I hope this can happen by the end on the month because it’s uncertain if the Congress will extend the Presidential Drawdown Authority.
I hope the Vipers end up with Ukraine. To provide more context:
The whole deal started when Slovakia donated its MiG-29 fighter jets and 2K12 Kub air defense systems to Ukraine. That was done by former defense minister Jaroslav Nad. And had it continued this way everything would be fine.
Then the new (pro russian) government enters the scene.
Straight away they call the donation treason and Jaroslav Nad traitor. They have big mouth but noodle spine and Jaroslav Nad calls their bluff by suing them for defamation. Suddenly the russian jerks are in hot water. They claim that Slovakia gave away its equipment and got nothing in return, but at the same time there is this discount. They would like the discount, but accepting it would also invalidate their “nothing in return” claim and make their already shaky “treason” case even more ridiculous.
So they try to negotiate the discount to be applied to something else just so they can keep the appearance of “nothing in return” because the Viper purchase didn’t get through. (yes it’s as stupid as it sounds, but much of their voter base does not have two brain cells to rub together) Slovakia already has ordered enough F16, there isn’t even airport for them. Vipers would make way more sense. But the current government was caught in a lie and is now struggling to deal with the consequences.
Which is where Ukraine steps in to call their bluff yet again, offering to buy those Vipers.
We have a few dozen sitting at AMARG that should have been sent to them. It’s an obvious thing to send, not very logistics intensive to support either. Everything we’ve retired from the USMC recently would be perfect for Ukraine to use.
With all the manpads I’m really not sure how much good they would be.
Forgive my ignorance but do modern drones not render attack helicopters somewhat redundant?
Oh hell yes! The Vipers are nasty boys ready to get dirty
Hell yeah…seems like something that should have already been floated, considered, and implemented. Hell with twelve, sell them 50 of them from USMCs retiring stockpile!!!
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I hope this can happen by the end on the month because it’s uncertain if the Congress will extend the Presidential Drawdown Authority.
I hope the Vipers end up with Ukraine. To provide more context:
The whole deal started when Slovakia donated its MiG-29 fighter jets and 2K12 Kub air defense systems to Ukraine. That was done by former defense minister Jaroslav Nad. And had it continued this way everything would be fine.
Then the new (pro russian) government enters the scene.
Straight away they call the donation treason and Jaroslav Nad traitor. They have big mouth but noodle spine and Jaroslav Nad calls their bluff by suing them for defamation. Suddenly the russian jerks are in hot water. They claim that Slovakia gave away its equipment and got nothing in return, but at the same time there is this discount. They would like the discount, but accepting it would also invalidate their “nothing in return” claim and make their already shaky “treason” case even more ridiculous.
So they try to negotiate the discount to be applied to something else just so they can keep the appearance of “nothing in return” because the Viper purchase didn’t get through. (yes it’s as stupid as it sounds, but much of their voter base does not have two brain cells to rub together) Slovakia already has ordered enough F16, there isn’t even airport for them. Vipers would make way more sense. But the current government was caught in a lie and is now struggling to deal with the consequences.
Which is where Ukraine steps in to call their bluff yet again, offering to buy those Vipers.
We have a few dozen sitting at AMARG that should have been sent to them. It’s an obvious thing to send, not very logistics intensive to support either. Everything we’ve retired from the USMC recently would be perfect for Ukraine to use.
With all the manpads I’m really not sure how much good they would be.
Forgive my ignorance but do modern drones not render attack helicopters somewhat redundant?
Oh hell yes! The Vipers are nasty boys ready to get dirty
Hell yeah…seems like something that should have already been floated, considered, and implemented. Hell with twelve, sell them 50 of them from USMCs retiring stockpile!!!