![](https://i.imgur.com/CLvY2jA.png")
12-05-2024, 02:24 PM
Ukrainian pilots fly dangerous "wild weasel" missions to suppress Russian air defenses.
Advanced US-supplied missiles have played a critical role in since mid 2022 missions.
Since mid-2022, US has supplied Ukraine with HARMs, providing Ukrainian pilots with Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) capabilities.(Note): US Air Force pioneered SEAD tactics in Vietnam War. So-called wild weasel aircraft were tasked with destroying enemy air defense radars to clear way for attack aircraft to fly through. (Wild weasels is radar receivers to locate air defenses, initially armed with bombs and later special missiles that target radar.
Soon arrival F-16 fighter jets will help level out in air superiority, to targeting them with their radars, radar waves are then traced back to their source, Ukraine pilots retaliate with weapons like US-made newer weapon.
The term "wild weasel" originated from Project Wild Weasel. US Air Force anti-SAM strategy used direct attacks to suppress enemy air defenses, HARM is the latest of US air-to-surface missiles: a projectile of around 770 pounds, has a range of 90 miles, missiles can locate strike enemy radar even after radar systems have been turned off. HARM has been used in wars in Libya, Iraq, and former Yugoslavia.
This experience is put to good used in Ukraine. "Learning from Western military, to put great emphasis on SEAD & DEAD missions, "its can be "very dangerous," especially for wild weasels, but Russian air defenses are a key target. This game is worth the candle he added, but Ukraine's tactics "go far beyond classic wild weasel missions". From special forces raids to land-launched missiles like GMLRS, ATACMS & UAVs of all sorts, Ukrainians use all kind of weapons, & systems they have at their disposal to suppress & destroy Russian air defenses."
Mertens said Western weapons use in Ukraine is difficulty in adapting HARM for Ukraine due to incompatibility of old Soviet-era jets, like MIG-29 & Su-27, with modern Western technology. US Undersecretary Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment William LaPlante @Washington DC conference said. Ukraine used iPads to make jets compatible to Western weapons, he described how Ukraine's aging fighter took to Western weapons & getting them to work on aircraft were "basically controlled by iPad by pilot, a necessary to adapt, and did fired hundreds of HARMs b4 at Russian air defense radar systems.
However, Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow for Airpower & Technology at London-based think tank Royal United says. "They initially achieved a successful kills against Russian SAM systems & radars when first introduced;, but HARM launches serve "a suppressive rather than destructive purpose." When launched, "missiles Russian SAM operators have to turn off their radars & to avoid being hit,"
Bronk said. "¹Leaves a short window within which strike systems like HIMARS rockets or Storm Shadow missiles can get through to nearby targets with much less risk of being intercepted by the Russian SAMs." While Awaiting for F-16s the modified Soviet-era fighter jets allow Ukrainians to use HARM missiles.
"The all capabilities F-16," Gen. James Hecker, commander for Euro US Air Forces said during a roundtable @Air Force Asso Space Cyber conference, the delivery of F-16s will be crucial for increasing Ukrainian air superiority. A F-16 aircraft is pictured after the first delivery of Norway's old F-16 fighter aircraft to Romania at Rygge Air Force Base, Norway on Nov. 28, 2023.
Earlier this week, Netherlands announced plans to start delivering F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this autumn, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said during a press briefing in Vilnius. Denmark said it would transferring its aircraft in summer, "dealing with Russian GBAD [Ground Based Air Defense] will be crucial is future Ukrainian air strikes once F-16 fighters arrive," delivery of such a small number of F-16s can't be overestimated,
Mertens believes they can significantly impact Crimea. "Crimea is vulnerable: the Russians have relatively limited maneuver space on the Peninsula, resupply is dependent on Kerch bridge, and here Putin has a lot to lose both politically and militarily," he said. If a limited number of fighters can have a real impact is here."
https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraines...war-2024-5
Advanced US-supplied missiles have played a critical role in since mid 2022 missions.
Since mid-2022, US has supplied Ukraine with HARMs, providing Ukrainian pilots with Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) capabilities.(Note): US Air Force pioneered SEAD tactics in Vietnam War. So-called wild weasel aircraft were tasked with destroying enemy air defense radars to clear way for attack aircraft to fly through. (Wild weasels is radar receivers to locate air defenses, initially armed with bombs and later special missiles that target radar.
Soon arrival F-16 fighter jets will help level out in air superiority, to targeting them with their radars, radar waves are then traced back to their source, Ukraine pilots retaliate with weapons like US-made newer weapon.
The term "wild weasel" originated from Project Wild Weasel. US Air Force anti-SAM strategy used direct attacks to suppress enemy air defenses, HARM is the latest of US air-to-surface missiles: a projectile of around 770 pounds, has a range of 90 miles, missiles can locate strike enemy radar even after radar systems have been turned off. HARM has been used in wars in Libya, Iraq, and former Yugoslavia.
This experience is put to good used in Ukraine. "Learning from Western military, to put great emphasis on SEAD & DEAD missions, "its can be "very dangerous," especially for wild weasels, but Russian air defenses are a key target. This game is worth the candle he added, but Ukraine's tactics "go far beyond classic wild weasel missions". From special forces raids to land-launched missiles like GMLRS, ATACMS & UAVs of all sorts, Ukrainians use all kind of weapons, & systems they have at their disposal to suppress & destroy Russian air defenses."
Mertens said Western weapons use in Ukraine is difficulty in adapting HARM for Ukraine due to incompatibility of old Soviet-era jets, like MIG-29 & Su-27, with modern Western technology. US Undersecretary Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment William LaPlante @Washington DC conference said. Ukraine used iPads to make jets compatible to Western weapons, he described how Ukraine's aging fighter took to Western weapons & getting them to work on aircraft were "basically controlled by iPad by pilot, a necessary to adapt, and did fired hundreds of HARMs b4 at Russian air defense radar systems.
However, Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow for Airpower & Technology at London-based think tank Royal United says. "They initially achieved a successful kills against Russian SAM systems & radars when first introduced;, but HARM launches serve "a suppressive rather than destructive purpose." When launched, "missiles Russian SAM operators have to turn off their radars & to avoid being hit,"
Bronk said. "¹Leaves a short window within which strike systems like HIMARS rockets or Storm Shadow missiles can get through to nearby targets with much less risk of being intercepted by the Russian SAMs." While Awaiting for F-16s the modified Soviet-era fighter jets allow Ukrainians to use HARM missiles.
"The all capabilities F-16," Gen. James Hecker, commander for Euro US Air Forces said during a roundtable @Air Force Asso Space Cyber conference, the delivery of F-16s will be crucial for increasing Ukrainian air superiority. A F-16 aircraft is pictured after the first delivery of Norway's old F-16 fighter aircraft to Romania at Rygge Air Force Base, Norway on Nov. 28, 2023.
Earlier this week, Netherlands announced plans to start delivering F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this autumn, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said during a press briefing in Vilnius. Denmark said it would transferring its aircraft in summer, "dealing with Russian GBAD [Ground Based Air Defense] will be crucial is future Ukrainian air strikes once F-16 fighters arrive," delivery of such a small number of F-16s can't be overestimated,
Mertens believes they can significantly impact Crimea. "Crimea is vulnerable: the Russians have relatively limited maneuver space on the Peninsula, resupply is dependent on Kerch bridge, and here Putin has a lot to lose both politically and militarily," he said. If a limited number of fighters can have a real impact is here."
https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraines...war-2024-5
