Interesting, as always Mike. It would be fascinating to read the Russian studies based on the Serbian and Yugoslav actions against NATO. 20-ish years to study, adapt, and apply lessons learned.
Not buying b2s over iran either in the 12 day war or epstein fury. Tomahawks and lies. b1 actually may be put into use as their loss wouldn't be so damaging to mic sales.
I had not known anything about those towed decoys. It makes sense but I wonder why I had never heard of it until now, being aged 60 and 23 years in the Canadian Army; as an Armoured Crewman. I don't think we can tow a decoy behind a tank so it makes some sense I have never heard of them, but still I wonder why I had never heard of it.
Interesting as always, if infuriating, since their mission to dismantle FR Yugoslavia succeeded. Removing the weather info from the website is basically admission of guilt.
Hopefully Iranian defense will be more successful and that they've learned from the past failures of the US.
It's "Epic Fury", btw. Epic end of the Empire is what it will be.
The B1's have been landing in the UK and Striking Iran for weeks and its open knowledge. What amazes me about the B1 is it can carry more payload than the B52. It is only 10 feet shorter in length than the B52.
In this low altitude? Because, the lighting events you describe are not the natural ones, they are artificial; created by the plane. A massive electric potential is needed, as the build up of this potential is by wet air travelling very fast upwards, I see no possibility that in this low altitute the necessary potential is available - maybe in the mountains, but not in Britain. And in the event the plane "meets" a natural lightning (the ones going from the ground up in to the sky), the plane would hardly survive. Once a collision ionization process is underway, it destroys everything in its path; a Faraday cage is of little help in that case.
I wrote a book about that war. Yes, a second F-117 was damaged but succeeded to go back to Aviano. There are some info about other F-117s hit, but is difficult to assess. I also tried to find out how the Yugoslavs succeeded to hit the F-117s. I came up with a theory.
There was nothing “mysterious” or extraordinary in the downing of the stealth aircraft. It was not the result of any special radar modification, intelligence advantage, or other speculative explanations. Rather, it was a demonstration of pure professionalism.
The missile crew understood their system and its limitations, and they executed their task with precision and discipline, despite operating equipment that was already considered obsolete.
The same applies to the downing of the F-16 and the damage inflicted on several other aircraft, including at least one confirmed F-117A. There are also indications that another aircraft did not return to base under its own power. This pattern is further reflected in reported damage to platforms such as the B-1B, the A-10, and others, including the F-15E, Harrier, and additional F-16s.
These outcomes point to the effectiveness and proficiency of air defence crews rather than any extraordinary technological advantage. Personal recollections and recovered fragments, such as parts of an electronic jamming container and components of a fuel pump, serve as tangible reminders of those engagements.
In summary, I was directly involved in these events and therefore speak both as an eyewitness and as a participant.
Personally, I cannot contest the professionalism of Yugoslav anti-aircraft defense crews. And I think that nobody can. To engage the most powerful air force in the world with obsolete equipment, only proficient men can. I'm very keen on this subject. Of course it was not about radar modification. This is an explanation for ignorant. About intel, I couldn't know, but I believe you. . As I could understood (my job was infantry - airborne, so excuse if I make mistakes), you could not determine the exact position of the F-117s. But you estimated.
The one that crashed in Croatia is still under the veil. That guy had a radar blip on the old SNR-125 very different from anything else. On the F2 scope it was disc shaped with the whole width of the screen... like B-2. That was not a decoy for sure...
Interesting, as always Mike. It would be fascinating to read the Russian studies based on the Serbian and Yugoslav actions against NATO. 20-ish years to study, adapt, and apply lessons learned.
Not buying b2s over iran either in the 12 day war or epstein fury. Tomahawks and lies. b1 actually may be put into use as their loss wouldn't be so damaging to mic sales.
Great Report!
I had not known anything about those towed decoys. It makes sense but I wonder why I had never heard of it until now, being aged 60 and 23 years in the Canadian Army; as an Armoured Crewman. I don't think we can tow a decoy behind a tank so it makes some sense I have never heard of them, but still I wonder why I had never heard of it.
Will be watching the weather over Iran and the ME.
Good science lesson .
Thanks for the education. I did not know about the towed decoys. Mach 1.6 with open bomb bay doors must have been stressful.
Mach 1.25 maximum - not 1,6 - quite a difference.
Great analysis as usual.
https://julianmacfarlane.substack.com/p/the-uss-winning-ways/
Interesting as always, if infuriating, since their mission to dismantle FR Yugoslavia succeeded. Removing the weather info from the website is basically admission of guilt.
Hopefully Iranian defense will be more successful and that they've learned from the past failures of the US.
It's "Epic Fury", btw. Epic end of the Empire is what it will be.
Epic Fail.
The B1's have been landing in the UK and Striking Iran for weeks and its open knowledge. What amazes me about the B1 is it can carry more payload than the B52. It is only 10 feet shorter in length than the B52.
In this low altitude? Because, the lighting events you describe are not the natural ones, they are artificial; created by the plane. A massive electric potential is needed, as the build up of this potential is by wet air travelling very fast upwards, I see no possibility that in this low altitute the necessary potential is available - maybe in the mountains, but not in Britain. And in the event the plane "meets" a natural lightning (the ones going from the ground up in to the sky), the plane would hardly survive. Once a collision ionization process is underway, it destroys everything in its path; a Faraday cage is of little help in that case.
"During the mission, the B-1B was also reportedly struck by lightning, which blew off a section of the aircraft’s horizontal stabilizer..."
Divine editorialising, perhaps?
I wrote a book about that war. Yes, a second F-117 was damaged but succeeded to go back to Aviano. There are some info about other F-117s hit, but is difficult to assess. I also tried to find out how the Yugoslavs succeeded to hit the F-117s. I came up with a theory.
https://www.google.ro/books/edition/Kosovo_An_Unfinished_war/LyjJEQAAQBAJ?hl=ro&gbpv=1&dq=Kosovo+-+An+Unfinished+War&pg=PA4&printsec=frontcover
There was nothing “mysterious” or extraordinary in the downing of the stealth aircraft. It was not the result of any special radar modification, intelligence advantage, or other speculative explanations. Rather, it was a demonstration of pure professionalism.
The missile crew understood their system and its limitations, and they executed their task with precision and discipline, despite operating equipment that was already considered obsolete.
The same applies to the downing of the F-16 and the damage inflicted on several other aircraft, including at least one confirmed F-117A. There are also indications that another aircraft did not return to base under its own power. This pattern is further reflected in reported damage to platforms such as the B-1B, the A-10, and others, including the F-15E, Harrier, and additional F-16s.
These outcomes point to the effectiveness and proficiency of air defence crews rather than any extraordinary technological advantage. Personal recollections and recovered fragments, such as parts of an electronic jamming container and components of a fuel pump, serve as tangible reminders of those engagements.
In summary, I was directly involved in these events and therefore speak both as an eyewitness and as a participant.
Personally, I cannot contest the professionalism of Yugoslav anti-aircraft defense crews. And I think that nobody can. To engage the most powerful air force in the world with obsolete equipment, only proficient men can. I'm very keen on this subject. Of course it was not about radar modification. This is an explanation for ignorant. About intel, I couldn't know, but I believe you. . As I could understood (my job was infantry - airborne, so excuse if I make mistakes), you could not determine the exact position of the F-117s. But you estimated.
Hey that's today's date, and my birthday, to boot!
"The first B-1B mission occurred on 2 April against the Novi Sad petroleum production facility at Pančevo, northeast of Belgrade."
On the other hand, it is sort of an ignominious tale of woe...
[And what about the B-1b that got hit by the (decorated) SAM crew and seemed to crash in a forest?]
Happy BD!
The one that crashed in Croatia is still under the veil. That guy had a radar blip on the old SNR-125 very different from anything else. On the F2 scope it was disc shaped with the whole width of the screen... like B-2. That was not a decoy for sure...
Thanks Mike.
you are welcome