https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-military-c...36386.html
This article confirms that "Ukraine has not been supplied with Link-16". Exactly how that statement should be interpreted is unclear, but in so far as it is true it definitely handicaps Ukraine considerably. I can understand that equipping each and every F-16 with Link-16 may be considered too much of a security risk, as F-16s can and will get shot down, possibly in Russian controlled territory. However, I would be quite upset if the Ukrainian Air Defense center doesn't have it. They are as "secure" as anything can ever be in war. They are well inside Ukrainian territory. They are privy to lots of US classified information. Knowing what the US "sees" in the battlespace has to be important in responding to the ongoing Russian attacks. They could also then see the information gathered from any Ukrainian Link-16 operators. That synergy would be formidable. I just can't imagine we would not provide that capability. Yet, unless this is an intentional disinformation operation, we are not.
The US has to know that some Link-16 equipped aircraft have crashed in Iraq and Afghanistan under circumstances where the Link-16 hardware may have been compromised. Virtually all allies have Link-16 equipped aircraft. I am virtually certain the Russians have obtained the manuals. In theory, even if you have the hardware itself without the codes it is useless. IMO the benefits to Ukraine of using Link-16 tactically are worth the risk. The US presumably has taken into account that if the US is fighting a war the enemy will undoubtedly capture some Link-16 hardware.
The mud season starts approximately the end of the month, give or take. It makes supplying troops difficult. The fact it inhibits mechanized operations almost doesn't matter in this war, but logistics does. Unfortunately, it also affects both sides. This year, Russia may try to keep the pressure on Ukraine as much as they possibly can. Russia seems to believe they have the upper hand in the Donbas and will try to press Ukraine as opposed to hunkering down. This will of course put pressure on Russia too. Let's hope it does them more harm than good!
This article confirms that "Ukraine has not been supplied with Link-16". Exactly how that statement should be interpreted is unclear, but in so far as it is true it definitely handicaps Ukraine considerably. I can understand that equipping each and every F-16 with Link-16 may be considered too much of a security risk, as F-16s can and will get shot down, possibly in Russian controlled territory. However, I would be quite upset if the Ukrainian Air Defense center doesn't have it. They are as "secure" as anything can ever be in war. They are well inside Ukrainian territory. They are privy to lots of US classified information. Knowing what the US "sees" in the battlespace has to be important in responding to the ongoing Russian attacks. They could also then see the information gathered from any Ukrainian Link-16 operators. That synergy would be formidable. I just can't imagine we would not provide that capability. Yet, unless this is an intentional disinformation operation, we are not.
The US has to know that some Link-16 equipped aircraft have crashed in Iraq and Afghanistan under circumstances where the Link-16 hardware may have been compromised. Virtually all allies have Link-16 equipped aircraft. I am virtually certain the Russians have obtained the manuals. In theory, even if you have the hardware itself without the codes it is useless. IMO the benefits to Ukraine of using Link-16 tactically are worth the risk. The US presumably has taken into account that if the US is fighting a war the enemy will undoubtedly capture some Link-16 hardware.
(10-08-2024, 05:38 PM)TrumpCard Wrote: Will the weather soon be on the Ukrainians' side? Does not seem like much good has happened recently, so the Ukrainians might benefit from a reduction in battlefield activity with both sides hunkering down.https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/10/02/f...son-looms/
The mud season starts approximately the end of the month, give or take. It makes supplying troops difficult. The fact it inhibits mechanized operations almost doesn't matter in this war, but logistics does. Unfortunately, it also affects both sides. This year, Russia may try to keep the pressure on Ukraine as much as they possibly can. Russia seems to believe they have the upper hand in the Donbas and will try to press Ukraine as opposed to hunkering down. This will of course put pressure on Russia too. Let's hope it does them more harm than good!