[Goose]

Intersting wrinkle on the Su35 shootdown

https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-f16-sho...et-2082811

Per report Ukraine used a swedish Saab 340 AEW&C to guide the F16 and target the AMRAAM. If true this would represent a significant increase in Ukraine's air capabilities and could push russian air even further back from the front line. Main limitation is probably how much air time they can get on the Saab 340s and i think they only got the one of them. 
If tC

They have received one of the two they are scheduled to receive. The presence of these aircraft does greatly enhance Ukraine's ability to locate Russian air targets, including both aircraft and cruise missiles. The Russian air force has been using glide bombs with great success. Doing so has required approaching the line of contact. The ability of the AWACS to detect the Russian aircraft early and vector the F-16s to the correct area will make it much more risky for Russian air. The F-16 will not need to use its own radar until the last minute, if at all. This makes it more difficult for the Russian aircraft to know it is being targeted until it is too late. It also makes shooting down cruise missiles lots easier because the F-16 can be directed to them. They don't have to search as much.
 
Eyes in the sky are always a big help. Obviously the AWACS will be a sought-after target. The S-400 was designed as an AWACS-killer, among other things.
 
The main limitation on how effective this AWACS will be is the lack of sufficient numbers of F-16s. Shooting down an SU-35 is great, but doing that with regularity is the only way to deter Russia from continuing with its glide bomb attacks. There just aren't enough F-16s or F-16 pilots to do that. What could have been :-(.

[Goose]

Intersting wrinkle on the Su35 shootdown

https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-f16-sho...et-2082811

Per report Ukraine used a swedish Saab 340 AEW&C to guide the F16 and target the AMRAAM. If true this would represent a significant increase in Ukraine's air capabilities and could push russian air even further back from the front line. Main limitation is probably how much air time they can get on the Saab 340s and i think they only got the one of them. 
If tC

They have received one of the two they are scheduled to receive. The presence of these aircraft does greatly enhance Ukraine's ability to locate Russian air targets, including both aircraft and cruise missiles. The Russian air force has been using glide bombs with great success. Doing so has required approaching the line of contact. The ability of the AWACS to detect the Russian aircraft early and vector the F-16s to the correct area will make it much more risky for Russian air. The F-16 will not need to use its own radar until the last minute, if at all. This makes it more difficult for the Russian aircraft to know it is being targeted until it is too late. It also makes shooting down cruise missiles lots easier because the F-16 can be directed to them. They don't have to search as much.
 
Eyes in the sky are always a big help. Obviously the AWACS will be a sought-after target. The S-400 was designed as an AWACS-killer, among other things.
 
The main limitation on how effective this AWACS will be is the lack of sufficient numbers of F-16s. Shooting down an SU-35 is great, but doing that with regularity is the only way to deter Russia from continuing with its glide bomb attacks. There just aren't enough F-16s or F-16 pilots to do that. What could have been :-(.