Multiple Russian Tu-95 bombers burning a massive Ukrainian FPV drone strike

[Inspector44]

100% agree. However the issues they have had do think it could be from internal threats, lazy workers or just legit accidents?

Management. Boeing went down hill after McDonnel merged. They brought all of the C-suite idiots from McDonnel with that, please the shareholder at all cost mentality, and quality and safety slipped in Boeing products. The union is also a major hassle as they have a choke hold on Seattle production and most union workers are barely competent and cant be fired unless they punch the manager and even then it requires paperwork 4 inches thick. I was on the UK E-7 program so I didn't deal with any of that drama from Seattle. Unfortunately being an MRB certified inspector that conducted FAIs didn't save me from the cut in November.

[CriticalStinker]

Its an attrition war...most people don't seem to understand this. The goal isn't specifically to take ground. Its more to grind down the other side's resources...especially manpower and moral. It will be a whole lot of not much then things start to crack. We are starting to see the crack now with the pace of Russian gains. Eventually the cracks aren't fixed and it all cascades into a landslide. Thats what we will see in this war. Right now the west is propping up Ukraine with everything but manpower. Once their manpower runs out it will go down fast. You can send all the equipment in the world...if there is no one left to operate it...you're fucked!

If you can't see this happening before our eyes you are either dishonest with yourself...or with everyone else. A blind man can see where this is headed without brail.

As I noted, the best case scenario for Ukraine is they give up a decent amount of their land. Meaning, worst case is all of it.

But my further point is that Russia won’t “win” either way. The costs they’ve had for all of this are immense. This has been more costly for them than Afghanistan, and that was one of the dominos in the fall of the USSR.

Some of these losses for Russia can’t be replaced with money, at least not in the short term. Naval vessels, aircraft, those are things they don’t have the production capacity to replace any time soon. Then you have the hundreds of thousands of injured and killed. That’s massive.

[Zaphod58]

OK? The treaty is still in effect whether they suspend or not. They don't have enough operational bombers to break the treaty even if they wanted to. Its why the US hasn't pulled the remaining G models out of the desert and done all the depot maintenance actions to get them to H models.

Because the G models were cut into pieces and scrapped. They weren’t just stored. Regardless of if the treaty is in force or not, the only requirement in the treaty to park aircraft in the open is when one or the other signatories claims they’ve been removed from service.

[Inspector44]

As I noted, the best case scenario for Ukraine is they give up a decent amount of their land. Meaning, worst case is all of it.

But my further point is that Russia won’t “win” either way. The costs they’ve had for all of this are immense. This has been more costly for them than Afghanistan, and that was one of the dominos in the fall of the USSR.

Some of these losses for Russia can’t be replaced with money, at least not in the short term. Naval vessels, aircraft, those are things they don’t have the production capacity to replace any time soon. Then you have the hundreds of thousands of injured and killed. That’s massive.

Its already universally agreed among experts that Russia hasn't had the budget to maintain all the doom weapons they claim to have had since the 90s. This war has cost them almost a trillion so there is no way they can continue maintaining the military they say they have. I believe, like you, that this war will bankrupt Russia in both genetic stock and treasure. What I fear is the Russians will start selling off weapons platforms, or even worse, lose control of their weapons platforms and nuclear stockpile because they don't have the personnel or money to cover the ability to guard them.

[Inspector44]

Because the G models were cut into pieces and scrapped. They weren’t just stored. Regardless of if the treaty is in force or not, the only requirement in the treaty to park aircraft in the open is when one or the other signatories claims they’ve been removed from service.

Wrong, they were not all cut up and scrapped.

[Oldcarpy2]

According to several sources, such as this one, the last B52G had its tail cut off to comply with START in 2013?

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/...new-start/

[Zaphod58]

Wrong, they were not all cut up and scrapped.

Even if they could pull them out and upgrade them, where are they going to get the components. The H models are running out of TF33s, and the engine upgrades are probably at least a year from starting flight testing if not longer.

[Zaphod58]

Airbus has produced satellite photos showing three Tu-95MS completely destroyed, along with one Tu-22M3, and an An-12 destroyed. Three more Tu-22M3s may be destroyed, along with one Tu-95MS and two A-50s damaged.

[Inspector44]

Even if they could pull them out and upgrade them, where are they going to get the components. The H models are running out of TF33s, and the engine upgrades are probably at least a year from starting flight testing if not longer.

Your complete lack of knowledge on the B-52 and depot level maintenance is staggering yet you continue to argue with a SME on the platform. You could not possibly know that info about the TF-33 because its false and you are not privy to that information because you do not work for DLA. There are enough kits in existence to convert all remaining H models and several G models into operational aircraft. Do you know why I know that? Because I have seen the kits first hand and have had to use parts from them to repair current aircraft and have ordered parts to back fill the kits. The CERP program is well under way and the test aircraft specifically designated to have engines installed is in ST Louis now.

[Oldcarpy2]

Some more information here:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-04/s.../105374778