Romania buidling the biggest NATO airfield in all of Europe along the Black Sea. It will be almost 7000 acre's in size, that's a huge airfield. They are transforming an already existing base and more than twice the size of the Ramstein airbase currently in Germany …

This is obviously a deterrent for Russian expansion and to control,the Black Sea by air and it's easily within strike distance if the Crimean peninsula

https://www.twz.com/news-features/romanian-airfields-transformation-into-a-giant-nato-base-is-underway

aunuwyn08 said:

---

Yup, agree on all points.

It's hard for me to really talk too seriously about this stuff since I work in this field professionally.

I try to keep it light and vague for my sake and sanity.

I get the sense you're at a CFT, CDID, or research center from some of your other posts.

---

Damn, I wish. Was just another tiny, tiny cog elsewhere in the MIC. (If anyone here has an in, into that world...please slide into my DMs to discuss!)

And I get it. I do much the same these days. Might let a personal opinion still fly here and there but largely just keep it brief and at least semi-objective myself. I was the first to ***** about keeping it that way in my first post so I should at least follow my own words. Or try at the least, I am but human.

chickencoupe16 said:

---

Layne Staley said:

---

Heard it from a friend who, heard it from a friend who, heard it from another.....BUT
the reason the Army cancelled the FARA award to Lockheed is the future obsolescence of helicopters with humans in them as drones will end up taking them all out as we are learning on the battlefield in the Ukraine.

---

I'm not sure the real issue is drones destroying helicopters but rather helicopters being more expensive and less divisible for many of the same jobs that a drone can do. Why send one multimillion dollar FARA helicopter for recon when you can send 10 drones for a fraction of the cost? The only help roles that drones are not currently fulfilling are transport of men and materiel. Vulnerability of helicopters to drones should be considered but I think the real issue is a cost/benefit ratio.

---

FARA was starting to run into other problems too, essentially the same problems that has hindered American weapons design and procurement for decades now. Which is a matter of public record mostly, so easy to spot the common patterns among the last few multibillion miscues from the government.

Though the stated reason is also very valid too as you say. Cost/benefit ratio is something that America really needs to get a handle on and drones are pretty much the answer to a lot of it. Also, for all the faults of our government/military, it places an extremely high value on the lives of it's servicemembers (usually). To a fault at times. Got stories on that one. But the pitch of risking an extremely expensive and well trained pilot AND their machine vs an exponentially cheaper drone is too good to ignore. Mark that against our painful history of helicopters going down and I understand why a pivot is being explored. It's been said many times here but Ukraine is the test bed for future combat and the lessons are being learned by everyone. Especially as we continue to look to China and that possible conflict and weigh weapon cost vs a human life. If China proves to not care about their own people a la Russia, that is a major, major issue obviously.

Today had some really crazy artillery shelling. Direct hits on moving vehicles. Direct hits on groups of infantry. We’re talking like 3 shells fired and all 3 direct hits. Including from units I’ve personally talked to and its crazy seeing how good they are.

— Andrew Perpetua (@AndrewPerpetua) March 21, 2024

By thoroughly examining a frontline segment with exclusive data, satellite imagery, and drone footage, I tried to demonstrate the approach that can be used by Ukraine to defend itself in 2024 and gradually tilt the balance of power in its favor by 2025:https://t.co/nS9zayE1cX

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) March 21, 2024

Waffledynamics said:

---

Russian media: Lukoil(PJSC Lukoil Oil Company) is facing severe shortage of gasoline for own network of gas stations, and company is looking to import 30-50 thousands of tonnes per month from Belarus, after "incidents" at Volgograd and Nizhniy Novgorod refineries pic.twitter.com/XtIDkZXFF6

— Liveuamap (@Liveuamap) March 21, 2024

---

I mean I feel like the refinery attacks have only just begun.

I see things getting much, much worse for Russia in the coming months and yeah, Ukraine will continue to suffer and probably lose more ground.

Red Storm Rising, anyone?
(Tom Clancy book, for those that may not know)

PJYoung said:

---

Waffledynamics said:

---

Russian media: Lukoil(PJSC Lukoil Oil Company) is facing severe shortage of gasoline for own network of gas stations, and company is looking to import 30-50 thousands of tonnes per month from Belarus, after "incidents" at Volgograd and Nizhniy Novgorod refineries pic.twitter.com/XtIDkZXFF6

— Liveuamap (@Liveuamap) March 21, 2024

---

I mean I feel like the refinery attacks have only just begun.

I see things getting much, much worse for Russia in the coming months and yeah, Ukraine will continue to suffer and probably lose more ground.

---

It's a great strategy and one Ukraine learned the hard way.

You going to take needed air defense protecting vital military installations and move them to infrastructure you can't afford to lose or are you going to watch it burn?

If you do move it, guess what's now vulnerable to glide bombs and HIMARs? Oh, and when to F16s come on station again?

Choose wisely Ivan!

The only catch is Ukraine could probably hit just about every one if they do it quickly. However, My guess is they're trying to string it along enough to do a good amount of damage to the infrastructure and economy while also forcing air defences to be moved to clear some new attack paths.

Aren't they getting 6 operationally? These were delivered in the late 70's and early 80's. I've seen no indication they were ever fitted for ground attack. This is just the twin seat trainers but the others at the same time, and yes midlife updated in the early 90s then retired around 8 years ago mostly. The su24s and frog foot a-10 equivalents will remain their primary ground attack platforms.

https://www.belgian-wings.be/lockheed-martin-f-16b-m#:~:text=Lockheed%2DMartin%20(General%20Dynamics),%2D16B(M)%20Fighting%20Falcon&text=On%205%20May%201977%20the,combat%20capable%20twin%20seater%20trainers.

No. 6 is the first batch. The Danes are giving them 19 in total. Other countries are also working on giving them more. Something like 60 total, but I don't know how solid any of those other commitments are.

Question:

Is it possible to put a Patriot Battery in the hold of a cargo ship and say have it cruising under where these Russian strategic bombers launch missile at Kiev?

A half dozen of them suddenly disappearing from radar might be worth losing one.

All Belgian aircraft to be donated have received the MLU and are capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground. The two seaters are fully combat capable. The MLU's structural improvements, upgraded radar and modular mission computer make the adoption of new weapons principally a matter of uploading the associated software.

"With the introduction of the MLU aircraft, other weapon systems could also be used. Besides the above mentioned AIM-120 and AGM-65 weapons, the Belgian AF acquired a batch of GBU-10, GBU-12 and GBU-24 laser-guided bombs in 2000. The acquisition of a number of GBU-32 JDAM bombs is under consideration. To make optimal use of these weapons the Belgian government decided in 2000 to buy 8 Sharpshooter targeting pods. About 50 NVG's were also acquired to make it easier for the pilots to execute operations at night."

BAF
MLU

To launch at Kiev they can launch cruise missiles from over Belarus or Russia and they have been

ABATTBQ11 said:

---

No. 6 is the first batch. The Dutch are giving them 19 in total. Other countries are also working on giving them more. Something like 60 total, but I don't know how solid any of those other commitments are.

---

Thx. Is there any evidence they will be configured for ground attack/strike purposes? My understanding is that early build block 10/15 F-16's (pre OCU) did not have the structural builds/strengthening to carry a large payload underwing. These may have the larger tail etc. but are very unlikely to be outfitted (including the radar) to carry harpoon/SLAM-ER etc. weapons a la late variant F-16 E/F's or F-16V, let alone the notional "F-21":

Quote:

---

Still, renaming the F-16V isn't only semantic. An F-16V or F-21 is a radically different warplane compared to the F-16A that first flew in 1978. The F-16A is a nimble, eight-ton fighter with an unsophisticated radar and short-range weapons. The F-16V weighs 10 tons, boasts a cutting-edge radar and other sensors and carries a wide array of long-range weaponry, all at the cost of maneuverability.

---

The history of the F-16 block improvements is quite impressive, really (best link I'll provide), but I am very incredulous it will be employed this summer beyond use as a limited air defense system in Western Ukraine. There are vast differences in capabilities between block 10 and block 70 etc. for the type, as would be expected for a plane designed 50 years ago.

https://en.defence-ua.com/analysis/what_kind_of_f_16_ukraine_gets_from_the_netherlands_and_denmark_condition_and_modernization-7704.html

They're getting F-16 MLU variants, so think block 50/52 capabilities.

GAC06 said:

---

To launch at Kiev they can launch cruise missiles from over Belarus or Russia and they have been

---

They've been routing the bombers to launch them from over the Caspian Sea. Which doesn't really offer the opportunity to get a ship there like I might have hoped (eastern European geography isn't my strength since I figured I'd never visit).

Quote:

---

Russian Ministry of Defense claims control over Tonenke village west to Avdiyivka and Alebastrova railway station near Kurdyumivka

---

https://liveuamap.com/en/2024/21-march-russian-ministry-of-defense-claims-control-over

ru worms chat on air pic.twitter.com/kQFuQBZKcD

— IgorGirkin (@GirkinGirkin) March 21, 2024

Not that these guys have much of a chance of doing anything with the Belgorod incursions going on, but this is pretty funny.

Good morning to all free Russians!

Gorkovsky, Belgorod Oblast, spring 2024, color photo. pic.twitter.com/af8NHs2RtS

— "Liberty of Russia" Legion (@legion_svoboda) March 21, 2024

Very interesting suicide drone that shoots what appears to be a single projectile through two orcs at once after lining them up for the shot.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1bjmbso/work_of_the_wild_divisionrussian_soldiers_with/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

DRT

Looks like some kind of directional warhead / EFP. Scary as heck

P.U.T.U said:

---

DRT

Looks like some kind of directional warhead / EFP. Scary as heck

---

I thought the same thing maybe not so efficient as a claymore but scary.
IE don't bring a shovel to an EFP fight....better yet don't come to the fight at all.

I watched it 3-4X and when it triggered I don't think you could find any evidence of the drone. Also to note orcs love the ole misery loves company lets bunch up together rule.

Without adding another post great inside look at K2 Fire Control room Combined arms knocking out orc assault. Their D30 was deadly accurate (makes me wonder if they are still producing their own smart munitions for those??).

Also used MT12, 120MM mortar, FPV drones, mines, and sounds like they were setting up Stugna-Ps but did not have to fire them.

JFABNRGR said:

---

Very interesting suicide drone that shoots what appears to be a single projectile through two orcs at once after lining them up for the shot.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1bjmbso/work_of_the_wild_divisionrussian_soldiers_with/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

---

WTF was that !! Those two looked like they were full of vodka before they met their drone friend.

Automated terminal attack capability may have worked its way into Ukrainian drones.

FPV

2wealfth Man said:

---

JFABNRGR said:

---

Very interesting suicide drone that shoots what appears to be a single projectile through two orcs at once after lining them up for the shot.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1bjmbso/work_of_the_wild_divisionrussian_soldiers_with/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

---

WTF was that !! Those two looked like they were full of vodka before they met their drone friend.

---

At the moment I have to go with PUTU on EFP.

This video is 15 years old. Interesting comments from 15 years ago: Lightweight stealth weapon.

Now these can all be 3D printed, but I would have expected to see R&D of drone launch before deployment and used on armor not INF. These could also easily be deployed by drone on the ground in ambush mode.

orcs sunk their own trawler during exercises. Their navy.....at times makes me wonder had it been better had they tried a landing in Odessa! Odessa likely would have become a new hot spot to scuba divers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1bkecju/russian_trawler_captain_lobanov_sinking_from_a/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

"The cause of the fire on the trawler "Kapitan Lobanov", which sank the day before off the coast of the Kaliningrad region, was a missile hit. A shell mistakenly blew up a ship during an exercise of the Baltic Fleet, a relative of a crew member told Dozhd.
According to him, three sailors were killed and four more were injured. The crew members were about to go to bed before the missile hit the captain's cabin.
At the same time, the authorities of the Kaliningrad region concealed the causes of the incident and the number of victims. Thegovernor's secretary Dmitry Lyskov claimed that the fire happened "due to an emergency situation", as a result of which allegedly only one person died, two more went missing.
The channel's interlocutor stressed that "when the survivors were taken away, everyone knew very well" about the three dead, and that it happened due to a missile strike, but they decided to write that there was a "fire". "I wonder what kind of fire it is, if the captain's cabin is completely absent - it was simply demolished," he said.
The wounded were sent to a hospital in Pionersk, one of them is in serious condition. According to the source, in the hospital, the victims were interrogated by FSB officers, who ordered "not to disclose" about the incident.
The interlocutor added that another missile almost hit an MRTK industrial vessel near the trawler Kapitan Lobanov, and the shell fell into fishing nets nearby.
Earlier, Dozhd found out on the basis of open data from the AIS automated tracking system that the Kapitan Lobanov could get into the area of the exercises of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy.
The Ministry of Defense also reported on maneuvers in the water area near the coast of the Kaliningrad region on the eve of the incident. On the evening of March 18, the department reported that the crew of the Boyky corvette worked out the tasks of searching, detecting and destroying a simulated enemy submarine and performed practical firing at simulated air and sea targets."-The Moscow Times

Quote:

---

Traffic stopped at the dam in Zaporizhzhia after several missiles hit it

---

https://liveuamap.com/en/2024/22-march-traffic-stopped-at-the-dam-in-zaporizhzhia-after

I've seen rumors that Russia may try to kill this dam.

Waffledynamics said:

---

Quote:

---

Traffic stopped at the dam in Zaporizhzhia after several missiles hit it

---

https://liveuamap.com/en/2024/22-march-traffic-stopped-at-the-dam-in-zaporizhzhia-after

I've seen rumors that Russia may try to kill this dam.

---

Haven't looked into it, but does that dam have anything to do with providing cooling water for the nuke plant? If so, is this Russia's way to force the shut down of the nuke plant without directly damaging it? Possibly as retaliation for the drone strikes on the refineries?

Don't the Russians already control that power plant and so could shut it down any time or am I missing something?

docb said:

---

They absolutely should be hitting those oil refineries. In fact they need to be hitting them harder.

---

there is also very important pipeline and extraction resources in Tatarstan that need to be taken out. That would absolutely cripple their domestic and export capabilities. I know there were some sabotage attacks on the railway tunnels / bridges over in the east a few months back.