Ukrainian troops have dramatically downed a Russian fighter jet over eastern Ukraine as an oil depot was set ablaze by a drone strike more than 100 miles away in Russia.

The Soviet-designed Su-25, nicknamed “Frogfoot” by Nato, was downed over Kramatorsk, Donetsk, as it fired on Ukrainian troops.

  • espentan@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I never knew Frogfoot was the call sign for Su-25.

    Nice to see the Russian ones go down in flames.

      • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Some of the DCS (military aircraft sim) aircraft have a second seat that is filled with an AI to manage weapons, help with dog fights (F-4, F-14). It’s always amusing when you have them paired with a Mig-15 and you hear your WSO yell something like ‘We got a fagot on our tail!’. Gets a chuckle from me every time.

        Also, MiG-15s turn really, really well. Getting into a turning fight with one is a bad idea. Luckily the two aircraft I just mentioned are much faster than them, so you generally want to just punch it and do quick passes. ‘Boom and zoom’

          • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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            3 months ago

            Yeah…

            He also keeps bitching about his spinal surgery that is due after every one of my perfectly cromulent landings. I refuse to believe this is a skill issue. ;p

        • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝@sopuli.xyz
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          3 months ago

          They are not call signs, they are reporting names. Russians don’t call it the Frogfoot, it’s a name NATO uses to talk about it that’s easier to remember than numbers. All fighters start with F, bombers with B, helis with H and if I remember correctly, air to air missiles with A.

          The actual nickname the Russians have for the Su-25 is Grach, meaning Rook.

  • rbesfe@lemmy.ca
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    3 months ago

    Love when journalists call anything with a jet engine and wings a “fighter jet”

    • Hawke@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      What would be your preferred terminology?

      “Close air support aircraft” is a bit awkward.

      • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝@sopuli.xyz
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        3 months ago

        Jet warplane is correct and broad enough to be accurate. Light bomber is still closer if they want to be specific.

        Calling it a fighter is what made the Russian lies about the airliner they shot down sound plausible.

      • Barbarian@sh.itjust.works
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        3 months ago

        For players of strategy games, CAS suffices. No idea if militaries do it differently. Saying you’re going to an automatic teller machine would be awkward to say as well.

        • Hawke@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          Journalism is only rarely directed at strategy game players though. CAS is not a common abbreviation for the public like ATM is.

        • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          “Attacker” is also used commonly for CAS aircraft and is very brief. Fighter, attacker, bomber.

    • Lupus@feddit.org
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      3 months ago

      Meh, close enough for the general public and us nerds know what a SU25 actually is.

    • lemming741@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Like when journalists call with anything with a barrel and a trigger an “assault rifle”