Read that Rosatom is having difficulties making ends meet too. Supposedly continuing with their international builds but domestic reactors on hold - as per yesterday's report, "points to poor economic conditions as doubts cast on nuclear projects." David Dalton, NucNet.org.
A great deal has been written about drones being the future of warfare, and that manned aircraft (and other types of human operated weapons delivery vehicles) are a technological dead end and doomed on the battlefield. No doubt what is happening in Ukraine has been a massive eye opener for many, but I wonder about how much drone warfare is driven by a question of available industrial base. You fight with what you can build (or buy).
What is true is that aircraft like the Tu-95 and the Tu-160 have simply become too expensive for Russia to build, both in terms of cost and time. Countries with a more robust economic and industrial base simply have more options. For them, I suspect the future of warfare is somewhere between the manned systems and "all drones, all the time" world predicted by some pundits.
Every weapon ever banned and considered war crimes was the future of if the battlefield. Complaints and criticism fall on deaf ears during ongoing conflicts and war. Right now without any personal stake or vested interest you are lobbying against one or the other side using the weapons. Depending on context, you are either against Iran or Ukraine in the west if you critize drones, or arguing that only the US is allowed "death from above". But what the hell, if the goal is to Machiavelli people to improve economies and ensure food and water security. Mustard gas is humane with less PTSD, you just fall to sleep without oxygen. Because as I see this, drones are closer to gas than cluster bombs, phosphorus or possibly napalm.
Now, these long range drones are impressive. And wonder about component sourcing and production, but the FPV and dynamite kamikaze drones on front lines and trenches. Wouldn't be able to order me into that shit from either side of it, “after you, Sir, lead the way; have a poor sense if direction and need the leadership!”.
Acceptable losses tend to be 20% historically, Russia being different with accepting 30%. You're supposed to surrender, at least be able to before everyone is gone. I wonder what it is in front here when experts claim average survival is 35 minutes at the front. Machiavelli would certainly ask if they culling the herd on the Ukrainian-Russian border and applaud the initiative that directly adress poverty and resource poor and low social mobility regions.
Should point out that a battlefield where gas or sudden death with drones whizzing around isn't humane. War in Ukraine will end eventually, abd may be easier to discuss after as I pointed out. Up until then it's pretty much only US and Iran that have been using them with most everyone on the fence discussing it. Drones as the face of the new battlefield and celebrations and support of Ukraines tied to it isn't the start of a debate if it's too fatal or destructive to allow mass production of cheap drones to sell on the arms market.
Your right, think it was hydrogen cyanide I was looking for, a "blood agent" that block cellular oxygen use. Gassing is very bad, but the point was nontheless that fatality rate for drones is extremely high and with PTSD from propeller/engine sound and explosions.
For the sake of clarity, I don't see anyone in these comments arguing for or against the use of drones as a weapon of war. That ship has sailed and, arguably, drones are nothing more than relatively slow moving guided missiles... a weapon that has been around for many decades now.
As to the PTSD caused by things like the noise they make, that's hardly new either. Ask anyone in the UK, if you can find someone, who lived through the V-1 attacks in 1944.
Love your work. Somewhat reluctant to offer a criticism.
You’ve focused on the loss of the bomber. And surely every reduction in Russia’s ability to launch missiles into Ukraine protects Ukrainians. But it seems like the deep strike campaigns against refineries, against military industry, and even against the Wildberries warehouses are more important. And the systematic destruction of air defense systems that allows the deep strike campaign to succeed. (Which you’ve written about). And striking the bomber is also probably less important than the medium strike campaign against supply routes to the front. And it’s not a single refinery, single factory, single warehouse that is important. It’s the consistency and cumulative effect of damaging or destroying something new seemingly daily.
The war will end when Ukraine forces the Russian political establishment to want to end the war. It seems from here that happens because the cost of war to the Russian elites and the chances of catastrophic loss increase too high. So eroding the economy, especially military production, and then destroying the ability of the front lines to fight (Russia seems to have the idea that soldiers can fight without food, but they can’t fight without new bullets, shells, and especially drones.
Trump is NOT our president! Under our constitution, insurrectionists cannot be president. Nor can presidents who attempt to legislate from the executive branch. He is a dictator, or whatever he is, but he is NOT our president!
I understand your sentiment but it helps us about as much as it helps you. We are up here trying not to feel bad about UN-INVITING you to OUR built and 100% paid-for bridge opening, 24 years in the making. Was gonna be a hell of a party in the middle of the bridge, until your President stepped in, with his typical shake-down diplomacy, after already delaying the opening by months!
We’ll get over it.
All along we have noticed Trump ‘respects’ those who stand up for themselves. I think you guys are going to see our kindness and friendliness disappear (not forever, I pray) and how WE STAND UP TO THE BULLY. We are sick of him. If you stand up to him, pretty sure we’d do everything to back you. 40 million strong, well... except for the mini MAGA contingent in Alberta, less than about 500 thousand diehard Trump Backers, Damn imbecilic Fox News watchers!
Hopping off my soap-box now.
If he breaks us for good, remember, it’s not us - It's you. We had no say in it. We are suffering collateral damage in an economic war for our own natural resources, Trump is determined to lay at the feet of his Oligarch rulers. He is still poor by their standards and must appease his gods.
Read that Rosatom is having difficulties making ends meet too. Supposedly continuing with their international builds but domestic reactors on hold - as per yesterday's report, "points to poor economic conditions as doubts cast on nuclear projects." David Dalton, NucNet.org.
A great deal has been written about drones being the future of warfare, and that manned aircraft (and other types of human operated weapons delivery vehicles) are a technological dead end and doomed on the battlefield. No doubt what is happening in Ukraine has been a massive eye opener for many, but I wonder about how much drone warfare is driven by a question of available industrial base. You fight with what you can build (or buy).
What is true is that aircraft like the Tu-95 and the Tu-160 have simply become too expensive for Russia to build, both in terms of cost and time. Countries with a more robust economic and industrial base simply have more options. For them, I suspect the future of warfare is somewhere between the manned systems and "all drones, all the time" world predicted by some pundits.
Every weapon ever banned and considered war crimes was the future of if the battlefield. Complaints and criticism fall on deaf ears during ongoing conflicts and war. Right now without any personal stake or vested interest you are lobbying against one or the other side using the weapons. Depending on context, you are either against Iran or Ukraine in the west if you critize drones, or arguing that only the US is allowed "death from above". But what the hell, if the goal is to Machiavelli people to improve economies and ensure food and water security. Mustard gas is humane with less PTSD, you just fall to sleep without oxygen. Because as I see this, drones are closer to gas than cluster bombs, phosphorus or possibly napalm.
Now, these long range drones are impressive. And wonder about component sourcing and production, but the FPV and dynamite kamikaze drones on front lines and trenches. Wouldn't be able to order me into that shit from either side of it, “after you, Sir, lead the way; have a poor sense if direction and need the leadership!”.
Acceptable losses tend to be 20% historically, Russia being different with accepting 30%. You're supposed to surrender, at least be able to before everyone is gone. I wonder what it is in front here when experts claim average survival is 35 minutes at the front. Machiavelli would certainly ask if they culling the herd on the Ukrainian-Russian border and applaud the initiative that directly adress poverty and resource poor and low social mobility regions.
Your characterization of the effects of mustard gas is completely wrong. The effects are horrific and there is nothing humane about it.
Should point out that a battlefield where gas or sudden death with drones whizzing around isn't humane. War in Ukraine will end eventually, abd may be easier to discuss after as I pointed out. Up until then it's pretty much only US and Iran that have been using them with most everyone on the fence discussing it. Drones as the face of the new battlefield and celebrations and support of Ukraines tied to it isn't the start of a debate if it's too fatal or destructive to allow mass production of cheap drones to sell on the arms market.
Your right, think it was hydrogen cyanide I was looking for, a "blood agent" that block cellular oxygen use. Gassing is very bad, but the point was nontheless that fatality rate for drones is extremely high and with PTSD from propeller/engine sound and explosions.
For the sake of clarity, I don't see anyone in these comments arguing for or against the use of drones as a weapon of war. That ship has sailed and, arguably, drones are nothing more than relatively slow moving guided missiles... a weapon that has been around for many decades now.
As to the PTSD caused by things like the noise they make, that's hardly new either. Ask anyone in the UK, if you can find someone, who lived through the V-1 attacks in 1944.
Excellent article Wes! On an unrelated matter I am proud of the Canadian opening ceremony and ribbon cutting of OUR Gordie Howe International Bridge!
I wasn’t invited lol
You should’ve been Wes, after your glowing report on the Canadian drone technology supplied to Ukraine, thank you! 🇺🇦🇨🇦
You would have definitely been on Canada’s preferred invite list!
Love your work. Somewhat reluctant to offer a criticism.
You’ve focused on the loss of the bomber. And surely every reduction in Russia’s ability to launch missiles into Ukraine protects Ukrainians. But it seems like the deep strike campaigns against refineries, against military industry, and even against the Wildberries warehouses are more important. And the systematic destruction of air defense systems that allows the deep strike campaign to succeed. (Which you’ve written about). And striking the bomber is also probably less important than the medium strike campaign against supply routes to the front. And it’s not a single refinery, single factory, single warehouse that is important. It’s the consistency and cumulative effect of damaging or destroying something new seemingly daily.
The war will end when Ukraine forces the Russian political establishment to want to end the war. It seems from here that happens because the cost of war to the Russian elites and the chances of catastrophic loss increase too high. So eroding the economy, especially military production, and then destroying the ability of the front lines to fight (Russia seems to have the idea that soldiers can fight without food, but they can’t fight without new bullets, shells, and especially drones.
Thank you for your work.
Thanks Conor. I’m only one person over here. I can’t write about everything all the time, but I acknowledge your point.
I know, and I think you do great work.
Picture this. KC-135 (1957) Stratotanker re-fueling a TU-95. Something to be said for harmonious sarcasm.
👍🇨🇦🫶🏻Love ya ! Sorry about the 🍊🫏
Trump is NOT our president! Under our constitution, insurrectionists cannot be president. Nor can presidents who attempt to legislate from the executive branch. He is a dictator, or whatever he is, but he is NOT our president!
I still don’t understand how a 34 count convicted felon n convicted rapist! N alleged pedophile could sit in we the people’s White House?!?!
For an answer, look not to Trump, but to the courts, legislators, and voters who put him in office.
I understand your sentiment but it helps us about as much as it helps you. We are up here trying not to feel bad about UN-INVITING you to OUR built and 100% paid-for bridge opening, 24 years in the making. Was gonna be a hell of a party in the middle of the bridge, until your President stepped in, with his typical shake-down diplomacy, after already delaying the opening by months!
We’ll get over it.
All along we have noticed Trump ‘respects’ those who stand up for themselves. I think you guys are going to see our kindness and friendliness disappear (not forever, I pray) and how WE STAND UP TO THE BULLY. We are sick of him. If you stand up to him, pretty sure we’d do everything to back you. 40 million strong, well... except for the mini MAGA contingent in Alberta, less than about 500 thousand diehard Trump Backers, Damn imbecilic Fox News watchers!
Hopping off my soap-box now.
If he breaks us for good, remember, it’s not us - It's you. We had no say in it. We are suffering collateral damage in an economic war for our own natural resources, Trump is determined to lay at the feet of his Oligarch rulers. He is still poor by their standards and must appease his gods.
Great riff on “The Hunt for Red October.”
Keep it up! So happy! Obliterate
You need a second account for the Onion headlines
Great for Ukraine
It also looks like Iran with Russian intel are doing the same to American bases and still Dumbass Donnie is still talking to Putin about every 2 weeks
Wes if we are quoting Lieutenant Frank Drebbin we have to stay true:: PLEASE DISPERSE! NOTHING TO SEE HERE! great entry today 👏👏👏
You’re a regular riot Alice. Funny stuff and very good news.
The Multiverse. Ha!
" Nothing to see here.." hilarious. 🙂
Sorry aboyt their plane. " It belongs in a museum!" - Indiana Jones 3
Thanks Wes; always a pleasure!
‘Dispatches from the universe’ sounds like it would be amazing. If you make it, please consider using Muppets or AI Muppets. It could be very funny.
That, “Oh, Andrei…” a quote from _Red October_? (:-)))
Please let them hit the other one too .,,,