Re: Interesting - Ukraine Missiles Use Open Source, Russians Use Pi-4s

rbowman <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:29:09 -0000 (UTC), Rich wrote:
> 
>> https://www.flyajetfighter.com/the-real-range-of-modern-fighter-planes/
>> looks to indicate that 1000mi (1600km) starts to put a number of
>> warplanes at a point where they have limited engagement possibilites
>> unless they start out carrying extra tanks, which mean less ordinance,
>> before they would have to return to refuel, or return to an air tanker
>> to refuel -- but then the air tanker must be kept beyond harms way,
>> because it makes an especially juicy target as taking it out reduces a
>> lot of the attack capability of the war planes.
> 
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
> List_of_aviation_shootdowns_and_accidents_during_the_2026_Iran_war
> 
> I don't know to what extent they were specifically targets but KC-135s are 
> the second most popular things to destroy after Reapers. Reportedly 2 were 
> an own goal.

As Ukraine is showing with their attacks on Russian energy targets (and 
as good, competent, military planners were already fully aware) wars 
are very often won or lost via the supply line infrastructure.  
KC-135's would be prime targets because taking each out disrupts the 
ability of a great many other planes to function (from a the plane has 
fuel standpoint) at great distances from their "home base" (be that on 
land or on a carrier at sea).