Russland vs. Ukraine

[Quintus Fabius]

Militaryland Tag 21:

https://militaryland.net/ukraine/invasio...1-summary/

Dan Lamothe:

A background briefing with a senior U.S. defense official about the Russian war on Ukraine has just concluded. It’s Day 22 of the invasion.

https://twitter.com/DanLamothe/status/15...3471676428



Noch ein paar Einzel-Analysen:

Would Russia Use a Tactical Nuclear Weapon in Ukraine?

https://mwi.usma.edu/would-russia-use-a-...n-ukraine/

Inherently Escalatory: The No-Fly Zone in Ukraine

https://mwi.usma.edu/inherently-escalato...n-ukraine/

Is the West Laissez-Faire About Economic Warfare?

https://warontherocks.com/2022/03/is-the...c-warfare/

Das USMC versucht derweilen seine Entscheidung auf Kampfpanzer zu verzichten mit dem laufenden Krieg zu legitmieren - was sowohl sachlich falsch ist wie auch die Entscheidung selbst falsch war und ist:

Berger: Ukraine War Demonstrates Vulnerability of Tanks to Missile-Armed Infantry

https://seapowermagazine.org/berger-ukra...-infantry/



Zum Einsatz russischer Kampfhubschrauber als de facto fliegende Raketenartillerie (wofür man keine Kampfhubschrauber benötigt, weil man dies mit anderen Helis noch sehr viel besser und krasser könnte)

Russian Attack Helicopters Are Now Wildly Lobbing Rockets Over Ukraine

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44...er-ukraine

[quote]So far, the tactics and application of the Russian Aerospace Forces, or VKS, have left many observers baffled. Compounding this is recent footage that appears to show attack helicopters from the service launching unguided rockets in an apparent effort to provide ‘airborne multiple rocket launchers‘

While most VKS attack helicopters involved in the conflict have been noted carrying unguided rockets, as well as anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), what makes this footage extraordinary is the way the rockets are fired. Starting at low level, each helicopter pulls up into a fairly steep climb, launching rockets as they gain height. At the same time, they eject infrared decoy flares, typical practice to counter the man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) that are prevalent in Ukrainian hands. The helicopters then break to the left, dive down to lower altitude, and fly away.

The thinking behind this rocket-launching tactic is unclear, but has already been the subject of pretty intense online debate. Firstly, it is almost certain these are unguided rockets. What we are likely seeing, then, is unguided rockets being fired in an upward trajectory, which would extend their range by a considerable margin, but at the same time would reduce their accuracy substantially. .......Launching them on a parabolic trajectory will ensure they fly further, but they will also disperse much more widely.

One explanation is that these VKS attack helicopters are simply using their unguided rockets in a fairly indiscriminate way, much like how some multiple rocket launcher systems can be used, to rain down explosives on a wide area.

The decision to launch rockets further from whatever the objective was also likely points to a particularly well-defended target being under attack.

This ballistic rocket-launching tactic could very well be an attempt to mitigate the threat posed by Ukrainian air defenses. If that’s the case, the presence of Ukrainian MANPADS or other low-level missiles, in this instance, seems to have had the effect of reducing the accuracy of VKS airstrikes, by forcing the attacking helicopters to greatly reduce their exposure to these missiles.

There is one other possibility that could also explain this tactic. Among the wide range of warheads available for the S-8 rocket is the S-8P, a jamming rocket that provides protection for the launch aircraft, or other nearby helicopters, by dispensing metalized fiberglass chaff. Potentially, the helicopters may be attempting to disrupt air defense radar or other radio-frequency emitters in the area, for their own safety, or that of other friendly aircraft.

Furthermore, another video shows this kind of ballistic rocket-firing being practiced in a training scenario, suggesting it’s a recognized tactic. There are also reports that Russian helicopters have operated this way during the Syrian campaign.

Indeed, there is also this example from a Cold War-era East German training manual explaining a similar tactic, albeit this time making use of the Mi-24 Hind helicopter. Interestingly, this manual also notes that a disadvantage of the tactic is that the rocket warheads are less likely to detonate on impact, due to a slower impact speed.

Im Strang Luftmechanisierung hatte ich genau solche Taktiken schon mal angerissen und beschrieben, als notwendige Anpassung an das moderne Schlachtfeld. Mit mehr Präzisionsraketen (die sich der Westen leisten könnte) und in Kombination mit Drohnen welche aufklälren - wäre die entsprechende Taktik des ballistischen Schusses von Raketen von einem Heli aus gleich wesentlich effektiver und dann würde sie dem entsprechen was ich immer mit modernen "berittenen Bogenschützen" meine.