It's funny how quickly the french scrambled to provide fighters once Ukraine started receiving F-16's. France is clearly eyeing a post-war future where Ukraine upgrades their fighter fleet. Old F-16 with trainers and trained pilots will make it easy for them to transition to newer F-16's or even F-35 while Mirage-2000 path leads directly to Rafale. They don't want to miss out on that.
Same reason there have been serious talks in Sweden now to provide older C Gripens that Ukraine could easily transition to E Gripens much later on.
K1052
Elite Member
- Aug 21, 2003
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From Ukraine's perspective it also provides a hedge against the US (Trump) cutting off F-16 parts/transfers.
Lockheed for their part will also exert pressure on the US government to avoid this happening because they are selling a lot of planes in Europe and this could risk their contracts.
kage69
Lifer
- Jul 17, 2003
- 29,479
- 41,999
- 136
I just hadn't heard the term Copperhead mentioned in any of the previous aid package rundowns, but I'll admit I didn't examine all of them. Looks like no joy on using drones for the painting, still have to use a chunky LTD on a tripod. Least you've got decent range I suppose. Far as I can tell, the Copperhead didn't show up until the Kursk offensive. Hope that means they have plenty. I think we gave more away to people fighting ISIS than we ever used ourselves.
Cheers to using old dusty stuff to kick orc ass!
Drach
Golden Member
- Apr 24, 2022
- 1,200
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- 106
Brovane
Diamond Member
- Dec 18, 2001
- 5,798
- 2,098
- 136
If you are going to link Tweets you should really make sure the person doing the Tweeting actually read the article and not just the headline.
kage69
Lifer
- Jul 17, 2003
- 29,479
- 41,999
- 136
Scratch another Russian Major General. Good riddance to Pavel Klimenko
"Pro-war publics and bloggers were the first to report the death of the 47-year-old. The circumstances of his death are still unknown. Klimenko was accused of organizing a torture camp and taking money from his subordinates in exchange for moving them off the front lines. An investigation by the online publication Astra in August said the torture camp organized by Klimenko was for Russian soldiers on the territory of an abandoned mine in Donetsk. The Russian soldiers sent there were forced to agree to participate in assault groups and had money extorted from them by the officers in charge of the camp, including Klimenko, Astra reported."
Really swell guy sounds like, I'm sure everyone's all broken up about it.
"Pro-war publics and bloggers were the first to report the death of the 47-year-old. The circumstances of his death are still unknown. Klimenko was accused of organizing a torture camp and taking money from his subordinates in exchange for moving them off the front lines. An investigation by the online publication Astra in August said the torture camp organized by Klimenko was for Russian soldiers on the territory of an abandoned mine in Donetsk. The Russian soldiers sent there were forced to agree to participate in assault groups and had money extorted from them by the officers in charge of the camp, including Klimenko, Astra reported."
Really swell guy sounds like, I'm sure everyone's all broken up about it.
K1052
Elite Member
- Aug 21, 2003
- 49,324
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Probably coming soon to like everywhere in Russia.
K1052
Elite Member
- Aug 21, 2003
- 49,324
- 39,674
- 136
Will they use canon balls or north koreans ?
K1052
Elite Member
- Aug 21, 2003
- 49,324
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Honestly easier to build a modest centrifuge cascade than reprocessing spent fuel for Pu but you get the idea.
Jaskalas
Lifer
- Jun 23, 2004
- 34,352
- 8,382
- 136
Ukraine needs to be rapidly industrializing their nuclear breakout ability.
On principle I oppose any and all nuclear proliferation.
But if nuclear powers get to ride in and slaughter the unarmed, then becoming armed is the ONLY choice. For the entire planet, everyone and their dog.
I still oppose the idea of it, but the practical need is beyond immediate. To stop Russia, China, and others from ending life. They must be met by a nuclear deterrent.
In our abject failure to protect smaller nations, smaller nations (everyone) must protect themselves. This is the only way.
On principle I oppose any and all nuclear proliferation.
But if nuclear powers get to ride in and slaughter the unarmed, then becoming armed is the ONLY choice. For the entire planet, everyone and their dog.
I still oppose the idea of it, but the practical need is beyond immediate. To stop Russia, China, and others from ending life. They must be met by a nuclear deterrent.
In our abject failure to protect smaller nations, smaller nations (everyone) must protect themselves. This is the only way.
Artorias
Platinum Member
- Feb 8, 2014
- 2,163
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The silver lining to a reduction in American support is that it hopefully engages the Europeans to finally realize they have to be self sufficient.
EU needs to stand together and I'm not opposed to Germany becoming one of the big boys again militarily.
To long have the EU nations used NATO as a crutch.
Besides the American should probably focus eastward to the Chinese, and Taiwan which has greater global consequences.
Sorry to sound brutal towards Ukrainians, but their not going to risk their neck for you, that much is clear at this point, and is unlikely to change. America and EU could end this war in a week, or Russia escalates. The status quo sucks, but it is what it is.
EU needs to stand together and I'm not opposed to Germany becoming one of the big boys again militarily.
To long have the EU nations used NATO as a crutch.
Besides the American should probably focus eastward to the Chinese, and Taiwan which has greater global consequences.
Sorry to sound brutal towards Ukrainians, but their not going to risk their neck for you, that much is clear at this point, and is unlikely to change. America and EU could end this war in a week, or Russia escalates. The status quo sucks, but it is what it is.
Brainonska511
Lifer
- Dec 10, 2005
- 25,907
- 9,317
- 136
Is that a silver lining? Because if they can support themselves more, they'll also be more liable to just tell the US to pound sand when we want their help with something.
K1052
Elite Member
- Aug 21, 2003
- 49,324
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Yeah if we abandon NATO and do a trade war with the EU they're going to tell us exactly what we can go do with ourselves. The price of influence is engagement.
Brovane
Diamond Member
- Dec 18, 2001
- 5,798
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It wouldn't be just Ukraine going nuclear. Germany, Poland, Finland, Sweden etc. could also easily develop, build and deploy nuclear weapons if they choose to. US withdraw and disengagement from Europe would force their hand.
cytg111
Lifer
- Mar 17, 2008
- 24,521
- 13,981
- 136
The same psyops bullshit that got you DJT is also going on throughout Europe. As a deterrent the sun in a can is not the only measure we need. We need a different kind of firewall.
Jaskalas
Lifer
- Jun 23, 2004
- 34,352
- 8,382
- 136
As I said. It must be the entire planet.
Obtain nuclear deterrence, or a big fish will eat the little fish.
NATO with some 1 billion population is letting Russia with 150 million people overrun Europe's second largest country.
That is the lesson of Europe's greatest Genocide since WW2.
No one is safe anymore. No one.
First time I’ve seen Ukrainian Leopard tanks in direct engagement against orc AFVs.
K1052
Elite Member
- Aug 21, 2003
- 49,324
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Ukraine could end up being an important supplier of delivery systems for such weapons. They have the expertise in cruise and ballistic missile design and would not be a potential future political problem (unlike the Germans/French). They'll just sell stuff for countries who want to roll their own nukes.
Brovane
Diamond Member
- Dec 18, 2001
- 5,798
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Some people don't realize that Ukraine had some home grown very advanced missile systems of it's own.
Ukraine's Home-built Long Range Ballistic Missile
K1052
Elite Member
- Aug 21, 2003
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Yeah the only other people on the continent who make their own ballistic missiles is France. UK gets Tridents from us. Poland will eventually be making KTSSMs once South Korean tech transfer is completed and they can get up and running but for deterrent use going to want something with greater range.
K1052
Elite Member
- Aug 21, 2003
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DPRK 170mm howitzers seen getting shipped thru Russia. Analysis of the Russian 2S7 203mm fleet indicates that these units are probably mostly out of service now due to barrel shortages and a lack of decent condition vehicles so this is sorta a replacement. Unclear if Russian or DPRK troops will operate them.
https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3law64f6bks2b
https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3law64f6bks2b
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