Russia-Ukraine SITREP for 17 APR 2023 23:59* - Bakhmut Holds

A little of both - hard to read into the mind of Russian Mir as you know

Well this is why I've also written and said that the time of aircraft like the A-10 and the Su-25 is coming to an end due to drones. But this raises the question - Ukraine needs ground support aircraft. The Su-25s they have are old and worn out, and there are limited to no parts. Do you leave Ukraine with no ground support capability in 12 to 18 months while perfect good and battle-proven ground attack aircraft that the US Air Force doesn't want anymore bakes in the Arizona sun? The same challenge the A-10 would face in a contested air space will be shared by Apaches or other ground attack helos. It really is an end of an era, but there is an expedient need, and Ukraine has more qualified pilots (e.g., pilots able to fly, just need to be qualified) then air frames as it is.

Are the children being evacuated in anticipation of the counteroffensive? Or are they hostages? Or just pawns to steal buses? It is all very alarming. A lot to digest in today's report.

AnaR737

In Iraq and Afghanistan, for example, they were extremely effective and much beloved by soldiers on the ground. Basically anywhere where surface to air radar has already been suppressed. That is not the case currently in ukraine. Apache helicopters can't provide a fraction of the fire power the thunderbolt can. Most important, however, it's totally awesome looking :).

What kind of environment would the US be fighting in that it would still need the A10? Even in a high electronic warfare environment, can’t attack helicopters do the same thing? And If the environment is too hostile for them it’s probably too hostile for the A10 as well. From my understanding they are mothballing it so the budget can be redirected toward more future procurements.

Sounds like it was a good day for Ukraine by and large. I am really encouraged by Zelenskys statements about the upcoming offensive. Very sad to hear about the A10 being mothballed. Maybe in an area like Ukraine with high tech air defense it would have a hard time but there are lots of situations where a highly effective ground attack aircraft which can't be jammed like a drone would be useful. Reminds me of when the SR71 blackbird (my second favorite aircraft) was decommissioned. They said that satellites could do everything the sr71 could do at a fraction of the cost. Makes me wonder what happens when all the satellites are destroyed in the first hour of an all out war, which certainly would happen, and we have no way to do reconnaissance. Love you warthog. Slava ukraini