OT: Pick a Fighter for Ukraine

[Raellus]

Inspired by this article, and recent discussion in the Putin's War thread...

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/45018/just-pick-a-fighter-to-start-training-ukrainian-pilots-on-now

Setting aside in-kind replacements for Ukraine's current fighter fleet, what would be the best Western fighter with which to relatively quickly reequip the UAF fighter force

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[swaghauler]

The Mig 29 because they can already service and fly it. Give them ALL of NATO's PACT fighters and give our NATO PARTNERS F16s or F15s for their contribution to Ukraine's fight.

[pmulcahy11b]

They already have (or more probably had) the MiG-29, and I think small numbers of the base Su-27 and Su-25. Their mainstay fighter was the MiG-29. So most of their fighter pilots already know how to fly it, and will just have to be trained on any possible mods or upgrades they're not used to.

I think the original plan was good: trade Poland's Mig-29s for late-Block F-16Cs and Ds. (The Poles decided to throw an unnecessary complication into the works, but...). Then give the former Polish MiGs to Ukraine, along with some ordnance. Simple.

[Raellus]

My dudes, I agree, but your responses ignore the poll question.

Setting aside in-kind replacements for Ukraine's current fighter fleet, what would be the best Western fighter with which to relatively quickly reequip the UAF fighter force

Emphasis added.

If you're going to play the game, ya gotta follow the rules.

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[pmulcahy11b]

@Swag, I agree, but your response ignores the poll question.



Emphasis added.

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It can take as much as a year for a pilot to be trained to proficiency on a new type of aircraft. Barring check flights and joyrides, none of the aircraft in the poll will be usable by Ukraine's pilots until the war is well over. So sorry, I have to ignore the poll rules in favor of what's possible.

[Raellus]

It can take as much as a year for a pilot to be trained to proficiency on a new type of aircraft. Barring check flights and joyrides, none of the aircraft in the poll will be usable by Ukraine's pilots until the war is well over. So sorry, I have to ignore the poll rules in favor of what's possible.

Fair enough. Did you read the article It probably does a better job of establishing the premise than the OP did.

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[swaghauler]

My dudes, I agree, but your responses ignore the poll question.



Emphasis added.

If you're going to play the game, ya gotta follow the rules.

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And you're ignoring the fact that 4 NATO countries (including the US with 3 dozen flying) fly the Mig 29 and one of them built Migs. Poland's Mig 29s ARE "Western Fighters" as far as I'm concerned.

[Raellus]

And you're ignoring the fact that 4 NATO countries (including the US with 3 dozen flying) fly the Mig 29 and one of them built Migs. Poland's Mig 29s ARE "Western Fighters" as far as I'm concerned.

I'm not ignoring anything. I agree with you. I've said so.

The poll asks respondents to pick a fighter other than the MiG29/SU-27. That's the premise of the article I linked. If you don't want to read it, cool. If you still want to pick the MiG29/SU-27, cool. Fair play. I'm not telling anyone what to think. I'm just clarifying the poll premise and parameters in case there was some sort of misunderstanding.

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[pmulcahy11b]

Fair enough. Did you read the article It probably does a better job of establishing the premise than the OP did.

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OK, let scroll down and find it. I'll admit I didn't read the whole thread. But I think my point is valid.

[pmulcahy11b]

And you're ignoring the fact that 4 NATO countries (including the US with 3 dozen flying) fly the Mig 29 and one of them built Migs. Poland's Mig 29s ARE "Western Fighters" as far as I'm concerned.

I wonder just how many non-US aircraft they have out there at Nellis...

[pmulcahy11b]

OK, I read the article. Unlike most of The Drive's articles, I thoroughly disagree with this one. And there's no way a pilot will gain even the tiniest level of proficiency in a modern fighter in 2-3 weeks, unless he was already proficient on a version of the same aircraft. (Hell, it took me almost three months to become proficient enough to solo in a glider.) And I reiterate my point.

[Raellus]

OK, I read the article. Unlike most of The Drive's articles, I thoroughly disagree with this one. And there's no way a pilot will gain even the tiniest level of proficiency in a modern fighter in 2-3 weeks, unless he was already proficient on a version of the same aircraft. (Hell, it took me almost three months to become proficient enough to solo in a glider.) And I reiterate my point.

That 2-3 weeks thing was from a UAF Tweet. Here's what the article author said about training:

"Regardless of the outlandish claims that some are putting forward, including the Ukrainian Air Force itself, this process will take many months or even, in some cases, years to complete. "

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[pmulcahy11b]

OK, this is turning into a tiff, and IIRC you're an Admin. I withdraw to a neutral corner, and pull my invisibility cloak around me.

[pmulcahy11b]

OK, uncloaking a moment. How many usable airfields (or even straight sections of decent road that don't have debris all over them) are there left in Ukraine Or aircraft-worthy support facilities Jet fuel/POL Something to shoot at the enemy That's just a few things you need to support any decent air operations (unless we give the Ukrainians surplus Harriers or F-35Bs). Otherwise this whole discussion (or whatever ones are taking place IRL) is academic.

Recloaking. I may even stick my tongue out and say "Nyahh, Nyahh" if you notice me.

[Raellus]

No Tiff

I'm sorry, Paul. I was not trying to be argumentative. I was just trying to clarify the OP and the premise of the article. I respect your opinion, even when it differs from mine (which is not the case in this instance). I apologize if any my posts came across as combative. That was never the intent.

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