afops t1_j6ekgh8 wrote on January 29, 2023 at 8:16 PM

Reply to comment by Ruin-Known77 in German chancellor says he won't send fighter jets to Ukraine by El-JJ

The most useful missiles would be air launched cruise missiles like JASSM or Storm Shadow (SCALP). Those can be launched from F-16 or Mirage/Tornado respectively. The planes would just be the launch platforms for the missiles. Without those, missiles would need to be shorter range ballistic (ATACMs) or ground launched cruise missiles which are harder to come by.

MATlad t1_j6gam3b wrote on January 30, 2023 at 2:54 AM

I feel that if the US wasn’t willing to provide long-range ATACMS missiles for the HIMARS on the basis that they could be used to strike into Russia (and despite Ukrainian guarantees over target selection) cruise missiles (whether air- or ground- launched) would be completely off the table.

I’d think that F-16s in volume (especially with more HAARMS, or even EF-16s) could enable the Ukrainians to win air superiority. And with that, enable close air support and even combined arms in the US / NATO mode. But unfortunately, that’s not going to happen any time soon.

Unless even getting the edge in the air is enough...

afops t1_j6gzpaq wrote on January 30, 2023 at 6:33 AM

Yes, so long as the ATACMs holdup is that reason, then US air launched missiles are also off the table.

But that’s why Storm Shadow is interesting as it’s not requiring US approval (formally). Rumor has it they are trying to adapt it to Su-24