Alright, it is time to take off my "Mud & Truck Maintenance" ball cap & put on my "Old Crow" Bennie with rotating radar aerial and evaluate for you this Ukrainian missile engagement of a Russian Air Force Hind Helicopter.
1/
1/
https://twitter.com/MarQs__/status/1500041659098218499
First, that video footage was taken from a Ukrainian commercial multi-copter drone.
So much for Russian drone jamming electronic warfare.
If it is not here. There isn't much Russian EW available in Ukraine, period.
bestreviews.com/electronics/dr…
2/
So much for Russian drone jamming electronic warfare.
If it is not here. There isn't much Russian EW available in Ukraine, period.
bestreviews.com/electronics/dr…
2/
Second, the Ukrainian shoulder fired surface to air missile operator had balls of steel.
That was a classic "Down the Throat" missile/torpedo engagement where the Ukrainian waited until the Hind was to close & committed to hit a flare launch button.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_the_…
3/
That was a classic "Down the Throat" missile/torpedo engagement where the Ukrainian waited until the Hind was to close & committed to hit a flare launch button.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_the_…
3/
By "Down the Throat Shot" I mean the Ukrainian SAM operator did what this U-Boat was trying to do to Tom Hank's DD in the movie Greyhound during the in the finale scene (w/o the PBY saving the day).
4/
4/
3rd, back to the Hind, what you saw in that engagement was more of Putin's Potemkin village military.
There were no IR countermeasure flares. Either the gunship lacked them, or more critically it lacked an automatic missile warning system to trigger the flares.
5/
There were no IR countermeasure flares. Either the gunship lacked them, or more critically it lacked an automatic missile warning system to trigger the flares.
5/
The helicopter assault on the Antonov plant airfield saw every chopper throwing a huge number of flares after missile launches knocked down some of the formation.
So it looks like even top end Russian VDV helicopters lack missile warning gear.
6/
So it looks like even top end Russian VDV helicopters lack missile warning gear.
6/
https://twitter.com/HKaaman/status/1498784246412058627
And by automatic missile warning systems (MWS), I am referring to BAE electronic warfare kit like this at the link.
7/
baesystems.com/en-us/article/…
7/
baesystems.com/en-us/article/…
4th, the Hind pilot was flying stupid, aka flareless, fast, low and alone near unsuppressed Ukrainian positions.
He should have called in artillery on suspected missile positions before his run.
See the US Army AH-64 pilot talk here:
8/
He should have called in artillery on suspected missile positions before his run.
See the US Army AH-64 pilot talk here:
8/
Video clips like that Hind falling to a missile and this Russian tank getting blown up by a Ukrainian missile...
9/
https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1499866442908504067
9/
...are making all the green eyeshade defense policy crowd get all hot an bothered that missiles are the answer to everything on a "Cost-benefit basis."
First, cheap missiles are not "cheap."
$100K to $250K a round on a cheap platform versus a $4 million tank looks "cheap."
10/
First, cheap missiles are not "cheap."
$100K to $250K a round on a cheap platform versus a $4 million tank looks "cheap."
10/
Except the expensive part isn't the vehicle & missile, its the soldiers.
There are a lot more machine guns, autocannons and artillery on a battlefield that can kill a light missile truck that an Abrams tank laughs at.
11/
There are a lot more machine guns, autocannons and artillery on a battlefield that can kill a light missile truck that an Abrams tank laughs at.
11/
What we are seeing in Ukraine right now is 2nd rate equipment with a 2nd rate army versus a bigger army with 2nd rate equipment and 3rd rate people hollowed out by Russian kleptocratic corruption.
No conclusion that don't take those facts into account are valid.
12/End.
No conclusion that don't take those facts into account are valid.
12/End.
@threadreaderapp unroll please
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
