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.
Love when journalists call anything with a jet engine and wings a “fighter jet”
What would be your preferred terminology?
“Close air support aircraft” is a bit awkward.
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.
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.
Journalism is only rarely directed at strategy game players though. CAS is not a common abbreviation for the public like ATM is.
“Attacker” is also used commonly for CAS aircraft and is very brief. Fighter, attacker, bomber.
Meh, close enough for the general public and us nerds know what a SU25 actually is.
Like when journalists call with anything with a barrel and a trigger an “assault rifle”
Ah, yeah. Reminds me of this oldie:
What would you call it for the general population?
I might be wrong but I think the correct term here is attack aircraft
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_aircraft
Or the beautiful German terms “Erdkampfflugzeug” or “Schlachtflugzeug”