The US "Military Observer" website published an article on March 9: 90% of Ukraine's military airfields were destroyed: Without them, Ukraine can continue to fight?
[Destroyed Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet]
On the afternoon of March 9, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that 90% of Ukraine's military airfields, which are the main bases of the Ukrainian Air Force, have been destroyed as a result of Russia's military operations against Ukraine.
While Russian ground forces have established a strong presence in eastern Ukraine, Russian air operations still face stubborn resistance.
【Su-27 fighter of the Ukrainian Air Force】
At the time of the destruction of the airfield, the United States and Poland sought to supply Ukraine with MiG-29 fighter jets from the Polish Air Force to compensate for its losses. However, the lack of airports could hamper such efforts. Although the MiG-29, like the U.S. F-35B, is one of the world's best-suited fighters to take off on short makeshift runways, the 1980s fighter's outdated weapons and avionics, along with its lack of trained Ukrainian pilots, mean that the ability to deploy these weapons and equipment is unlikely to be a factor in determining the outcome of the conflict.
Since Russian fighter jets and air defense systems already control Ukraine's skies, destroying the airfield could be a good deterrent to Ukraine from taking off low-cost drones to carry out air strikes, which is considered one of Ukraine's means of countering Russian air superiority, but is unlikely to reverse the tide of war.
【U.S. Stinger MANPADS】
While blocking the flight of Ukrainian air equipment is a big advantage, especially the ability to hinder the logistical supply of the Ukrainian army, Russian aircraft will still face the threat of portable surface-to-air missiles from Ukrainian infantry, such as the Soviet-era 9K38 and the American Stinger. These "asymmetrical" equipment pose a much greater threat to the Russian military than the Ukrainian Air Force itself can pose.
Author: Slightly fat
Copyright manuscripts, reproduction without permission is prohibited
The content of the article is the author's view and does not represent the position of this newspaper