Ukraine conflict

Quote: rxwine

That too, but I was thinking more militarily. They could be digging tunnels under Russia so Ukrainians could pop up on the other side well into Russia territory. Things along that line. I know we're likely using AWACS but so do the Russians.

The general public does not realize how many CIA assets we have in Ukraine. The CIA has been working closely with Ukraine for over 5 years. I am most interested in when Ukraine will put boots on the ground in Crimea. My guess is it will be before the end of the year.

I was just watching this video on the F-22 fighter. I did not realize it first flew in 1997. For some reason I thought is was only 10 to 15 years old. It is still the stealthiest aircraft in production by a large amount. Supposedly 100 times smaller radar signature than the new Chinese stealth fighters and more thrust than the SR-71. Pretty incredible for an old piece of technology that was designed in 1985.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9FD6VrWMCc

Quote:

It is a classic Russian tactic for drones or cruise missiles to attack targets in Ukraine by approaching from friendly countries. This forces Ukrainians to keep air defense systems in these areas, which could otherwise be deployed in more critical regions like the Donetsk Oblast.

Interesting tactic. It also causes problems for the neighboring countries because these short incursions cause them to scramble their jets.

A couple huge successes for Ukraine. Two huge ammo depots blown up and another airport near Tikhoretsk.

Rumor is Ukraine may have destroyed an ICBM on the ground. Considering the enormous size, I wouldn't want to be within half a mile of it even if there was no explosive.

Putin could be planning to incinerate Kiev with an atom bomb and then say to the world, what are going to do about it. And that may be it. War over.

Quote: rxwine

Putin could be planning to incinerate Kiev with an atom bomb and then say to the world, what are going to do about it. And that may be it. War over.

Russia wouldn't be left with a ship in their fleet larger than a rowboat after the US gets through with them, if Putin nukes Kiev. Putin isn't that dumb.

Quote: GenoDRPh

Russia wouldn't be left with a ship in their fleet larger than a rowboat after the US gets through with them, if Putin nukes Kiev. Putin isn't that dumb.

It's a high risk move. The idea is to take out Kiev and leadership and then completely stop and hope that the US and others won't decide to escalate with a nuclear counter strike. Bad as the Russia war machine might actually be, I'm not sure in such a scenario the US and Europe wouldn't want to risk losing 100k lives or more if Russia aimed at the west. Or worse, going to a full out exchange.

I'd have to imagine a mushroom cloud over Ukraine, everyone would be checking their radars for any outgoing missiles and seeing none might cause paralysis among US and allies to do anything drastic.

Quote: GenoDRPh

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Looking_Glass

the article doesn't say the guys underground don't need to be there with their keys. One interpretation: they need to receive launch codes, which the planes can do when other communications are defunct.

Maybe the airplane can launch them without ground involvement as this guy told you, but the article doesn't say so, and I'd like to think not