Reports say 2 Ukraine Air Force Su-24 shot down near Debaltsevo


MT-LB with Novorossya flag armed with Strela SAM system

Unconfirmed reports say 2 Ukrainian Air Force Su-24 'Frogfoot' ground attack planes were shot down yesterday after attempting to attack the pro-Russian separatist positions encircling Debaltsevo. The losses would undoubtedly be a major loss for the Ukraine government forces.

Military experts say the pro-Russian separatists have, with Russian materiel and technical support, established a relatively comprehensive anti-aircraft 'umbrella' over much of the important and strategic locations in the DNR and LNR. Experts speculate the introduction of increased numbers of Buk M1 medium-range SAM and Igla short-range missiles from Russia have turned the airspace over the DNR and LNR as a "virtual no-fly zone".

Feel Like the crew will suffer neck injuries

LTZ you wanna join? cuz you can

cant they just stop provoking russia?  
Easy live across the ocean, while the European have to suffer Russian wrath 

what about AC-130W Stinger II/AC-130J Ghostrider  , old reliable plane that well sources and maintained even in Malaysia. now just add big guns and make it goes phew phew phew, them sulu wont know what hits them, and it'll be useful for future CAS mission too!

Only US have those, and they also have the final say to their "made in USA" stuff
Even if we have the tech and expertise to turn our herc into a gunship..

Majalah 3 - AV8 Gempita

US Army European commander Gen. Ben Hodges: "12,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine"

Strangely, the good General doesn't seem to grasp the potentially massive (and totally un-hide-able) logistical chain in supplying 12,000 soldiers of a modern army for active operations in a foreign country.

If Russian soldiers are there in those numbers, trust me, everyone and their grandmothers will know it. The unending lines of military supply trucks stretching as far as the eye can see, 5-times a day landing of Russian Il-76 supply planes in Luhansk airport would be visible for everyone to see instead of such undeniable proof as grainy 'satellite photos' that show 5 unidentifiable trucks 10 miles from the Ukrainian border and the so-called 'witnesses' of a Russian border crossing operation that conveniently don't have their cameras or even smartphones available for pictures.

Perhaps Russians are new experts in carrying whole supplies on their backs a la the Korean war.