After a year of fighting, neither the Russian nor Ukrainian air forces have been able to take control of the skies over Ukraine. This has severely limited the role that fighter jets have played in the conflict, and it’s a preview of what US troops could face in the future, US Air Force officials say.
While Russian and Ukrainian aircraft are still active, each side’s air-defense weapons — such as major Soviet-era anti-aircraft systems like the S-300 or newer shoulder-fired missiles like the US-made Stinger — have forced the other to make tactical adaptations, such as launching less-accurate rocket attacks from longer ranges rather than sending aircraft to provide close air support over the front lines.
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Ukraine is estimated to have lost more than 60 aircraft and Russia more than 70, according to Gen. James Hecker, the commander of US Air Forces in Europe. Hecker told reporters at the Air and Space Forces Association symposium that Russia’s larger air force still has jets it could devote to the war, as does Ukraine — but there is an issue.
Read more: yahoo
