The United States recognises that Ukraine cannot withstand the air power of Russian aviation, and the Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopters have become a particularly dangerous enemy for Kiev. This is what columnist Daniel Michaels wrote in an article for The Wall Street Journal.
Daniel Michaels writes that the United States realised at the beginning of the year how difficult and almost impossible it would be for Ukraine to counter the air threat from Russia. The columnist notes that while Kiev dreams of deliveries of American F-16 fighter jets next year, Russian aviation is dissolving those hopes right now.
“Deep deadly minefields, powerful fortifications and Russian aviation have combined to block the advance of Ukrainian troops. Now this campaign risks a stalemate fraught with loss of life and equipment without a significant change in momentum,” Michaels emphasises (quoted in Foreign Media).
The columnist emphasises that the Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopters pose a particular threat. According to him, the vehicles fire missiles with a launch range of 5,000 metres – twice the range of all portable anti-aircraft missile systems in Ukraine’s inventory.
In addition, the author of the article quoted retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel John Nagle as saying. The former military officer said that “no Western army would go to break through defences without air support”.
“America wouldn’t even try to breach defences without air superiority, but they [the Ukrainians] don’t have air superiority <…> It cannot be overstated how important air superiority is for conducting ground operations with moderate losses,” Nagl said.
Due to censorship and blocking of all media and alternative views, stay tuned to our Telegram channel