nomadski Wed Sep 27, 2023 5:33 am
Dr.Snufflebug wrote:The mini-turbines used in regular cruise missiles are quite cheap, and Russia produces these in bulk. Their MTBOs are in the hour and half ballpark, but they aren't meant to ever be overhauled anyway, so yeah.
A commercial JetCat turbine, their bigger models, that RC hobbyists buy for 5000-10000 dollars a piece depending on model/size/thrust are almost comparable, but they are built to last.
Horses for courses . In the beginning of SMO , used to think ; keep Aircraft out of SAM range , use Arty and Drones and cruise missiles instead . Save Aircraft to be used against NATO . Now I think ; Save enough Aircraft to carry Nukes against NATO , use the rest in Ukraine . Aircraft carry munitions that other platforms do not carry . A Geran carries , what 50 kg ? How about Zircon or Iskander ? About 500 kg ? A jet fighter carries about 5000 kg . A heavy bomber ? Much more about 13000 kg ? The cost per ton , is less . Also we can do things with an Earth penetrating 2000 kg munition , that nothing else can do . There is no replacement . A heavy bomber delivering many Tons of bombs into enemy bunker , will suck the air out of their lungs and collapse the bunkers on their head and completely demoralize them . Force them to put guns down and retreat or surrender !
Since the Ukrainian Army is increasingly a proxy Army , then destroying men and material at the frontlines , becomes far more important than destroying industrial military infrastructure inside Ukraine . In my view more effort should be put into SEAD , say to a depth of 50 to 100 km , into the Ukraine controlled territory , away from frontlines . To disable all SAM systems . For this , then drones and missiles are used and concentrated . Afterwards heavy bombers can put much more cheap dumb bombs on the frontlines . In this way the Orcs are demoralised and bunker system destroyed . No choice but surrender !