Manned aircraft not likely. Drones serve a purpose but lack capacity and a variety of weapons. Tanks to some extent are. The mobility of tanks is what makes them appealing.
Javelins cost about 80k to make. Not sure what Russians spend on their tanks. Stinger missiles cost about 120k. I know Russian aircraft cost more than that.
I'd take the information with a grain of salt including this from Armed Forces EU. I'd also mention that tanks can serve a purpose within a nations borders much like SWAT teams and armored SUV's. Tiananmen Square comes to mind. Countries by number of tanks
I'm trying to find it but one of the Russian machine guns captured was from WW1. Something tells me other than the bigger toys they don't spend on anything else -- probably because they kept the money for themselves but still.
It looks like Putin has a wonderful gift for his people on “Victory” Day: general mobilization. On a Victory Day without victory, Putin faces choice over all-out war
Good article. I agree with what they said there that a full mobilization would be met with resistance and that basically Putin would be admitting failure. His hope is to spin it into NATO attacking Russia directly. Rumors of parading prisoners, too. Of course counter rumors of the Ukranians blowing up that bridge with Crimea. Maybe Anonymous or someone can hack and show that along with the ship sinking, Bucha, etc.
Finding weapons from WW I and WW II isn't as uncommon as you might think. Many people still have them however I doubt you will find them in some armory that the military will use. Given Russia's involvement in both wars it doesn't surprise me if these items turn up. What I can tell you is when my father and mother in law passed my wife and I as well as my sister in law had to go through their possessions. My father in law had a pristine Japanese mortar round squirreled away in an old foot locker. Imagine finding this live round in showroom condition. I didn't even know what it was but I certainly knew it was lethal. What to do with it became the question. None of us wanted a live round and we certainly didn't want an explosive team showing up at the apartment. I was active duty at the time and suggested taking the round to the Washington Navy Yard Marine Corps museum. After a phone call to the museum a gentleman by the name of Mr Fairfax told me to bring it to the museum. Needless to say I was nervous as hell transporting that round to the Navy Yard. What's worse I asked if I needed any special permission to get through the gate with it. The answer was no just bring it on down. Being on active duty I had a military sticker on the car and sure enough got waved through with no issues at all and delivered the round to Mr Fairfax. Mr Fairfax took a look at it and told me these rounds are still in circulation and had stories to tell of kids taking them to school for show and tell but he had never seen one so pristine. I did find out later the round was taken to AP Hill where it was dismantled, rendered harmless and is now on display at the museum. Original Japanese WWII Type 89 Knee Mortar 50mm Grenade Discharger Round - Inert The Japanese Knee Mortar
Oh I get it. But to trot out as a first line a machine gun that needed to be pulled in originally by horses but guess they used a truck this time was eyebrow raising to me. I mean, didn't have anything newer for their "special operation"? I get grabbing whatever you can, even museum pieces, if you're being attacked but was just one of those "really??" moments
Of note..Russia air defense system was on the ship that was sunk. It was planned to be deployed on the island. Intel must be buried deep into Russian systems
