Russian invasion of Ukraine

metalblue said:
That’s some impressive stats. Does say Ukrainian airforce hadn’t upgraded their Su-27’s since built in 1980s so 150km probably won’t be workable range modern fighters.
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It's down to the missile systems ability to generate a radar track against the aircraft. Anything an aircraft can do to either reduce its radar cross section or otherwise deceive the systems radar the closer it will be able to get to the system without being engaged. As you say, the SU-27 is not a modern fighter jet, and neither are the Polish MIG-29's that Ukraine are looking to try and get their hands on

The problem with long range ground to air systems from an aircraft perspective is that the range of their missiles is generally much longer than anything you could strap to the outside of an aircraft, so even if it gets in closer it can't do anything about it. Plus, these things are VERY fast with substantial warheads, so even if they miss you directly you'll still be damaged by blast.

Even if you were to strap a big long range missile onto the outside of an aircraft you would increase its radar cross section meaning it would be detectable at greater ranges anyway. Maybe cruise missiles would have the legs to reach it, but these systems are also capable of engaging cruise and ballistic missiles anyway so that would be a non-starter unless you employed some kind of electronic countermeasures.
 
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