Russian volunteers head for South Ossetia

Originally posted by TKainZero
I wish the best for your friend over there...

So do I. He is 24, so I seriously hope he is not drafted to fight. Reports say men of fighting age are all to drafted in an emergency response by Georgia.

reply to post by maloy


We can only hope that we have seen the 'high water mark' of the fighting...

And things will calm down...

It will be a new day there pretty soon right?


[edit on 8/8/2008 by TKainZero]

Originally posted by Harlequin
reply to post by Memysabu

 

The USA got involved when they stated this `support breakaway countries` thing with kosovo - now russia is simpply doing the same in georgia - except the USA doesn`t like it.

That is the dammed reality of this...

Thank you Nacey Polosi for recognizing Kosovo...

GOOD JOB!

Originally posted by Wolfie_UK

You see right there at the bottom of your post, all the way through your post it is about NATO, then the last paragraph refers to American forces ???

My bad.. due apologies.. I am well aware of the distinction and I meant NATO throughout..

Now call me skeptical but I would guess you are American and therefore class NATO forces as been American!!!

Well I guess I'll have to call you skeptical because I'm not American.
As Harlequin pointed out, I'm on the other side of the planet, far from America, NATO and the whole caboodle..
But really.. do Americans do that? NATO monopolization that is..

Please give credit to those other countries who provide towards NATO.

Wouldn't think of it any other way.. However, having said that; any NATO involvement here would most definitely have to be spearheaded by the Americans and perhaps the British (maybe Italians too?). I doubt the French or Germans would want much to do with this tassle.

reply to post by northwolf


Yeap.. looks sizable enough.. Only chink could be the air power depending on the versions of the interceptor/ air sup aircraft operated. If they are at the highest operational levels in the VVS/PVO then I do not see that as a chink.
Moreover, any S-300 batteries would help even the field a lot more.

Originally posted by The Godfather of Conspira
If anyone is doubting Russia's ability to establish air superiority here...
Please, don't doubt for another second:

Air force, with military personnel of 1800, 22 aircraft and 11 helicopters of different type

www.globalsecurity.org...

Georgia doesn't even have an airforce.

Their only A-2-A interceptor is the MiG-25, which they have 15 of.
en.wikipedia.org...

They have an indeterminable amount of Su-25's, but with no air escorts those are going to turn into scrap metal in no time if they take to the skies.

The only thing Georgia has here to deter Russian aircraft is a sizable force of SAM's, but they're seriously outdated.

Looks like the Flying Hammers are going to have a field day here.

No doubts about Georgia here. However one can have thousands of aircraft and not have the ability to move them for effective use in snap conflicts. And that is why we are just doing a quick survey of what Russia can commit immediately into the region. Also the basis of discussion is to dissuade NATO
involvement. NATO aerial units are the best one can expect with diverse cross section of assets that range from Mirages, Rafales, Tornadoes, F-16s, MiG 29, F-15s, to Typhoons; all deployable into the region within a day or two.
Having said that, I don't think it has happened as yet and so NATO will not participate in this one, at least in not in opposition the Russians. In such snap conflicts timely deployment is of the utmost essence and those who do it first
usually pull though uncontested.

Originally posted by maloy

Exactly. I posted before I read your comment.

yeap totally.. for a while I was wondering if had actually read my post entirely before replying

Daedalus,

I think that the majority of the N-Caucasus aircraft are older models as they are mainly used for ground support/CAP against undeveloped enemies. But as Russia has dozens of airfields at operation distance from Georgia, they can deploy the top-of-the-line regiments from Moscow and Leningrad Districts in a matter of hours if NATO intervention seems likely. Take of from Moscow with full weapons fit, fly south for 2 hours, land and refuel at the runway and they are ready to fight in 3hrs!

reply to post by Daedalus3

No doubts about Georgia here. However one can have thousands of aircraft and not have the ability to move them for effective use in snap conflicts.

True but the way I see it the North Caucasus has always been a serious point of contention for Russia; not only referring to Chechnya and the Islamic separatists but also it forms a land barrier between Russia and a major NATO Ally (Turkey).

Hence that Southern border is lined with bases, men, and aircraft all on stand by to respond to any flare ups.

Take a look here:

Airfield Military District ICAO Latitude Longitude
Akthubinsk North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Armavir North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Astrakhan - Ashchuluk North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Astrakhan - Privolzhskiy North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Budyonnovsk North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Kapustin Yar North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Korenovsk North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Kotelnikovo North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Krasnodar - Aviagorodok 5 North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Krymsk North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Kushchovskaya North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Marinovka North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Maykop North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Mikhaylovka - Lebyazhe North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Millerovo North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Morozovsk North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Mozdok North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Novocherkassk 14 North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Primorsko - Akhtarsk North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Rostov na Donu North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Sochi North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Stavropol North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Taganrog - Tsentralnyy North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Taganrog - Yuzhnyy North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Tikhoretsk North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Vladikavkaz North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Volgograd North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Yegorlykskaya North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Yeysk North-Caucasian .. .. .. ..
Zernograd North-Caucasian

www.globalsecurity.org...

That's 30 airfields in the North Caucasus, with such close proximity to Georgia and Ossetia squadrons will be easily able to take off and complete sorties without refuelling, having the range to reach all of Georgia and even further South.

The air war here is a no contest in my opinion.

[edit on 9/8/08 by The Godfather of Conspira]

Resent photographs show that Russian troops are from at least two different units. One can be identified as a Motorized Inrantry Regiment, equipped with T-80UMs and BTR-80s supported BTR-50s and 2S6M Tunguskas. Some BRDM-2s were also present. Units seem to be moving in a normal Motorized Regiments lineups, with APCs, MBTs and Trucks mixed up to provide cover while moving in hostile areas. Support artillery pieces were venerable 2S3 Akatsiyas (152mm). Most likely it was an element of the 19th motorized infantry division.

Another unit seems to be VDV airborne unit that is equipped with BMD-series vehicles and some brand new 2S6M (BTR-80 platform with a breechloading 120mm mortar) Most likely these forces are from 104th airborne regiment or 45th independet airborne.

[edit on 10-8-2008 by northwolf]

[edit on 10-8-2008 by northwolf]