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Ed Ellis's avatar

Numbers are all over the board on the TU 22M-3. Anywhere from 10 to 41 operational aircraft left. But irreplaceable.

Martin Belderson's avatar

Yes, it's all very muddy which is why I didn't quote any numbers. Russia wants to maximise the threat, of course, so we're never going to the truth of this while this war lasts. It's a bit like the Tu-160 which is nominally still in production, but, IIRC, only two have been delivered in the last ten years, one of which is clearly cannibalised from other aircraft. As for Russia's stealth bomber, the PAK-DA, well, a big shed has been erected to build it in, but not even a prototype has emerged. It's the Armata tank of the air.

Wendy Shelley's avatar

Love what the EU has started, and also to specifically include Moldova, which has been ignored (pretty much) as the left-handed stepchild of this war.

Re: Zelenskyy and Nawrocki and that award: These two LEADERS know that anything that can be stored in a drawer cannot overcome anything that saves two countries. Egos be damned.. Zelenskyy gives the award back with apologies. Nawrocki accepts graciously and they work together for common purposes. PLEASE!

BTW, there was SO much in this report, maybe you can takeoff for the next week so we can further digest more of it?! Thx!

Martin Belderson's avatar

It has been an unusually busy week. Sorry.

Wendy Shelley's avatar

No reason for ‘sorry’. Only trying to give you reason to get some extra sleep so you can do it all again ‘soon’!!! Your reporting is simply remarkable; I’ve encouraged others to subscribe (hope so!).