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Ukraine shot down a Su-35S, one of Russia’s most advanced fighter jets
- PaulHoule 5y agoThe article gets the S-300 and the Stinger wrong. The S-300 variants in Ukraine date from the 1990s but are still highly effective against all but the best stealth aircraft. Russia's S-400 is an evolved S-300, and the S-500 is super-sized to attack distant radar aircraft, satellites, and even ICBMs. The S-300 includes targeting radars and missiles with 100 km + range and a height ceiling that includes any aircraft operating today. The Stinger is a much smaller missile normally launched by two individuals, it has a limited range (more like 4km) and limited altitude (a Su-35s or similar aircraft flying at high altitude can't be touched. If the Su-35s is armed with precision munitions, say something like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-39_Small_Diameter_Bomb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-39_Small_Diameter_Bomb it could drop a bomb at high altitude and never be at risk from the Stinger. If it has to get close to the target or if it is forced to fly close to the ground to hide from the S-300 though it is vulnerable to the Stinger. If the Su-35s pilot is at low altitude but knows where he is going and is moving at high speed it is going to be challenging to hit with the Stinger. If he is not moving at high speed or searching for targets it is easier. Note the Russians and Ukrainians also have this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_missile_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_missile_system which is capable of shooting down not only aircraft but precision munitions (PGMs) like the small diameter bomb mentioned above. It works together with the S-300 to prevent aircraft taking out the S-300 radar and other components with PGMs.
- giuliomagnifico 5y agoThen thanks for the clarifications!