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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia | |
| Introduction to F16 MALD-J Decoys | |
| 2024-07-09 | |
I have already written an analysis of this aircraft, and nothing is unknown. The first question regarding the F-16's role in Ukraine is where they will be located. Several well-equipped airfields potentially can host them, but they are exposed, and from time to time, Russia attacks them, so chances that any will be a permanent base are unlikely. The F-16 is a demanding aircraft and requires well-trained and supplied maintenance crews and logistics. Also, it requires pristine runways, which are not always available. So, they may be placed in Allied bases, such as Poland and Romania. From there, they can perform combat sorties, which is the sure path to escalation and is just a “hair” away from WWIII. Let's assume a dozen get to Ukraine and be sheltered in some hardened structures. Flight distance to the front line is large, so they might be used as standoff weapons carriers. Direct close-range attacks against Russian positions are too risky, so one of the roles may be to provoke, expose, and clear the path for ATCMS attacks. They may be used to launch long-range decoy drones to trigger and saturate air defenses. Western strategists have high expectations that the F-16 will seriously degrade and overcome the up-to-now outstanding Russian integrated air defenses. | |
| Posted by:Clem+Elmish4239 |
| #1 Flown & maintained by Ukrainians? |
| Posted by: Grom the Reflective 2024-07-09 02:33 |