, but I think it is directionally correct.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...ne/629803/

I heard a Ukrainian pilot interviewed, and he basically said that the Russian pilots are flying scared, and that the minute there is any sort of engagement, they fly back to safe territory. Hard to do effective sorties that way.

BC

The Russian pilots are doing the minimum and are coming home alive. Smarter than the average bear. The Ukrainian pilot is probably exactly correct. Given the disparity of numbers, Russia could exchange jets at a 1:1 or maybe even a 1:2 ratio until there were no more Ukrainian jets. The Russian pilots understandably don't care for that tactical approach.

The Atlantic article does have some problems IMHO. As it does point out, Russia has always emphasized tac air. Given that, why is their tac air effort so ineffective? My answer is that Russia has no SEAD/DEAD plan, their pilots know this, and aren't suicidal. In Syria, they didn't need one. In Ukraine, they do.