Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Second rate reporter says what?

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself. We’re allowed to grow past that.

There are a lot more evil idiots than evil geniuses.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

It’s a new day. Light all those Biden polls of young people on fire and throw away the ashes.

Bogus polls are all they’ve got left. Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls a year from now.

Nikki Haley, who can’t acknowledge ‘slavery’, is a pathetic shill.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

You cannot shame the shameless.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

The new republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

with the Kraken taking a plea, the Cheese stands alone.

Republicans don’t trust women.

Days Since JD Vance Insulted Women Across America: Zero

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 938: Ukraine Reaches Out and Touches Something 500 KM into Russia

War for Ukraine Day 938: Ukraine Reaches Out and Touches Something 500 KM into Russia

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The Wise Will Rule the Stars

Three quick housekeeping notes. First, Rosie is doing great. Thank you for all the good thoughts, well wishes, prayers, and donations.

Second, is it Friday yet? I’m still recovering from the past few days, so I’m going to just run through the basics.

Third, there is  a screen shot going around Facebook & X/Twitter about fear, demoralization, subversion, & reflexive control. I’ve been seeing screenshots for a few days. It’s made up. It’s supposed to invoke how KGB defector Yuri Bezmenov described this stuff. He’s controversial, but this isn’t his. I tracked it back to a long post at Quora that starts well & quickly devolves into both sides BS. I’m not going to post the link as I don’t want to amplify the garbage. For those interested in Bezmenov, here’s a good run down from the declassified archive maintained by the University of Toronto.

Ukraine’s HUR, SBU, and SSO – the Main Directorate of Intelligence, the Security Service rof Ukraine, and Ukrainian Special Operations Forces respectively – reached out and touched something very flammable 500 km into Russia early this morning. The explosions were so intense they registered as a 2.8 on the richter scale.

From The New Voice of Ukraine:

The warehouse in Toropka, Tver region, housed missiles for Iskander and Tochka-U systems, anti-aircraft missiles, and artillery ammunition.

After the drones struck, a powerful explosion occurred, prompting local residents to speculate on social media about the possibility of a nuclear bomb.

The blast has created a fire spanning 6 km, leading to a local evacuation.

The SBU, alongside the Defense Forces, is focused on dismantling Russia’s missile capabilities used against Ukrainian cities.

Over 100 kamikaze drones were used in the attack, which destroyed significant stockpiles of North Korean KN23 ballistic missiles, Grad missiles, S-30 air defense systems, and Iskander ballistic missiles.

The strike, carried out by Ukrainian-made drones, hit the arsenal approximately 500 km from Ukraine’s border.

Strike on an ammunition warehouse in Toropka

On the night of Sept. 18, a fire erupted in Toropets, Russia, following a UAV attack, leading to ammunition explosions. Regional Governor Ihor Rudenia ordered a partial evacuation of residents. Eyewitnesses reported extensive fires, explosions, and building damage.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defense shot down 54 UAVs overnight, though it did not mention the Tver region.

The warehouse attacked in Toropets stored various missiles, including North Korean KN23s, Grad, S-300, S-400, and Iskander missiles, according to Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the NSDC.

Strike Hard!

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

Our Plan for Victory Is Already Fully Prepared; the Most Important Thing Now Is the Determination to Implement It – Address by the President

18 September 2024 – 20:05

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

First of all, today, I want to thank our warriors who ensure our Ukrainian long-range capability. There is a significant outcome from last night on the territory of Russia, and this is the type of action that weakens the enemy. I thank all those involved. Such inspiring precision. Our special services: the Security Service, the Defense Intelligence, the Special Operations Forces – thank you!

Today, there were two reports by the Commander-in-Chief – first, a long report on all directions of our actions. Our defense, our offensive steps. General Syrskyi reported on the changes in the situation in the Kursk region and our response to them. A strong response. Each of our units there performed admirably! We are managing the situation at our foothold within the limits of our expectations. Maximum attention is also paid to the directions in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions – our entire east. Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Kurakhove. We are working on reinforcements, both in terms of weapons and personnel.

Today, I also spoke with the Minister of Finance of Ukraine and the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council regarding funds for key state needs, for defense. We must provide everything Ukraine requires.

Today there was a lot of work with our team of international experts – we are preparing meetings with partners, negotiations. The priority is not only to implement everything we have already agreed upon, and which is still being hindered at the logistics stage, but also more strategic things. We have clear tasks for manning the brigades – this includes equipment and training. All the promises made at the Washington Summit regarding air defense have not yet been fully realized. And it is crucial to achieve more results for our air shield right now, in early fall.

And today, we can already say that our Plan for Victory is fully prepared – all points, all key emphases, the necessary appendices with details to the Plan have been identified. Everything has been worked out. The most important thing now is the determination to implement it.

There is, and can be, no alternative to peace, no freezing of the war, or any other manipulations that will simply shift Russian aggression to another stage. We need reliable and long-term security for Ukraine, and, therefore, for all of Europe.

This is what we are working for.

I thank everyone who helps! Glory to all our warriors, glory to our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

The cost:

⚡️None of Ukraine’s plans to end the war envisages ceasefire, ceding territory, Podolyak says.

“(Freezing of the conflict) will not lead to the end of the war but will only lead to Russia gaining the opportunity to accumulate additional resources and proceed to the third stage (of the war) with more mass killings of civilians in Ukraine,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Presidential Office, said on Sept. 17.

https://kyivindependent.com/none-of-ukraines-plans-to-end-the-war-envisages-ceasefire-ceding-territory-podolyak-says/

The Kyiv Independent has the details:

None of the plans Ukraine is developing to end Russia’s war envisages a ceasefire or ceding territory to Moscow, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Presidential Office, told Current Time on Sept. 17.

Podolyak’s statement echoed a recent comment of Dmytro Lytvyn, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky,  who dismissed Bild’s article saying that Kyiv was allegedly ready to freeze the conflict as part of its “Victory Plan” as “fake.”

“(Freezing of the conflict) will not lead to the end of the war but will only lead to Russia gaining the opportunity to accumulate additional resources and proceed to the third stage (of the war) with more mass killings of civilians in Ukraine,” Podolyak said.

“There are no concepts of ceding territories, there are no concepts of freezing the conflict,” he added.

Kyiv has repeatedly rejected any ceasefire or temporary break in hostilities, saying it would only provide a window of opportunity for Russia to regroup its forces.

Last month, Zelensky said that Ukraine’s operations in Russia’s Kursk Oblast were part of his “Victory Plan.”

The other aspects of the plan include Ukraine’s participation in the global security infrastructure, pressuring Russia to end the war through diplomatic means, and an economic aspect, Zelensky said without revealing further details.

According to Zelensky, the plan is over 90% complete, and Kyiv is preparing to present it to allies next week.

Ukraine is preparing for a second peace summit, following its first global peace summit in Switzerland in June where Russia was not invited. Kyiv has said it aims to invite a Russian representative to the second conference.

Today, @verkhovna_rada made a crucial decision for the country—to increase defense spending in 2024 by UAH 495.3 billion.

UAH 274.4 billion will go to the allowance for our defenders and their families. Another UAH 76.2 billion will be spent on weapons and equipment, which will help modernize the army and increase its combat capability.

I thank the parliamentarians for their important decision. We continue to do everything possible to ensure that our military has everything they need—Minister @rustem_umerov

We have an update on the Ukrainian F-16s:

“Despite doubts that Ukraine would be able to maintain the [F-16] jets, Hecker said Ukrainian maintainers are succeeding. ‘We’ve trained a lot of Ukrainian maintainers, and from all accounts, when I talk to the instructors that are training them, they catch on very quickly,’ Hecker said. “I know they’re flying. That’s good news.’

Meanwhile, Ukrainian F-16s are likely to be employed mainly in an air defense role as its air force develops the skills and understanding to leverage all its capabilities.”
https://airandspaceforces.com/ukraine-cautious-approach-f-16-air-forces-europe-boss/

From Air & Space Forces Magazine, which should help answer a question someone asked either last night or the night before in the comments.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—Ukraine is taking a cautious approach toward employing its new F-16s, the top U.S. Air Force officer in Europe said Sept. 17.

“The pilots are new to it, so they’re not going to put them at the riskiest missions,” Gen. James B. Hecker, the head of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and NATO Allied Air Command, told reporters Sept. 17 at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference. “Ultimately, that’s a Ukrainian decision. But I think that’s the approach that they’re taking.”

Ukraine first began flying the F-16 in August, and the aircraft has already proved successful in shooting down Russian cruise missiles and drones. But in one missile and drone barrage, a Ukrainian F-16 crashed, killing its pilot. Ukraine is investigating the incident.

Ukraine’s Air Force commander was fired soon after. Hecker said the U.S. has offered its assistance, but the U.S. had yet to “see if they take us up on that offer.”

The U.S. has not only trained Ukrainian pilots and maintainers but is also trying to boost the status of the country’s air force within the Ukrainian military.

“In a lot of the former Soviet Union countries, the army was kind of the service, and everybody else was below that and maybe didn’t get a voice at the table,” Hecker said. “So I have been asking that the Air Force get positions on the General Staff.”

The goal, which Hecker said is backed by U.S. Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, the head of U.S. European Command and the NATO Supreme Allied Commander, is to enable Ukraine’s air force to do more joint operations with the country’s ground forces.

Despite doubts that Ukraine would be able to maintain the jets, Hecker said Ukrainian maintainers are succeeding. “We’ve trained a lot of Ukrainian maintainers, and from all accounts, when I talk to the instructors that are training them, they catch on very quickly,” Hecker said. “I know they’re flying. That’s good news.”

The Biden administration has shelved a proposal to hire American civilian contractors to help maintain the aircraft, hoping instead that contractors from European nations will assume some of that responsibility.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian F-16s are likely to be employed mainly in an air defense role as its air force develops the skills and understanding to leverage all its capabilities.

To date in the war, Ukraine has shot down more than 100 Russian aircraft, Hecker said, and Russia has shot down at least 75 Ukrainian aircraft. That’s kept both sides from fully employing its fighters for fear of losing them.

“What we see is the aircraft are kind of staying on their own side of the line, if you will,” Hecker said.

“What none of us probably forecasted is that nobody would get air superiority, neither Ukraine or Russia,” he said. “And now it’s been two and a half years, and neither one has, and that’s because of the integrated air and missile defense systems that both of them have.”

Ukraine has been promised at least 80 F-16s, with the first aircraft coming from Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway. On Sept. 17. Ukrainian President Volomyr Zelenskky said the country had a new “ambitious” strategy to “increase the number of combat aircraft in Ukraine and speed up our pilot training.”

U.S. and Denmark are leading the training, but the U.K. and others are also training pilots on Western tactics in jet aircraft. There are over a dozen countries in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group’s Air Force Capability Coalition, co-led by Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States. That group is “advising Ukraine and providing training, funding, aircraft, and critical equipment” to build up a fouth-generation fighter force, according to U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Javan Rasnake, a Pentagon spokesperson. After a Sept. 6 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Canada said it would train new pilots without previous flight experience. The Ukrainian pilots training in the U.S. and Denmark have previous experience flying Soviet-era combat aircraft.

“We can’t train them fast enough,” Hecker said. “The good news is we have a coalition that is helping with the training.”

More at the link.

Various EU member states and members of the EU parliament:

From Politico:

FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY — EUROPEANS’ WRITING CAMPAIGN: European lawmakers are pushing President JOE BIDEN and other U.S. allies to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of donated weapons against targets in Russian territory.

In a letter to Biden and shared first with NatSec Daily, European parliamentarians, including former Lithuanian Prime Minister ANDRIUS KUBILIUS, called on Biden to lift restrictions on U.S.-provided weapons as a show of alignment with European partners.

“As leaders of Europe, we cannot stand by while this war rages on, with innocent lives lost daily,” they wrote. “Time and again, we have seen that only firm and decisive action can push back Russian forces and bring this conflict closer to an end. In moments of crisis, the United States has always stood with Europe, and we ask for that same solidarity now.”

The letter comes as Ukraine eagerly awaits a long-sought lift on some restrictions following a meeting between Biden and U.K. Prime Minister KEIR STARMER last week.

Speaking of the SSO:

For you Gepard SPAAG enthusiasts:

A bit more on the Toropets strike:

It’s funny because it’s true.

I’ll just leave this here:

Kharkiv:

Mariupol:

Here’s the full text of the first tweet:

Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine report about the destruction of the Russian warehouses with ammunition near Mariupol as a result of a missile attack. Which means Neptune missile was most likely used.

Local residents of Mariupol reported about the sounds of detonating ammunition on 13th of September.

Now footages of destroyed Russian ammunition depot in Hlyboke, near Mariupol, were published.

https://facebook.com/navy.mil.gov.ua/posts/pfbid02jwCVomSbZNLLVUAKRfzTZjZjmTRt3BZo5bE5oL1x6tDmmyoxf7eEwajzkypLfD1Nl

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

A new video from Patron’s official TikTok!

@patron__dsns

Є дні, коли здається, що світ функціонує сам собою. Люди йдуть на роботу, діти граються на подвір’ї, гуляють песики… Але є ті, для кого кожен день — черговий виклик. Це рятувальники. Їхня робота виглядає, як сцена з фільму: гучні сирени, вогонь, вода, руїни, дим. Вони біжать туди, куди інші не наважуються навіть глянути. Рятувальники обирають цей шлях не через хоробрість, а через глибоке розуміння того, що їхня присутність може змінити все. Вони не просто гасять вогонь або дістають людей з-під завалів, а повертають комусь надію, дарують другий шанс, часто ціною власного спокою. Рятувальники знають: за дверима може чекати що завгодно. Але зупинитися — не їхній вибір. Вони завжди йдуть вперед, навіть якщо страх намагається спинити їхні кроки. І це — справжній героїзм. Героїзм, який полягає не у відсутності страху, а у здатності його долати заради інших. І хоча ззовні здаються непохитними, їм теж буває страшно. Дуже страшно. Адже кожен новий виклик — це невідомість. Не знають, що побачать, коли увійдуть у темний підвал, не знають, кого знайдуть під уламками. І цей страх — не через небезпеку для себе, ні. Вони бояться не встигнути. Не побачити того, кого могли б врятувати. Рятувальники йдуть туди, куди ніхто не хоче, тому що знають: там є хтось, хто потребує їх. Їхня робота — це не сцени з фільмів, де все закінчується обіймами і сміхом. Після виклику вони часто повертаються у тишу. У свій дім, де не чути сирен, де немає плачів чи криків. Пам’ятають кожного, кого не вдалось спасти. Хоч і не показують, та їхній світ теж розбивається. Але на наступний день знову вдягають свою форму і йдуть туди, де потрібні. Бо знають: якщо не вони, то хто? Коли ви бачите їх у новинах, вони часто мовчазні. Мовчать про свої перемоги та втрати. Бо роблять свою справу не заради слави. Їм важливо лише одне: засинати з думкою, що, можливо, комусь вони подарували ще один шанс. І цей шанс — найбільша винагорода для них. Я вітаю своїх колег та дякую їм за нелегку працю. З усіма особисто не знайомий, але кожного ціную і люблю ❤️ А вам усім залишаю хоробрий ДСНС-ний лизь 👅 Відео і фото: inst @dsns_ukraine #дснс #дснсукраїни

♬ оригінальний звук – Patron_official

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

There are days when the world seems to function by itself. People go to work, children play in the yard, dogs walk… But there are those for whom every day is another challenge. These are rescuers. Their work looks like a scene from a movie: loud sirens, fire, water, ruins, smoke. They run where others dare not even look. Rescuers choose this path not because of bravery, but because of a deep understanding that their presence can change everything. They don’t just put out fires or get people out from under the rubble, they restore someone’s hope, give them a second chance, often at the cost of their own peace of mind. Rescuers know that anything can be waiting outside the door. But stopping is not their choice. They always go forward, even if fear tries to stop their steps. And this is true heroism. Heroism, which consists not in the absence of fear, but in the ability to overcome it for the sake of others. And although they seem unshakable from the outside, they are also afraid. Very scary. After all, every new challenge is an unknown. They do not know what they will see when they enter the dark basement, they do not know who they will find under the rubble. And this fear is not because of danger to oneself, no. They are afraid of not having time. Not to see the one who could be saved. Rescuers go where no one wants to go, because they know there is someone there who needs them. Their work is not a movie scene where everything ends with hugs and laughter. After being called, they often return to silence. To your home, where you don’t hear sirens, where there are no cries or screams. Everyone who could not be saved is remembered. Although they don’t show it, their world is also falling apart. But the next day they put on their uniform again and go where they are needed. Because they know: if not them, then who? When you see them on the news, they are often silent. They are silent about their victories and losses. Because they do their work not for fame. Only one thing is important to them: to fall asleep with the thought that maybe they gave someone another chance. And this chance is the greatest reward for them. I congratulate my colleagues and thank them for their hard work. I don’t know all of them personally, but I appreciate and love everyone ❤️ And I leave you all a brave DSNS lick 👅 Video and photo: inst @dsns_ukraine #дснс #дснсукраины

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    18Comments

    1. 1.

      hrprogressive

      Is the Big Kaboom likely to materially hinder Russia’s ability to prosecute their war?

      And, uh. How close to The Pager War is the greater Middle East?

      Reply
    2. 2.

      Gin & Tonic

      Handful of items.

      If you want to know more about the nym of Yevhen Lemeshenko, read this Wiki article. Although they waged war against Kyivan Rus’, they are not viewed negatively in present-day Ukraine.

      The caption under the picture of Budanov in the Tendar tweet says “head of the Toropets’ municipal region of Tversk Oblast.” Maybe by now he is, who knows?

      Can’t find and link the tweet now, but Mark Hertling tweeted about the Toropets ammo dump operation and said, basically, you can’t just throw an explosive in there, you have to aim precisely to get maximum impact, otherwise you burn off extraneous stuff too early in the process. That’s, I guess, where the Special Forces come in. This was one hell of an op.

      Reply
    4. 4.

      KatKapCC

      That letter from the European lawmakers is good, though I wish they could be more blunt and just say “Stop being such a PAB and letting Putin bend you over his knee”. But that’s one reason why I am not in politics.

      Reply
    8. 8.

      Ishiyama

      Drone swarms are the new warfare. With a swarm of only 100, Ukraine destroyed a major target. Now imagine 500 or 1,000 drones at once. Battlefield or strategic target, how do you respond?

      Reply
    9. 9.

      Jay

      WarTranslated (Dmitri)
      @wartranslated
      13h
      It’s fun in Moscow. The former husband of the CEO of the online retailer Wildberries, Vladislav Bakalchuk, took his security and tried to break into the head office of the company, where his ex-wife was. A shootout with security broke out, where several people were injured and one was killed.

      Bakalchuk himself said that he arrived for negotiations on financing the construction of new Wildberries warehouses, but “was attacked by security and unknown” people, “who provoked an armed conflict.”

      Bakalchuk himself works with Kadyrov, and his ex-wife – with Kerimov and Putin’s main administration Vaino, so the situation is extremely exciting and interesting.

      Both Bakalchuk and his ex-wife are some of Russia’s richest people. They divorced earlier this year when Vladislav accused her of a “hostile takeover” of Wildberries and sought the help of Kadyrov.

      https://nitter.poast.org/wartranslated/status/1836374353912463677#m

      Just normal business practices in ruZZia.

      Reply
    10. 10.

      Jay

      Laryssa Waler 🌻 Лариса Валєр
      @LWaler
      Sep 18
      Initial thoughts about the disgusting movie being shown at @TIFF_NET “Russians at War” (#5 and #6 especially).

      1. It’s a movie, not a documentary. Multiple camera angles and positions, i.e. on the tank scenes, everyone is wearing a mic, there are carefully chosen characters, plots, editorialized voiceovers and subtext on the screen. When someone in the theatre got up to protest the film, a fellow viewer yelled at him to shut up; because they’re “trying to watch a movie”. It was like I was sitting with a bunch of voyeurs.

      2. If you didn’t’ know anything about the war, you’d think Ukraine is the bad guy. The viewers are led on a journey to understand that the Russians know their side isn’t virtuous; but there’s nothing to even suggest that Ukraine is the innocent party. Quotes suggesting this is about NATO expansion, or Ukrainian aggression go un-challenged and nothing is refuted with a voiceover or subtitle.

      3. There is no mention of any of the atrocities committed by Russians against Ukrainians. In fact, viewers are led to believe none have happened.

      4. Terms like “the front”, and “the Luhansk People’s Republic” are used in place of Ukraine – intentionally.

      5. There is no way, no way, no way the Kremlin didn’t know and approve the making of this film. The film maker had unfettered access – embedded herself with the unit; admits “command” knows she’s there, was given a military uniform, rigged cameras onto military equipment, was able to travel from within Ukraine’s borders, back to Moscow, and back to “the front”. She filmed at the military hospital; again with a camera set up, audio, lighting etc. From someone who was sanctioned personally by Russia for writing an op-ed in a Canadian newspaper – I can tell you, the Kremlin knows every move against them. The idea that she was covert is laughable if it wasn’t being bought hook, line and sinker from the Canadian arts elite.

      6. If Russia approved this movie – ask yourself why? The goal of this movie (and it’s very good at it), is to create anti-war and “peace” activists in the West who oppose this war. TIFF itself said as much today. The problem is that means activism against supplying Ukraine with the weapons and funds it needs to win this war. Peace isn’t victory. Peace is what Russia wants—stalemate.

      7. TIFF officials introduced the filmmaker as having worked at the NY Times, Washington Post and CBC. No mention of the 7 years at RT (Russian State television network).

      8. At the end of the movie, we’re supposed to feel sorry for a Russian who died, leaving three children. All I thought was the father in Lviv last week who buried his three daughters and wife, murdered by Russians at War.

      I’ll write more later, I’m still shaking with anger. Mad at Canadian institutions for funding this, mad at Canadian media who being so blind to the overt propaganda, mad at @TIFF_NET for whitewashing this atrocious war in the name of art and humanizing the aggressors. When a “human” rapes a woman, do we try to humanize him? Or do we accept he’s the bad guy. Even if he’s funny, even if he’s a father, even if he hasn’t been paid in a month.

      https://nitter.poast.org/LWaler/status/1836198265890508945#m

      Reply
    11. 11.

      Traveller

      I am sad to see there was a showing of Russians at War, I was hoping that this had been successfully headed off and there would be no showing. Thank you for keeping us informed. Best Wishes,

      Reply
    12. 12.

      Jay

      @Traveller:

      It was raised in the House of Commons today, that’s a big deal.

      Previous film festivals that have featured “questionable” films, have been blackballed, stripped of culture funding and go bankrupt.

      TIFF has really screwed the pooch on this one.

      It’s become a serious scandal.

      Reply
    13. 13.

      steve g

      Okay July 4th fireworks planners. The ante has been upped. You can’t let them win, you can’t let us down. You know what you have to do.

      Reply
    16. 16.

      Anoniminous

      @Ishiyama: ​

      1. Ground based anti-drone weapons
      2. Counter swarms armed with air-to-air weapons

      But they won’t be very effective. Current air defense technology is geared to countering smallish numbers of high value weapon systems the enemy force is loath to risk and lose. 10,000 drones the enemy doesn’t give two pins about is a whole ‘nother proposition; the attackers can keep on sending wave after wave until they destroy the target.

      Reply
    17. 17.

      Anoniminous

      @frosty:

      Yes but by GOD when the Warsaw Pact invades West Germany through the Fulda Gap WE’LL BE READY!

      The whole thing reminds me of the British “expert” (sic) who wrote in a pre-WW 1 manual machine guns would increase the fighting power of the cavalry.

      Reply
    18. 18.

      daveNYC

      Funny (not really) thing about drone swarms is that the challenge they present isn’t exactly new.  Back in the ’80s, there was a Doonesbury where Lacey Davenport was grilling someone from the DoD about how one B-2 cost as much as umpteen hundred cruise missiles, and which threat he thought the USSR would prefer to be facing.

      Drones are basically that dialed up to 11.

      Reply

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