IMO the worst designed AFV of Russian/Soviet origin in the last half century. It should have been mothballed, but for some reason they decided to keep it roaming. Technically the T-14 is in roughly the same state - no known program of record (anymore), only a handful of machines made, used for testing purposes only, but it wasn't even sighted in Ukraine.
Really? We've been operating them since the early 2000s, deploying them in an air defence role. They've been sold as functioning combat aircraft. The RAF spent money on upgrading our early Tranche 1s to the same standard as later Tranche 1s, specifically to add more combat abilities, so they could do air to ground as well as air to air. We bought 53 of them, mostly single-seater.An RAF source said it was nonsense to think the UK could offer fast jets to Ukraine.
"Tranche 1 [Typhoon] are just training aircraft no good for combat," the source said.
Tr.1 air-to-ground capabilities are extremely basic and, since Ukrainians are using planes only in ground support roles ( it is simply impossible to counter Russian mig-31s in their a-a dome ), I suppose Tranche 1s are really not useful to them.Really? We've been operating them since the early 2000s, deploying them in an air defence role. They've been sold as functioning combat aircraft. The RAF spent money on upgrading our early Tranche 1s to the same standard as later Tranche 1s, specifically to add more combat abilities, so they could do air to ground as well as air to air. We bought 53 of them, mostly single-seater.
Not the worst. But the worst to see production. I don't think it's the same state as the T-14, since the BMPT has been exported to at least two countries, Kazakhstan and Algeria, and is being used in line units. The T-14 is only in trials.IMO the worst designed AFV of Russian/Soviet origin in the last half century. It should have been mothballed, but for some reason they decided to keep it roaming. Technically the T-14 is in roughly the same state - no known program of record (anymore), only a handful of machines made, used for testing purposes only, but it wasn't even sighted in Ukraine.
I believe it is quite likely that Russia is running the little BMPT it has (IIRC reportedly 10 prior to losing one) with only half a crew.
I've no idea where the training thing comes from but it keeps popping up on posts, despite it being quite easy to prove otherwise.Really? We've been operating them since the early 2000s, deploying them in an air defence role. They've been sold as functioning combat aircraft. The RAF spent money on upgrading our early Tranche 1s to the same standard as later Tranche 1s, specifically to add more combat abilities, so they could do air to ground as well as air to air. We bought 53 of them, mostly single-seater.
How long to train ground crews for this aircraft?I've no idea where the training thing comes from but it keeps popping up on posts, despite it being quite easy to prove otherwise.
As is, we're holding I think 30, ten in storage and twenty in active service- I believe they can't use Meteor but they're relatively low air time cabs and we're talking about retiring them in 2025 anyway. Can't think of a better home for them than Ukraine if we're shifting them.
I was referring to the claim that the T1's were only training aircraft. They're still a complex, twin-engined fast jet so getting ground crews and pilots up to speed will be a challenge. If the Poles would get the jets fly in and out of a Polish airbase for depot level maintenance, that might ease the requirements but whether that would be politically acceptable, I wouldn't know.How long to train ground crews for this aircraft?
Funny how this guy thinks (completely) otherwise, lol. I read the article when it was posted a few ago, but remembered now after reading the destruction post and then yours.IMO the worst designed AFV of Russian/Soviet origin in the last half century. It should have been mothballed, but for some reason they decided to keep it roaming. Technically the T-14 is in roughly the same state - no known program of record (anymore), only a handful of machines made, used for testing purposes only, but it wasn't even sighted in Ukraine.
I believe it is quite likely that Russia is running the little BMPT it has (IIRC reportedly 10 prior to losing one) with only half a crew.
Without a question, that would make Poland directly involved in the conflict.If the Poles would get the jets fly in and out of a Polish airbase for depot level maintenance, that might ease the requirements but whether that would be politically acceptable, I wouldn't know.
I did a little more digging today after reading your post and it does appear that the source of the article is correct and the Tranche 1s aren't going to be particularly useful in Ukraine from the operating perspective. Symbolism? Sure, but it doesn’t look like it can be anything more than that. Here is one of the better articles I read on the subject from the Royal United Services Institute:Really? We've been operating them since the early 2000s, deploying them in an air defence role. They've been sold as functioning combat aircraft. The RAF spent money on upgrading our early Tranche 1s to the same standard as later Tranche 1s, specifically to add more combat abilities, so they could do air to ground as well as air to air. We bought 53 of them, mostly single-seater.
Why? Poland already does tank repairs.Without a question, that would make Poland directly involved in the conflict.
Some people disagree that Typhoons are not useful:I did a little more digging today after reading your post and it does appear that the source of the article is correct and the Tranche 1s aren't going to be particularly useful in Ukraine from the operating perspective. Symbolism? Sure, but it doesn’t look like it can be anything more than that. Here is one of the better articles I read on the subject from the Royal United Services Institute:
Giving RAF Typhoons to Ukraine Would Be a Very Expensive Symbolic Gesture
No options should be ruled out when it comes to helping Ukraine. But the idea of transferring UK fighter aircraft makes little military sense.www.rusi.org
It also quite nicely outlines why any but the most modern jets wouldn’t be a very viable option without the LRMs either, which I talked about earlier in this thread. I do not believe there is a way to make fighter jets work in Ukraine without going to war with Russia (though jets on their own are a questionable move itself as far as the line red line is concerned, in particular because the Ukes won’t be able to operate them from Ukraine - I am certain of that and I do not see anything that could even remotely convince me otherwise at the moment).
In turn, with no air power, tanks aren’t going to be particularly useful as far as the promised “counter-offensive” goes and the Ukrainians likely don’t have enough to go on the offensive any time soon anyway… Overall, things don’t particularly look good for Ukraine, imo. I see these numerous reports indicating that Ukraine is winning and going to win, push Russians out, some suggesting that includes Crimea as well, and we need to prepare for Russia losing the war, whatever that means. It looks to me more like Ukraine lost the initiative and with the expected Russian offensive, they actually may lose the entire Donbas and perhaps more. Who knows. We shall wait and see how things develop in the coming weeks.
Because flying missions out of Poland makes it directly involved in the conflict? Because that is exactly what it is.Why? Poland already does tank repairs.
The key here, I believe, is “some people”. What are the qualifications of the guy you are quoting?Some people disagree that Typhoons are not useful:
This is not a very good argument because there are two sides to the coin. At the very least, making this argument, you are implying that one side, namely Putin, is not suicidal. What about the other side?I also don't think delivery of modern jets, be it F-16, Hornets, or Typhoon will trigger a NATO war with Russia. Putin is many things, but not suicidial.
What currently is happening and has been happening with our arms supplies is similar to a patient in a hospital. That is, the patient is about to die, we give him a shock and he comes back to life and while he is alive, we monitor; if the patient is closer to being dead again, we give him another shock to keep him alive. That is it. If the patient can withstand another attack, we will monitor and see what happens. Perhaps, we will provide just a tad more to keep that patient alive, but that is where we stop.Also, although things are a bit difficult at the moment, I don't see Ukraine losing, as long as US/Europe can keep the goods flowing.
I don’t think LRM’s will be provided for the reasons I outlined above because neither side is suicidal, though we have been definitely testing the limit and we do not know where it actually is (see my post about commitment). Tanks are, supposedly, provided for an offensive, but I do not believe they can succeed without air support.Ukraine don't urgently need fighter jets -- they need spare parts. And they need munitions, and they need tanks. Also long-range missiles would make a big difference at this point in time. ATACMS for instance.
Ukraine was invaded by Russia.What currently is happening and has been happening with our arms supplies is similar to a patient in a hospital. That is, the patient is about to die, we give him a shock and he comes back to life and while he is alive, we monitor; if the patient is closer to being dead again, we give him another shock to keep him alive. That is it. If the patient can withstand another attack, we will monitor and see what happens. Perhaps, we will provide just a tad more to keep that patient alive, but that is where we stop.
Nobody has suggested missions should be flown out of Poland.Because flying missions out of Poland makes it directly involved in the conflict? Because that is exactly what it is.
I don't know, but in any case around here we look more at the information people are providing and the arguments they are making than their qualifications. If the info he is providing is incorrect/misleading and his arguments are weak then we should ignore it. Converseley if the info he is providing is correct and the arguments are strong we should pay attention.The key here, I believe, is “some people”. What are the qualifications of the guy you are quoting?
NATO will not "get involved" apart from supplying equipment and ammo (and training and intel -- funny that Russia did not already attack NATO...)This is not a very good argument because there are two sides to the coin. At the very least, making this argument, you are implying that one side, namely Putin, is not suicidal. What about the other side?
Assume one of the European members of NATO gets involved, say Poland. Let’s say that Russia strikes back. What is the next step? I can imagine the options and one of them is to immediately deescalate, in my opinion. But let’s say, for the sake of the argument, Russia sends a few nukes down the Europe way, what is then? The US nukes Russia? Someone else does? This is a losing argument, in my opinion.
What currently is happening and has been happening with our arms supplies is similar to a patient in a hospital. That is, the patient is about to die, we give him a shock and he comes back to life and while he is alive, we monitor; if the patient is closer to being dead again, we give him another shock to keep him alive. That is it. If the patient can withstand another attack, we will monitor and see what happens. Perhaps, we will provide just a tad more to keep that patient alive, but that is where we stop.
I don’t think LRM’s will be provided for the reasons I outlined above because neither side is suicidal, though we have been definitely testing the limit and we do not know where it actually is (see my post about commitment). Tanks are, supposedly, provided for an offensive, but I do not believe they can succeed without air support.
I don’t know what the solution is here.
It seems this guy only saw the BMPT on photos and some reports on it, thought it looked cool, and believed its reported (but unsubstantiated) success to be some big revelation. He doesn't seem to understand why the BMPT was developed in that specific form.Funny how this guy thinks (completely) otherwise, lol. I read the article when it was posted a few ago, but remembered now after reading the destruction post and then yours.
Why Russia’s ‘Terminator’ Vehicle Might Be The Next Stage In Tank Evolution (Updated: Terminator Termination)
Russia's new BMPTs have performed well in Ukraine, especially compared to Russia’s other armor. Is it time to rethink armored warfare?www.forbes.com
Eurofighter TyphoonBlock 5 supports full air-to-air and initial air-to-ground capabilities. The aircraft is cleared for the 9g envelope as intended, with additional features such as sensor fusion, the full Direct Voice Input, enhanced GPS, and Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS) countermeasures including automatic chaff and flare dispensers. The radar air-to-surface modes are enhanced with ground mapping, and the aircraft also provides initial FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) capability. Block 5 Eurofighter Typhoon is cleared to carry AMRAAM, ASRAAM, IRIS-T and AIM-9L air-to-air missiles, as well as Paveway II laser-guided bombs and GBU-16s.