For those of you who have wondered what ICAO spoofing is, or why it is getting so much attention lately, here is a short description of what is going on.
1st, the callsign: a plane tracker will know from experience which are frequently used. Many air traffic radio enthusiasts over time have compiled 100s of callsigns assigned to particular aircraft. In this instance, MOJO is often seen in the Persian Gulf by refuel tankers.
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Callsigns can be a clue that a transmitter is receiving a false interrogation of its Mode-S receiver. Mode-S is a 6 digit code, using A-F letters and 0-9 numbers. Countries are assigned 3 digit prefix codes for their planes. In this case, AE0 is a code used for US mil planes.
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In certain circumstances, the plane along it's route will change from its preassigned callsign, but generally not its Mode-S code which is tied to a specific registration or tail number telling what it really is.
In this instance, N873GQ hasn't been assigned yet. It's bogus.
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The remaining bunker/warehouses still operable are surrounded by twisted ruins with doubtful electricity, infrastructure and rail (likely crippled post-attack).
Will Russia rebuild? Likely. They've shown stubborness to. But we are talking years to return to prior condition.
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The arsenal was one of 13 state arsenals meant for rennovation to meet "the world's highest standards," per then Deputy Defense Minister General of the Army Dmitry Bulgakov. Toropets Northeast was supposed to be hardened against even a nuclear attack.
🧵What I remember most about learning of the attack was how everything that'd been a slow grueling grind of expediting info & processing for several weeks came to an abrupt halt. Those trying to get out of the city had to go elsewhere.
I had felt that with so many people and US troops in one place that it was risky; something could happen. One last ISIS-K or Taliban punch. Anything.
At least 182 people - Afghans, Americans, Brits - died. God knows how were maimed.
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I'd been helping with a project that had a hard deadline; the attack moved it up. I went back to work, probably out of futility, in case there was an opening. I think many still stuck in Kabul ended up trying for the borders, by road. By foot. The DMs were frantic. Desperate.
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The fire has reached and engulfed the Maligne Lodge on the SW side of town. Word that the Petro-Canada is a loss as well.
Pictured shared by @tiredinAB which appears to be geolocated to a boat dock at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge showing incredibly high flames toward the south of town.