reply to post by Smokersroom
A question which is nagging at me. If Georgia has shot down two modern Russian planes, what advanced level of technology would be required, and
who supplied it?
Advanced? Hardly...
Look at the Chechen conflicts, Russia lost dozens of helicopters and ground attack aircraft to Chechen separatists armed with at best ex-Soviet Strela
3's, but the majority wielding the older infrared homing shoulder-fired Strela 2's.
The two planes Russia lost in the opening stages of this conflict were most likely Frogfoots (Su-25), low altitude ground support aircraft, or older
Yakolev's/MiG's like the MiG-23, probably on forward observation.
Since the Russians hadn't yet at that stage mobilised the cream of air force from the North Caucasian airfields to provide cover, they were most
likely older planes marshalled from the nearest airfields to provide reconnaissance Intel on the Georgian forces moving North.
Hence they were much easier to intercept (older, no countermeasures, slow, low-flying).
In fact they probably weren't even expecting the Georgians to have any S-2-A capabilities, hence why they were unescorted.
The Georgians while having virtually no air force do have a wide variety of SAM's, some of them quite potent Soviet-era stuff like the SA-11
Gadfly.
www.globalsecurity.org...
It's definitely not outside Georgia's capability to take down Russian aircraft, but without any air cover, Russia is going establish superiority
within days and begin neutralising their air defence network.
And why would they need such advanced surface to air systems to combat 'al-qaeda', the stated goal of the train and equip program?
I assume your talking about the proposed modernisation package Georgia was supposed to have planned with Israel and the US?
That was cancelled or stalled before too long and not much Western equipment ended up in the hands of the Georgians.
The army also received significant training assistance as well as equipment from the United States military: in 2002 (that is, already under
Shevardnadze), an eighteen-month "train and equip" programme with a total budget of $64 million was started to modernise four infantry battalions
and one mechanised company. Georgia also received valuable equipment, such as ten UH-1 transportation helicopters from the US government. The value of
the US military cooperation with the Georgian armed forces in 2007 is estimated at $34 million. As a result, some 16,000 troops are now considered
trained by the US military.
www.opendemocracy.net...
They received training for 4 battalions and some transport helicopters but that's about it.
The only Western equipment Georgian forces have been seen fielding are G-36's, everything else they've got is Soviet-era stuff.
Israel has recently cancelled military sales to Georgia:
www.jpost.com.../JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1215331198561