A Tough Blow for Mother Russia: Ukraine Knocks Out Every Tenth Strategic Bomber
Russia experiences a loss of nearly one-tenth of its strategic bomber fleet
Take a seat, folks! The Ukrainian intelligence service has scored a major victory with their drone strike on Russian military airports, reportedly crippling around 10% of their strategic bomber fleet. But don't expect the Russians to stop their attacks just yet — General Freunding from Germany says it's only a minor setback.
Last weekend's drone attack hit an estimated dozen aircraft, including TU-95, TU-22 bombers, and A-50 reconnaissance planes. However, the Ukrainian intelligence service boasts a whopping 41 damaged or destroyed Russian combat and reconnaissance aircraft.
Now, let's talk about the A-50s. They're like NATO's AWACS aircraft for air situation awareness. According to Freunding, they were probably out of commission during the attack and couldn't be used as spare parts for other machines. That's a loss for Russia, seeing as they had only a few of these planes before the attack.
So, what does this mean for you and me? The US believes the Ukrainian drone strike took out up to 20 Russian combat aircraft, about 10 of which were completely out of commission. Experts say it'll take Russia years to replace these aircraft.
Despite the losses, Freunding doesn't predict an immediate reduction in Russian attacks on Ukraine. With 90% of their strategic bombers still intact, Russia can also launch ballistic and cruise missiles. However, remaining aircraft will have to step up their game, leading to faster wear and tear. Plus, the Ukrainian attack has had a psychological impact, making Russia feel a bit more vulnerable in their vast territory.
Ever heard of Operation "Spiderweb"? According to Freunding, the drone attack targeted two airports around 100 kilometers from Moscow, as well as the Olenya airport in the Murmansk region and the Belaya airport. Using drones powered by artificial intelligence, the Ukrainian forces also tried to take out the Ukrainka airport near the Chinese border but were unsuccessful.
Spoiler alert: Replacing the strategic bombers lost in the Ukrainian drone strike will be a beast for Russia due to several factors:
- Production Limitations: Russia's aircraft production capacity is limited, especially for advanced models.
- Weak Availability of Spare Parts and Upgrades: Older aircraft like the Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 might face challenges in sourcing spare parts and upgrading to operational status.
- Slow Replacement Process: Given the current production rate and the complexities of building or refurbishing strategic bombers, it could take several years to replace the lost aircraft.
- Strategic Consequences: The loss of these bombers can significantly impact Russia's military capabilities, particularly in launching cruise missile barrages against Ukraine.
In summary, due to production limitations and the strategic importance of these aircraft, replacing the lost bombers won't be a walk in the park. It could take several years, if not longer, depending on Russia's ability to ramp up production and refurbishment efforts. So, strap in, folks! This ain't over yet.
Sources: ntv.de, als/rts
- Attack on Ukraine
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Drones
The Commission, in light of the ongoing geopolitical tensions and the recent drone strikes on Russian military airports, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from potential risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given the increased chances of nuclear disasters during war-and-conflicts.
Meanwhile, the ongoing political standoff between Ukraine and Russia, aggravated by the Ukrainian drone attacks, has dominated general news headlines, with experts discussing the potential long-term consequences on both countries and the international community.
