Ukraine is facing an invasion from the east. The second biggest country on our continent with an area of nearly 604 thousand square kilometers is being conquered by the Russian army from several directions. The breadbasket of Europe has been turned into a giant warehouse of military equipment of all kinds.
Due to their shared history, both sides are using similar technology from the Soviet era. Howitzers, for example, often face each other, which differ only in the varying degrees of modernization and, most importantly, the much-publicized markings on Russian vehicles.
While Russia (so far) dominates the skies and wins in destructive missile power and quantity, the Ukrainian defences are nevertheless bolstered again by anti-aircraft and anti-tank small arms complexes from the West, Turkish drones and, undoubtedly, by military intel from NATO and the US. Let’s take a look at some of these weapons in the following few chapters.
During the fighting, Russia also lost fighter and bomber aircraft. Ukrainian Migs brought some of them to the ground, while others received ground-based anti-aircraft systems. The Community records downed Sukhoi Su-25 tank destroyers, Sukhoi Su-30SM multi-role fighters, and Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers.
This two-seater aircraft and pride of the Russian Air Force reaches speeds of up to 1,900 km/h and is equipped for combat with both an automatic 30mm GS-30-1 gun and space for 8,000 kg of suspended armament. They can be dumb and laser-guided missiles, mountain bombs, the full spectrum of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, and even cruise missiles.
MiG-29s, which are in service with NATO’s eastern armies, might also come into play. They would help Ukraine significantly in its fight for air supremacy, as the pilots there know them intimately.
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