I was just trying to expand on your point about how they only have the obsolete drones in Ukraine right now and they're still unbelievable. Similarly, the missiles that are dominating are ~2 decades old.
The Ukrainians are currently being trained with the new American switchblade and Phoenix Ghost drones. Both should be able to hit much deeper into the Russian lines. The major wins for the Ukraine would be shutting down transportation out of the Crimea and destroying the Russian long range artillery.
The Ukrainians are currently being trained with the new American switchblade and Phoenix Ghost drones. Both should be able to hit much deeper into the Russian lines. The major wins for the Ukraine would be shutting down transportation out of the Crimea and destroying the Russian long range artillery.
Those aren't really capable of long-range attacks. They have a 10-40km maximum range (depending on the model), so they'll be more useful at picking off vehicles along the front line or close to it. They're basically flying Javelins (though they're actually much cheaper than Javelins); single-use weapons that can be carried by a person.
For longer-range attacks, the TB2 is still much more capable with its 150-300km range. Which makes sense given that the price of a TB2 is in the millions whereas a Switchblade is more like $6K for the shorter-range model.
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I suspect the Russians are already facing the same issues the Luftwaffe and Japanese were by 1944, the crappy untrained crews mean you lose more tanks becuase they make 'rookie' mistakes, it sets up a death spiral
I don't think it was just the rookies who were making mistakes trying to fly a tank.
The Ukrainians are currently being trained with the new American switchblade and Phoenix Ghost drones. Both should be able to hit much deeper into the Russian lines. The major wins for the Ukraine would be shutting down transportation out of the Crimea and destroying the Russian long range artillery.
An interesting story about the CEO of the company who makes the Switchblade. He was a refugee from the Russian invasion of Afghanistan and is taking this very personally.
Has anyone heard anything about the 'Canadian Battalion' in Ukraine? Supposedly 500+ members? There's a controversial poster on Twitter that claims to be a Canadian volunteer but there's no indication that he's part of a larger organization.
Those aren't really capable of long-range attacks. They have a 10-40km maximum range (depending on the model), so they'll be more useful at picking off vehicles along the front line or close to it. They're basically flying Javelins (though they're actually much cheaper than Javelins); single-use weapons that can be carried by a person.
For longer-range attacks, the TB2 is still much more capable with its 150-300km range. Which makes sense given that the price of a TB2 is in the millions whereas a Switchblade is more like $6K for the shorter-range model.
Worth pointing out- we have no idea what the capabilities of the Phoenix Ghost are. The only things that are known about it is that it is a single-use, loitering munition “similar to switchblade, but with different capabilities.” It’s quite possible the ‘different capabilities’ include longer range and/or increased loiter-times.
Has anyone heard anything about the 'Canadian Battalion' in Ukraine? Supposedly 500+ members? There's a controversial poster on Twitter that claims to be a Canadian volunteer but there's no indication that he's part of a larger organization.
What's his Twitter handle for those who wish to check to see what he's all about?
Worth pointing out- we have no idea what the capabilities of the Phoenix Ghost are. The only things that are known about it is that it is a single-use, loitering munition “similar to switchblade, but with different capabilities.” It’s quite possible the ‘different capabilities’ include longer range and/or increased loiter-times.
My understanding was that the latest suicide drives could remain in the air for many hours at a time. Don't know enough about the tech to know whether that also translates into a much longer range.
My understanding was that the latest suicide drives could remain in the air for many hours at a time. Don't know enough about the tech to know whether that also translates into a much longer range.
Switchblades only have 15 minute (for the 300) and 40 minute (for the 600) maximum flight times, but that's plenty for what they can do. And even if they wanted to reserve them for the highest value targets, it would be pretty trivial to do reconnaissance with a cheap drone and then send in the weaponized ones at specific targets.
Switchblades only have 15 minute (for the 300) and 40 minute (for the 600) maximum flight times, but that's plenty for what they can do. And even if they wanted to reserve them for the highest value targets, it would be pretty trivial to do reconnaissance with a cheap drone and then send in the weaponized ones at specific targets.
The Phoenix Ghosts can stay in the air for up to six hours though. One again not sure if that translates directly to more range. I'm just repeating the limited info in the press.
The Phoenix Ghosts can stay in the air for up to six hours though. One again not sure if that translates directly to more range. I'm just repeating the limited info in the press.
Yes, that's true. I had just read that they were comparable to Switchblades but with a longer flight time, but hadn't seen the 6 hour thing, which makes them totally different than the Switchblade. So your original point stands that these will likely be able to attack well behind the front.
It's probably some kind of vertical take-off and landing drone with weapons integrated. It would be an interesting middle ground in terms of capability, price, and logistical requirements between something like a Switchblade and a full-fledged military drone.
This post didn't get enough recognition for introducing "Satanic German Israeli Nazi Witches" into the mix, and also loosely suggesting that anyone who sends Ukraine a weapon is Satan. Very Onion-esque.
You forgot anarchist.
Satanic German Israeli Nazi Anarchist black magic.
The problem for Putin is losing the war is a literal death sentence for him personally and probably his family, they will be strung up on lamp posts within a few weeks of defeat, so he has nothing to lose and there really isnt anything we can offer that alters that for him, to go back to the pre war borders after the pain Russia has and will go through will be seen as a massive crushing defeat for Putin
I really dont see an out at this point, the idiot has doubled down to hard to give himself an exit
I thought so too earlier in the war, but now when I look at it, I'm thinking that if failures and stupid decisions could do him in, that would have happened already. His chokehold on power seems more absolute than ever.
In the long term he's likely created massive amounts of new dissidents, but it could be years before the effects of that start to seriously show.
His control of Russian media also gives him a lot of room to spin things. All the talk about nuclear war for example could make just backing down fairly popular.
"Militarily we could fight and win in Ukraine, but we fear that the nazi's in Ukraine have secretly kept some nuclear weapons and would rather burn the country than let it become free." Or what ever. "We have successfully evacuated the Russian population that was under the threat of genocide, we can let Ukraine have the land now."
It can be total BS, but the main thing is, I don't think the war itself is very popular, it's just that people want their side to win or not lose.
When you give people a nice narrative that "we backed down for peace and greater good of humanity and also we achieved what we set out to do because look at all the refugees who are now safe in Russia and we destroyed that nazi brigade in Mariupol", most people will likely choose to believe it.
Germans sending self propelled artillery to Ukraine soon and rumors of counter artillery radar to be sent as well. Lets hope the ammo isn't made by the Swiss this time. https://twitter.com/user/status/1522145679828738049
