It doesn't count drone losses, of which I know a few. I can't even conceive of fighting a war without having or at least trying to gain air superiority/supremacy. What the heck is Russia doing?
It doesn't count drone losses, of which I know a few. I can't even conceive of fighting a war without having or at least trying to gain air superiority/supremacy. What the heck is Russia doing?
Nothing but the most special of military operations comrade!
I wonder what the people and government of Turkey feel about the conflict, considering how geographically close they are and their pre-war relations.
Probably split, and probably thinking the whole thing sucks because they lose either way. Turkey is trying to paint itself as neutral probably mostly because Russia and Ukraine both happen to be major trading partners with them so siding against one or the other would be a heavy hit against Turkey's economy. As far as Turkey's drones being used in Ukraine, Erdogan would rather stick to that being a "private business matter" between a private business and their contracted obligations. Russia of course wants them to stop selling drones to Ukraine, but Erdogan probably isn't going to do anything to hurt sales of the company his son-in-law is the chief technology officer of, as well as the architect of the drones being used in Ukraine. Especially since the Turkish company Baykar has a joint venture with Ukraine to manufacture the drones in Ukraine, which was announced January of last year.
Erdogan would rather stick to that being a "private business matter" between a private business and their contracted obligations. Russia of course wants them to stop selling drones to Ukraine, but Erdogan probably isn't going to do anything to hurt sales of the company his son-in-law is the chief technology officer of, as well as the architect of the drones being used in Ukraine.
Oh wow, that part is particularly interesting. What a mess.
I wonder what the people and government of Turkey feel about the conflict, considering how geographically close they are and their pre-war relations.
As someone with access to the very exclusive Turkish cultural sphere (aka a Turk), I guess that makes me a knower? In any case,
I think it's safe to say that the Turkish public is united in supporting Ukraine against Russia. We have an unsavory history with Russia, some of it being within living memory, even.
Erdoğan's views on Putin are... a little schizophrenic? It's better explained in an IR theory thesis than a Danbooru comment, but the proverb 'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer' seems apt: He doesn't have much love for Putin, but he's not beneath dealing with him, which tends to be misunderstood elsewhere. hint hint, the S-400 debacle
Both the government and the people want to support Ukraine, but know there's little that can be done. Turkey's suffering an awful economic crisis and dependent on Russian gas and tourists. Sanctions are a moral luxury Turkey can't afford. Closing the straits to Russian warships (Montreux Treaty), selling (not donating, selling) more TB2s, trying to mediate peace talks is about all that can be done without pissing off Russia.
The elites/oligarchs are... interesting. Many of them embraced a strange 'Eurasianism with Turkish Characteristics' sort of nonsense ideal, and look to Russia as a 'big brother'. They hold very little political power, but they have massive power within the economy.
Globalists forget where they came from. Often willfully.
The excessively-reported as "Turkish drones"? The ones that are becoming a meme for being proof of how strong the Turkish drone program is? Um, what?
It's already being discussed how cheap drones coming out of smaller countries have people preemptively declaring "the end of the concept of the tank", especially after Ukraine has been showing that no, drones still work against "an army with a REAL air defense program", and Azerbaijan wasn't just a fluke. (Especially when Ukraine has footage of a Bayraktor directly taking out the exact sort of AA battery that is supposed to shoot it down in a "paper beats scissors" moment.)
This is especially true with things like the Switchblade hitting the field, which is a drone you can carry in your backpack and remote-control into enemy vehicles like it's Call of Duty, which air defense isn't really going to be able to stop. Ukraine was temporarily stymied by drone jamming tech, but then they found how to switch frequencies to avoid jamming more readily and hasn't had trouble since. People aren't just ignoring this shit, they're definitely paying attention.
Yeah, I recall people starting to debate over whether or not the SR-72 Darkstar is already flying recon sorties if the U.S. is willing to tip their hand in terms of the drone tech they're willing to lend-lease to others.