Reepicheep
Well-known member
I've done some research into how Ukraine managed to down two Russian jets and two helicopters within a 30 second period (the Russians, of course, are claiming that all four aircraft were downed as a result of careless smoking by Russian aircrews, just as they claim the 30 Russain naval vessels that have been sunk were destroyed as a result of careless smoking by Russian sailors). Ukraine is keeping silent on the incident, although it appears the following is most likely what happened.
Since very early in the war, Russia has avoided sending aircraft over Ukraine, since those pesky Ukrainians have a habit of using surface to air missiles to shoot down any Russian aircraft that venture into Ukraine airspace. The new Russian strategy is to send a jet armed with cruise missiles and/or gliding bombs towards the Russian/Ukrainian border and have the jet launch the missiles/bombs while the plane is still deep in Russian territory. This makes it impossible for Ukraine to shoot down the jets.
The attack in question seems typical of recent Russian attacks, and was intended to unfold as follows: a Russian SU-34 fighter bomber armed with cruise missiles and/or gliding bombs approaches the Russian/Ukrainian border, with the intention of launching the ordinance while still deep in Russian territory. The fighter bomber was accompanied by a SU-35 fighter, whose mission is to engage any Ukrainian aircraft that may appear. Two MI-8 helicopters were also present, and their duel role was to jam Ukrainian radar and to pick up the Russian pilots if either or both planes were shot down.
The Ukrainians have two anti-aircraft systems which are capable of shooting down Russian aircraft, the American supplied Patriot system and Soviet era S-300 system. Since Ukraine has promised not to use the Patriot system to shoot down planes over Russia, the following is most likely what happened:
A few days before the Russian planes were downed, the Ukrainians secretly moved a S-300 battery to the Ukraine/Russia border. The battery was well hidden and kept turned off so that the Russians couldn't detect it. Over the course of several days, the S-300 crew monitored Russian attacks until the Ukrainian soldiers manning the battery understood how the Russians operated. On the day the planes were shot down, the Ukrainians monitored the approaching Russian aircraft until the planes were within range. The Ukrainians then turned on the "active radar" of the S-300 battery, locked onto the four aircraft within seconds, and then launched a wave of missiles. Since turning on the active radar would reveal the location of the hidden battery, the Ukrainians immediately packed up and moved. The wave of anti-aircraft missiles successfully downed all four Russian craft, which were 15 or so kilometers deep in Russian territory.
Ukrainian anti-missile systems have also been very successful recently in shooting down Russian missiles. It appears we have reached a turning point in the air war, with Ukraine holding a significant advantage.
Since very early in the war, Russia has avoided sending aircraft over Ukraine, since those pesky Ukrainians have a habit of using surface to air missiles to shoot down any Russian aircraft that venture into Ukraine airspace. The new Russian strategy is to send a jet armed with cruise missiles and/or gliding bombs towards the Russian/Ukrainian border and have the jet launch the missiles/bombs while the plane is still deep in Russian territory. This makes it impossible for Ukraine to shoot down the jets.
The attack in question seems typical of recent Russian attacks, and was intended to unfold as follows: a Russian SU-34 fighter bomber armed with cruise missiles and/or gliding bombs approaches the Russian/Ukrainian border, with the intention of launching the ordinance while still deep in Russian territory. The fighter bomber was accompanied by a SU-35 fighter, whose mission is to engage any Ukrainian aircraft that may appear. Two MI-8 helicopters were also present, and their duel role was to jam Ukrainian radar and to pick up the Russian pilots if either or both planes were shot down.
The Ukrainians have two anti-aircraft systems which are capable of shooting down Russian aircraft, the American supplied Patriot system and Soviet era S-300 system. Since Ukraine has promised not to use the Patriot system to shoot down planes over Russia, the following is most likely what happened:
A few days before the Russian planes were downed, the Ukrainians secretly moved a S-300 battery to the Ukraine/Russia border. The battery was well hidden and kept turned off so that the Russians couldn't detect it. Over the course of several days, the S-300 crew monitored Russian attacks until the Ukrainian soldiers manning the battery understood how the Russians operated. On the day the planes were shot down, the Ukrainians monitored the approaching Russian aircraft until the planes were within range. The Ukrainians then turned on the "active radar" of the S-300 battery, locked onto the four aircraft within seconds, and then launched a wave of missiles. Since turning on the active radar would reveal the location of the hidden battery, the Ukrainians immediately packed up and moved. The wave of anti-aircraft missiles successfully downed all four Russian craft, which were 15 or so kilometers deep in Russian territory.
Ukrainian anti-missile systems have also been very successful recently in shooting down Russian missiles. It appears we have reached a turning point in the air war, with Ukraine holding a significant advantage.
