Updates
 

Lysychansk fell to the Russians:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...-on-the-donbas

The Russians abandoned Snake Island:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...eadly-response

Ukraine might get replacement MiG-29s (from Slovakia) after all:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...ir-patrol-deal

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A Real World Overview of Artillery in Ukraine
 

While I usually avoid PowerPoint presentations, Perun is a great presenter of information and he goes into great detail here about artillery. He covers one thing that NEVER gets mentioned, but that we 13Bravos are constantly on guard for... Barrel life. It is what doomed the railgun and (in my own opinion) is the Achilles heel of the M777 and the Hawkeye 105mm howitzers. Sadly, my concerns seem to be born out in Ukraine.

https://youtu.be/EMEpxX7rS5I


Here is another good video as well...

https://youtu.be/7CmXz8Qd9yw

Swag

It seems that the Ukrainians believe that UK support may be in question due to Boris Johnson and his party falling out of favor. Input?

The UK Government is committed to supporting Ukraine so I doubt if there will be any significant changes. Although it may be done with less showboating than the current incumbent has practiced so there may be a perception in some quarters that it reduces.

St. Himars
 

Callback to post #140 and counterpart to St. Javelin.

Militaryimages.net has a subforum dedicated to the war in Ukraine.

https://www.militaryimages.net/forum...ideo-forum.95/

And a bump for this Twitter feed:

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons?ref_sr...0408%2Fpage-10

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It feels like at the moment that if you're an active duty, combat arms Russian general you're more likely to die in a precision artillery/rocket strike in Ukraine than have the opportunity to retire quietly at home.

Friends in Low Places
 

Looks like Russia's going to get some foreign military aid- "hundreds" of drones from Iran, likely including some kamikaze models.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...-very-big-deal

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Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment
 

The Institute for the Study of War- an American thinktank, it appears- posts daily briefs (including annotated maps) on the course of the war in Ukraine, focusing on the strategic and operational level of warfare.

https://www.understandingwar.org/bac...ssment-july-12

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This is an excellent video about what just about what everyone has supplied to Ukraine. Also, you will be helping a good poster who is getting squeezed out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDKYT2pikFw

Warthogs Over Ukraine?
 

Nice piece, Paul. Thanks for posting.

Let's add the A-10 Warthog to that list!

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...-off-the-table

Elements in the USAF and Congress have been trying to get rid of the A-10 for decades. What better send-off than allowing them the opportunity to go out doing what they were designed to do- take out Russian armor.

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I think that if someone can come with something better than the Warthog, they should put up or shut up. The A-10 is like the B-52 -- there's nothing that can fill it's shoes.

They need to warm up production lines for the A-10C.

I wonder If that will happen but for a singularly different reason. The Army is trying hard to abolish or circumvent the Key West Agreement and really does want the A10. There are something like 160 operational airframes and the Army would need them all to fill in the gaps in CAS that they have with the Apache.

All that being said, the A10 would be a good idea for three reasons...

It can operate from "austere airfields."

Its cost of operation per flight hour is the lowest you can get in a combat jet.

Its tech is very Cold War meaning you do NOT NEED lots of high-tech gear to maintain or fight with the jet.

Sadly though, it won't solve Ukraine's most pressing need... CAP (Combat Air Patrol)... Ukraine needs something to stop high-altitude bombers and standoff attacks from Russian jets.

I STILL believe that the easiest route to take is to have all our former Pact members give up their older Mig 29s, SU22s, and even their Mig 21s and then replace THOSE NATO aircraft with F16s.

Helos At War
 

Perun has done an analysis of the use of helicopters in Ukraine.

https://youtu.be/qnoKpXvj41A



Swag

Here's an interesting counterpoint to the A-10s for Ukraine idea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAEQwlNeL0s

Those are fair points, and if the Ukrainians don't want A-10s, we shouldn't try to foist our unwanted Warthogs on them. I'm kind of surprised that the Ukrainians aren't interested, though, given that they're using SU-25s on a regular basis, but I get that the supply of trained, experienced pilots is limited, and that the greater need is for fighter aircraft.

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I am not some sort of A-10 hater or anything but I find the mythology around it a little tedious. It's got a relatively short combat radius, little air-to-air capability, and is fairly slow. In an environment without air superiority and little in the way of SEAD from friendly forces it would be a sitting duck.

For the Ukrainians in particular it would be nearly useless. It can't mount any weapons they might have in stock. The moment it supplied ammo is spent the jets are just taking up a hangar. The A-10 also has no sensors besides what comes in attached pods. Unless the US is going to also send those then the A-10 is a gun and dumb bombs aimed with iron sights. Ukraine would be much better off getting resources to keep their SU-25s operational.

The A-10 as part of US forces can be formidable because other weapon systems exist to let it do its job. It would be far less effective in other militaries that don't have as deep of a weapon systems bench as the US does.

This is probably true of the Ukrainian supply chain in general. Ukrainian logistics officers must be having nightmares about supplying their troops -- particularly spare parts. Western aircraft would turn that into fever nightmares.

Presentation on Ballistic & Cruise Missiles in Ukraine
 

Here's another video on the employment and also the logistical aspects of the cruise and ballistic missile use in Ukraine.

https://youtu.be/_F7mt4rNVY0


Swag.

Potential Escalations?
 

North Korea might be sending 100k "volunteers" to fight for Russia in Ukraine.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...to-help-russia

US AG-88 HARM ARMs have made an appearance in Ukraine.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...ent-to-ukraine

I was under the impression that Cold War era Soviet combat aircraft would require significant modifications to employ advanced US/NATO weaponry.

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Same here I was in a discussion where I thought the only really effective ARM option was Israeli autonomous drones (or the secret DARPA/Skunkworks/CIA equivalent I am sure exists). "Death finds a way" Paraphrasing Ian Malcolm.

It is sort of addressed in the article.

Apparently an Under Secretary of Defense mentioned that we sent anti-radiation missiles that could be fired from Ukrainian aircraft.

https://twitter.com/OstapYarysh/stat...96165760081926

ETA: Also, Russia apparently lost a second BMO-T recently. Not many of those were built to begin with. They're a T-72-based Heavy APC intended for use by flamethrower troops, with 32 RPO-A Shmel thermobaric rocket launchers carried for use by the dismounts.

Armorcast has a video on the T90 that is pretty close to reality. I wasn't going to post this because it roasts the T90 pretty badly but it is kind of accurate. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/4Q83AIJCGaQ


Swag

US Lend Lease Breakdown
 

Here's Cappy breaking down the newest US aid bill to Ukraine (the 53 Billion dollar bill) and it looks like the winner here is going to be the US...

https://youtu.be/sLkgRJqij4k

Swag.

Ukrainian Mobilization
 

Perun has now downloaded a presentation on Ukrainian mobilization and it is certainly worth watching.

https://youtu.be/cVx3Nlifo4Q

Swag.

Taiwan's Revolver Drone
 

Here's Taiwan's gift to Ukraine... The Revolver Drone capable of holding EIGHT 60mm Mortar rounds...

https://youtu.be/kOHgVBtV3MQ

Swag

Ukrainian Technical, more sophisticated than African Technicals
 

Here is a very Twilight2000 Ukrainian Technical...

https://youtu.be/onroLhwyj0o

Swag

Gepards to the Front
 

Finally!

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...w-in-the-fight

I've long thought that an SPAAG of some sort would make an interesting PC vehicle- it strikes me as a bit more versatile, and less OP- in terms of armament- than an MBT. And what T2ker hasn't run across a Shilka or equivalent on campaign.

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My one issue with any AA is the fact that TWILIGHT2000 really didn't address the radars that many AA Gun Systems & Missile Launchers have installed in them. Without those rules, the GM is left to fumble about trying to figure out what each radar can actually detect.

MK VI Patrol Boats Slated for Ukraine
 

The MK6 Patrol boat is finding its way into the Black Sea. Here's a video on the MK6...

https://youtu.be/1Dxt0XX_330

Swag