Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

I think the most believable explanation is that the wing snapped off when it tried to execute a high G manoeuvre, not that it was shot down.

Either way, good result.

We will see what settlement we get in the end. If, as some here have been predicting, the Russian economy is close to collapse then Putin may ease his demands. Personally, as said elsewhere, I see no end in sight particularly as the Americans seem basically to be walking away and Europe is ineffectual

Germany will deliver new IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine under a three-year supply plan, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a joint press conference with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who added Berlin has no plans to provide Taurus long-range missiles.

The announcement comes amid escalating Russian aerial assaults, including a June 10 missile and drone strike on Kyiv, one of the largest since the start of the full-scale invasion.

"We are grateful for the supply of IRIS-T air defense systems," Zelensky said on June 12. "We understand that deliveries are currently being planned... for the next three years. This is very important assistance."

The IRIS-T is a German-made medium-range surface-to-air missile system capable of intercepting drones, aircraft, and cruise missiles.

Pistorius confirmed the delivery timeline but firmly ruled out the possibility of sending Taurus missiles — weapons Kyiv has repeatedly requested to strike deep into Russian territory.

"You asked me whether we are considering this, and my answer is no," Pistorius said.

Before taking office, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled openness to lifting former Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ban on the missiles. That stance has not yet resulted in a policy shift.

https://kyivindependent.com/germany-to-supply-new-iris-t-air-defenses-to-ukraine-rules-out-taurus-missiles/

Bugger.

There seems to be fire from the plane behind-

Mighty good news. Mach 5.2 is technically hypersonic.

Yesterday, the Netherlands and Sweden both announced they would increase defence spending to 5% of gdp and the UK acknowledged the would be going to 3.5%.

I am wondering if your projections are ‘right’? . Are you basing them on the mindset of your typical Russian at the time ie Second World War. That was then and this is now. Back during the Second World War Russians were ‘queuing up’ to join the army - given no choice especially when you consider who was in charge at the time. There was no WiFi then and the Ru gov was totally in charge of communications network

now with mobile phones, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, your typical Russian IS MUCH, MUCH MORE AWARE of what is going on to the effect that the following is probably the case:-

(1) ‘willing’ Russians to join the army are not queuing up in the same numbers as before because of what they are finding out about the war

(2) Lots of Russians leaving Russia if they can to avoid joining the army

(3) feed back from the front lines about the hazards/difficulties experienced - Russian bodies strewn all over the place,, poorly equipped with transport /arnments, etc.

(4) no clear reason for going to war and into a meat grinder.

(5) increasing desire for independance by a number of the republics and therefor do not see why they should be sending their able bodied men to fight for ‘somebody else’

So, in summary, I suggest that a lot of the able bodied Russians are not as available for Putin’s meat grinder as was the case in the Second World War

And those that do go to the front lines do not go to try and get back to the USSR position and moral would be ‘dented ‘ with them as aresult

Have heard/read that same interpretation by others, with the blame being assigned to "metal fatigue or poor quality manufacturing" in the bolts/brackets holding the wing to the fuselage.

I'd nearly say that'd be a much better situation for anyone trying to ground the fleet - force a few more of them into tight turns by any means possible, and if enough wings fall off Russian pilots will rapidly lose confidence in the aircraft's performance.

Won’t be good for Ukraine if France, ail, America get dragged in though.

I assume that Iran will need ALL the shaheed drones it produces rather than sending them to Russia. As a matter of fact we may see a. Flow of arms from Iran friendly nations to it. Iran seems to be much less ‘well off’ re arnaments when compared to Israel. Do

On another point the whole Muslim world has a TOTALLY different ‘ outlook on life’ than Israel/the western/ Christian world has - am thinking about the 40 virgins waiting in heaven for the ‘brave’ ; suicide bombers, ; 7/11 type activity, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Israel has been , but it most definately is now u’ up against’ a very wide range of ‘opposition eg there are Muslims all over the world - some who may not like what Israel is doing to Iran ; Iran. Friendly countries; Hamas; Hesbullah, Islamic Jihad, ; the Yemen revolutionaries; that ‘crowd’ in Nigerian if it plans to to ‘ expand’ etc, etc, etc,etc.