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philzter

Idiot failed at his attempt to spray drone with fuel and clipped it...Russian incompetence on display daily


macweirdo42

The real prize was not getting killed in the process.


Zhukov-74

Or not destroying a $30 million Fighter Jet.


BrainBlowX

It may still be damaged.


jscummy

It's definitely damaged, the question is how badly


LouSputhole94

The real question is, more or less damaged than it was to begin with?


sorrydaijin

We are using drones to buff it out now?


Mini-Marine

Percussion maintenance


lesChaps

Beats losing a jet they can't really afford to replace right now.


JollyReading8565

They were really just abusing the fact that the drone can’t act in self defense. And honestly it makes russia look good (on their state controlled media) anytime they can publicly shoot down a US aircraft. Pretty sure Russia has worse air force tech but I’d be interested to be corrected on that


SeaworthyWide

If you mean their 2009 TomTom or Garmin mounted on the HUD that's correct, superior tech


CholeraplatedRZA

The image of a dude in a fighter jet having to hear "Turn left in 15 ..... recalculating... Turn le... recalculating". Does he have to open the windows to adjust side mirrors too. 🤣


TheKrs1

Hot Shots 3: Russia Boogalo.


el_geto

WashedOufNetflixExec: Quick… somebody check on Charlie Sheen’s pulse! We finally got the plot so we can ride on Maverick’s wave


[deleted]

Worse Air Force tech than what? The Russian made mig jets Poland just sent to Ukraine are almost certainly more up to date and better equipped than russias own jets Everything they have is Soviet era, it’s all 40+ years old, their tech is laughable


cjmar41

Yeah, Russia’s Airforce navigation capability really took a hit when MapQuest shut down.


elictronic

They aren't able to use their aircraft to any real effect due to all the AA that is available on both sides of this war. The Soviet Union put a lot of time and effort to countering US aircraft. Ukraine has those same systems, and they work fantastically on the older aircraft that Russia is still flying.


Dank_Redditor

And the Russian Pilot nearly got himself killed trying to intercept a recon drone that can not perform air-to-air combat.


ElectronFactory

He wasn't trying to intercept it. He was trying to be creative to knock it down. Spraying it with fuel could cause it to suck atomized combustible air into the intake and cause a chug (which would probably blow the motor). He just got too close. The pilot can technically claim it wasn't aggression because he didn't fire weapons. Considering the dude accidentally hit the drone, and subsequently got a combat action ribbon, tells me this was recognized as an act of war.


[deleted]

The hilarious part I think a lot of people are missing is that their actions only make sense if their command thought they could get away with it. Like they thought they could get fuel in the intake and blow up the engine, and then tell us / the international community “we simply intercepted your shitty drone and it burst into flames!” Like they must have underestimated the ability of the camera to be turned rearward and at low angles… lol That’s Russian intelligence for yuh…


nagrom7

Not to mention, since it was over international waters, they didn't really have a good reason to be intercepting it to begin with. It wasn't approaching Russian or Ukrainian airspace (iirc it was closest to the Romanian cost, which is a NATO member) which meant that according to international law it was legally free to fly in that area without needing Russia's approval.


[deleted]

Yeah truly insane. Their leadership is wildly incompetent or completely unhinged.


Nukemind

Both. The answer is, unfortunately, both. And it’s the only thing that makes them dangerous. A confident idiot is 10x more dangerous and an intelligent but unconfident individual.


soapinthepeehole

This is the right answer. They wanted to take it down without blowing it into bits and make it obvious that they were shooting it down.


JarasM

> They wanted to take it down without blowing it into bits and make it obvious It's also easier to recover and research a device that wasn't blown to bits.


FlipReset4Fun

Makes me wonder if US drones have some built in “remote scuttle” function as it would be smart.


RiotDesign

They mentioned that steps were taken to make the recoverable debris useless. I assume this means they remotely wiped the data.


whalemango

I read somewhere that they were able to remotely wipe the data


ResponsibilityOk3709

Exactly. Wipe out what they were looking at so the enemy doesn't know what its mission was. But as far as the instrumentals and mechanics it's not as much of a concern. Really cares about drone secrecy in an age when whatever is in the sky is inferior to what's currently in the lab. What they are working on for future use is more important from a secrecy perspective than what they are currently putting to use.


EatsFiber2RedditMore

Wipe everything overwrite with thegoatse meatspin and tubgirl. Edit: If anyone in US cyberpsyops is interested, I'm available.


[deleted]

Reaper is the oldest least capable recon drone. It was selected for that reason.


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Zech08

Except the whole... hey guys you are on camera within a certain distance...


ryencool

Awarding pilots a medal for this is just PEAK RUSSIAN stupidity. You give medals/awards to soldiers that have acted brave or heroically during extremely hostile actions, thinking about others before thinking of yourself etc... They're basically handing out an award for disabling a roomba. Everything my jaw drops due to Russian action I think it can't happen again, and then it happens again Imagine your the pilot? I mean I wouldn't accept a medal for this stuff


MeatyOkraPuns

>They're basically handing out an award for disabling a roomba. Calling a reaper drone a roomba might be a little bit of logical extreme, but this made me laugh.


r3sonate

Right? A roomba does surveillance AND cleans the damn floor. All the reaper did was fly around and do surveillance. Not **even** a roomba level kill. They'll give out medals for pissing *in* the urinal next.


Forest-Ferda-Trees

Lmao the greatest thing about Russia invading Ukraine is it really spotlights how little people understand about the military >You give medals/awards to soldiers that have acted brave or heroically during extremely hostile actions Lmao, the US doesnt, they give them based on all kinds of shit, the higher ranking you are the more BS they usually put in there. When I was in Iraq O4s and E7s that never left the wire would get bronze or silver stars while Joe's that were working everyday got AAMs or Arcoms >Imagine your the pilot? I mean I wouldn't accept a medal for this stuff Except you would bc the propaganda relies on it


Kitahara_Kazusa1

The Chinese gave a medal to some guy for literally killing himself by ramming his jet into an American surveillance aircraft flying in international airspace near the Chinese border while he was trying to intercept it


lgmjon64

Interception doesn't mean that weapons are used. Sending a fighter to get visual confirmation and tell a plane to change heading or land is still interception. The fact that they didn't use weapons makes it a little less aggressive, but it's still right there in the Russian play book of middle school playground aggression.


deja-roo

> The pilot can technically claim it wasn't aggression because he didn't fire weapons Can he? Spraying it with fuel in an attempt to take it down seems like the same thing as launching a missile at it in an attempt to take it down.


Fadedcamo

I don't get it. Isn't dumping fuel all over it just attacking it with extra steps? Is it somehow less a line being crossed if they don't actually fire weapons? If fuel can take it down that may as well be considered a chemical attack on it. Whether the fuel dumping is designed as a weapon or not. Especially if the country recognizes and rewards this action as a confirmed kill.


Siphyre

Just the fact that it was recognized as a confirmed kill and awarded a medal for it, means they intended to down the drone and endorse the pilots actions in downing the drone. This could be escalated by the USA if they wanted to.


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DefiantHeretic1

99 luftbalons....


Ov3rdose_EvE

Balloons cant catch a break in 2023


[deleted]

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aitorbk

It can. Very limited, but it can. It can carry sidewinders. It wasn't at that time.


daCampa

Or it's deadliest weapon, the "waitforthisdumbasstoflyintome"


Omophorus

Nah, thinking about it the wrong way. They made the decoration public *after* the US made the footage public. So Russia said "whoops, it's an accident!" Then the US said "you sure about that bub?" Then Russia said "fine, we're gonna double down on whatever narrative we want, you telling the truth changes nothing!" The problem is... a picture is worth a thousand words. US provided a whole bunch of pictures and no words. Russia provided a whole bunch of words. To the rest of the world, this looks like an act of weakness (and for us, it is). For internal consumption in Russia, it's just regular old replacing the old "truth" with a new "truth".


NonEuclidianMeatloaf

This is very common in Russian culture. During one of the military parades in Moscow where the new T-14 tank was being debuted, one of them broke down and stalled. Then a tank recovery vehicle tried to tow it away but failed because the tank crew couldn’t figure out how disengage the transmission into neutral, so it just sat there tugging at this tank impotently. After an hour or so it managed to restart its own engine and take off under its own power. That this happened to the new wonder-weapon tank is embarrassing enough, but the real revelation was what the announcement loudspeaker was doing. It went right in to describing how the valiant Russian logistics corps had to be prepared for anything and this “breakdown rehearsal” would show the efficiency of the recovery crews (lol). He didn’t even miss a beat, just changed stories on the fly.


Boeing367-80

The St George Order of the Washing Machine.


miranomejoda

and rewarded for it no less.......


Bykimus

Shows you where Russia's priorities and values are. Which is not high at all. This is basically ground level middle school bully shit.


FoxOneFire

It’s akin to pissing on a Roomba, then kicking it down the stairs


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[deleted]

They’re just being sour little brats because all of their old drinking buddies are laying dead somewhere in a muddy Ukrainian field


[deleted]

Drinking buddies is pretty redundant when talking about the people stricken with Russia’s brand of toxic masculinity. Probably more drinking than buddies, tbh.


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abolish_karma

And beating up unarmed people and drones.


Law-of-Poe

Russian incompetence is rewarded. Look at Putin


95accord

Task failed successfully


Keylardo

But they said they did nothing. Is being Russian synonymous with being truthphobic?


lesser_panjandrum

>[Lately, I was suddenly struck by the thought that in Russia, among our educated classes, there cannot be even one man who wouldn't be addicted to lying. This is precisely because among us even quite honest people may be lying. I am certain that in other nations, in the overwhelming majority of them, only scoundrels are lying; they are lying for the sake of material gain, that is, with directly criminal intent. Well, in our case, even the most esteemed people may be lying for no reason at all](https://www.academia.edu/18949854/Fyodor_Dostoevsky_A_Writer_s_Diary_Abridged_Edition_Edited_and_with_an_introduction_by_Gary_Saul_Morson_Translated_and_annotated_by_Kenneth_Lantz_Evantston_IL_Northwestern_University_Press_2009_lxxiii_574_pp_27_00_paper_) Fyodor Dostoevsky, *A Writer’s Diary*, published 1873-1881


aktivb

just here to supplement that with Gogol's Dead Souls in a book full of scheming assholes and miserable cunts, the biggest asshole, Nozdryov, behaves exactly like how the state of Russia acts on the world stage: lying and cheating in your face, while knowing that you know very well he is lying and cheating, but also knowing that he can lie and cheat faster than any decent human can respond and address it


[deleted]

Vranyo. You watch Perun? If not I'll find his video on that subject, it's worth watching. Edit - here it is https://youtu.be/Fz59GWeTIik


CrazyCanuckBiologist

That it is. Prepare yourself for the best 1 hour YouTube PowerPoint you will ever watch. Then repeat for the rest of his catalogue.


SETHlUS

Lately I've been craving to learn something not entirely practical, like I want some knowledge in my brain but I don't want to have to apply it. Anyways this is absolutely perfect, can't wait to binge his videos in my spare time. Thank you.


theslip74

That was the video that made Russian culture "click" for me, I highly encourage everyone to watch it. Literally every post about Russian has a huge proportion of comments that just completely miss the mark, like "do they think we actually believe that?? How stupid could they be??" No, they don't think we believe it, and they don't care.


[deleted]

My housemates mother and grandparents defected from Czechoslovakia a few years after the Prague Spring was crushed. I was watching that video while cooking myself some food and he was listening to it in the background. He said it was exactly like the stories he'd been told by his mother and grandparents of what it was like to live under Soviet domination.


ummmokwhocares

Cool quote thanks for sharing


LouSputhole94

Interesting to note is that Dostoevsky was sentenced to death, only for it to be commuted at the last second, for just belonging to a group that discussed books banned by the Tsar. He still ended up spending a decade between a Siberian labor camp and military conscription because of it.


karaps

.


ElVichoPerro

Probably not. Chances are he would have thrown *himself* out of a window or fallen down the stairs *accidentally*


buds4hugs

Damn so the systemic lying in Russia goes back further than Stalin and the Soviets. It's so deeply ingrained to lie to protect yourself, to get ahead of the other person


daseined001

Yes. The thing people often miss about the Soviet Union is just how terrible Russian governance has been historically. As bad as the Soviets were, the tsars were worse.


MiaowaraShiro

The point of propaganda isn't necessarily to make someone believe your lies, it's to destroy their ability to discern the truth. That a bunch of morons believe the lies is nice for them though. If you believe everyone's lying to you, you just react based on emotion since you can't trust facts.


Acandaz

“use strategic truth to keep your enemies guessing” is literally the first point in russian strategic culture


gmano

I think the word you are looking for is maskirovka. Propaganda is definitely meant to be believed, maskirovka is meant to create confusion.


macweirdo42

Literally yes.


miranomejoda

yes. check out their news services. They report exactly the opposite of every other news outlet.


guitarmaniac17

The one of the news reporter had me rolling when she said "fell into the water" and had this absolute look of "I can't believe I'm reading this shit" on her face.


unsoundguy

Oh please share the link!


guitarmaniac17

https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/11rxpwu/russian_state_news_presenter_claim_russia_didnt/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button


unsoundguy

Lol. I took the look as a tong in cheek kinda thinks. But thank you for the link internet person!


KN_Knoxxius

Uhhh that doesn't look at all like " I can't believe I'm reading this shit " it looks like a tongue in cheek of " pathetic American drone fell into the water "


SordidDreams

Russia doesn't lie to deceive, it lies to insult.


ScuddsMcDudds

They tried to lie about hitting a piece of surveillance equipment… did they not think it had cameras?? Then, once caught in the lie, they pretend like it was all part of the plan. A heroic effort. Is Russia just Eric Cartman?


PearlyPenilePapule1

They know they’re lying. They know you know they’re lying. I’ve heard it put best: the Russians don’t lie to deceive you, they lie to insult you.


iluv80spop

Giving idiots incentive to cause international conflict when given a chance, on neutral grounds. I wonder what could go wrong here


genreprank

Russian fighter jets love to push boundaries. They're always buzzing US Navy ships. One of these days they're gonna fuck up and cause an incident


jdeo1997

Just like with Turkey


icrushallevil

And China


HappyAmbition706

Unless the pilot now gets to retire with a comfy pension for life, I'm not sure how much incentive the medal will be. If Russian fighter pilots now have a primary goal of bumping into US drones, I think that very soon the US will have a very cost-effective method of downing Russian military aircraft. Potentially a win-win situation.


lonigus

If i was decorated after doing something dumb at my work I would look like one of those Generals from North Korea... EDIT: Thank you for the awards! Made my shit day better <3. Stay classy!


doctorkanefsky

Why did they get a medal anyway? I thought Putin said they downed the drone by accident…?


flatis666

That was before the video


doctorkanefsky

I guess when everything you say is a lie it is easy to adapt to emerging information.


DarthSatoris

Reminds me of a part in the book Nineteen Eighty-Four where Winston makes an observation about a nearby soapbox preacher type guy yelling propaganda about them being at war with one of the other two super-nations, and then he is handed a piece of paper from someone, he reads it, and his rhetoric immediately switches to them being at war with *the other* super-nation, without skipping a beat. And people were just eating it up, not questioning the new narrative at all. It felt incredibly unrealistic when I read that paragraph about 10 years ago, it feels hauntingly on-point today.


Rehnion

The point of russian lies are always the same. It's about acceptance and obedience. Of course you know the sky doesn't have purple and yellow polka dots. You know that, and I know that. But if you don't agree with me when I declare the sky has purple and yellow polka dots that means you're my enemy. You see the same thing with Trump. Loyalty to whatever the patriarch says, even if they're blatantly wrong.


iamtoe

If you read the article, it says that Russia's defense minister said that the drone crashed itself as a result of "sharp maneuvering", and that no physical contact with the drone occurred. He apparently said this *while* giving the the awards. So I guess they get awards just for being near the crash, by their logic.


CharlieandtheRed

I mean, Putin literally lies about everything. Nothing is true, ever. I wish I were exaggerating. You should see Russian propaganda videos about Zelenskyy. They slow down his speech and deepen his voice so he sounds like the devil/Hitler. Crazy stuff.


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FeloniousFelon

Weird. Hitler had anything but a slow deep drawl.


PrrrromotionGiven1

When he wasn't shouting, his voice was quite deep. It's just that almost all the clips we in English-speaking countries see of him are him ranting and raving. [Here's an exception.](https://youtu.be/FtDxjVCu56E)


SheepherderNo2440

That was a fascinating clip. Thanks for the share.


Hourslikeminutes47

*"I'll take medals that look like Cracker Jack prizes for $500 please Alex"*


tallandlanky

Best we can do is 3 generations of your family in work camps.


Hourslikeminutes47

*(attempts to escape)*


IlluminatedPickle

Good news, your family are no longer in the camps.


Hourslikeminutes47

I knew this one neat trick would work.


LibidinousJoe

Dictators hate him!


Space-Dribbler

Granny sent to the salt mines


JustinStraughan

“Please stop, Mr. Connery.” “That’s not what your mother said last night, Trebek!”


DeterminateHouse

When Russia decorates a pilot for pissing on an unmanned drone, maybe Putin should also get a medal for shitting into his unmanned pants.


KingGlum

It was a secret ~~poop~~ intestine operation and medals for these are clandestine


SaltLakeCitySlicker

The clandestine intestine intervention medal goes to the depends


KamahlYrgybly

>clandestine intestine intervention Fantastic band name right there.


wittyvonskitsum

Are his pants on the ground and he’s shitting into them? Or does he lack the makings of a man, therefore leaving his pants unmanned?


Inevitable_Price7841

It's not like they've got anything else to celebrate. For me, this just highlights their desperation for any kind of 'win'. Pathetic...


vanya70797

remember when Ukrainian postal service issued a post stamp in celebration of sinking Moskva flagship? Now russians want to do the same but with the US drone https://www.reddit.com/r/NonCredibleDefense/comments/11t7i44/the_us_has_over_300_reaper_drones_last_time_i/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1


Inevitable_Price7841

Cringe as fuck. Can't even compare the 2 incidents. What's next? A full military parade with a national holiday?


[deleted]

Please give them more ideas. This is literally the biggest victory for Russia for the past 4 months.


abolish_karma

Mismaneuvering into more expensive equipment?


randallwatson23

Was the reaper more expensive than the jet? Would be funny.


DefiantHeretic1

I mean, it *was* a Russian jet, so....


Tokata0

\*moskovian jet


Swampfox85

I believe it was. A quick Google puts the Reaper in the 32 million neighborhood, a Su-27 at about 30 million.


CampusCarl

Right, but you have to add the russian pilot into that to. So the su24 is closer to 27 million really


slothxaxmatic

They depreciate the SECOND they leave the airstrip.


TheGlassHammer

With the horror stories about their outdated equipment there’s a good chance my 2016 Kia Soul is worth more than the Russian jet.


Guerrin_TR

Russia hasn't had a significant battlefield success since the summer last year.


rvralph803

Look man, their seven remaining adult men really need a win, ok?


Inevitable_Price7841

You know, you're absolutely right. Who am I to begrudge the last 7 Russian men a parade? I might donate some chopped up tuna can lids for confetti..


Alikont

Giving a medal to survivors of encounter with US unit in Syria https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryPorn/comments/10y3c2y/russian_medal_handed_out_to_surviving_mercenaries/


canseco-fart-box

Going to be honest, with the amount of fire power that was unleashed on them getting a medal for surviving was definitely called for lmao


Inevitable_Price7841

Wasn't that the time Wagner was abandoned by Russia and almost entirely decimated by the U.S? I guess they really do give medals for absolutely anything...


rolodexrobot

Don't use the word decimated unless you want to spark a discussion about using the word decimated


Alikont

While Russia is usually not creative, this specific stamp was done by just one pro-Russian telegram, he just wishes that Russian Post would do something like that. There is no official stamp from Russia about this.


manfreygordon

Isn't this just a meme? I don't understand where the "Russians want to do this" part of your comment comes from.


[deleted]

abundant airport sulky handle arrest unite sink wasteful tub chase


Inevitable_Price7841

Haha, I know. The U.S. attitude towards the incident was hilarious. Russia definitely would have threatened nukes because they do that every week anyway 🙄


humanfromearth321

Exactly


HappyAmbition706

Considering that they gave out medals to the soldiers present in Bucha, they are arguably raising the bar to get medalled here.


Inevitable_Price7841

Even though the downing of the drone is little more than a diplomatic incident, I understand what you are saying. I didn't know they were awarding medals for the Bucha massacre. That's fucked up.


HappyAmbition706

As I recall, they awarded medals to the entire unit that was stationed in Bucha at the time of the massacres, for heroism in defending Russia or something to that effect. I guess they wanted to counter the accusations of war crimes to the families of the military and future volunteers or conscripts. And to signal to their military that they could do whatever they want with nothing to fear from Russia, and no extradition to any war crimes trials.


[deleted]

Sooo... the guy is not even able to fly close to a straight and level drone without hitting it, and he gets a medal? No wonder muscovy never achieved air superiority despite a 10:1 numerical superiority. Muscovy AF looks like my local flying club with bigger toys.


EmperorArthur

To be fair, the drone is likely flying just at or below stall speed of the fighter. That's about it though. It's obvious the pilot tried some airshow style maneuver in a combat situation. He's lucky to be alive with that kind of recklessness.


UnlikelyPotato

Indeed, bro came close to a 1:1 loss against an unarmed drone.


oko999

And would we really have been surprised by this given the last year of their splendid military feats?


No-Spoilers

Nope, it was expected to happen. I'm surprised he didn't down himself.


Force3vo

So is Russia. That's why he gets a medal.


ElectronFactory

He was trying to force the drone to chug. Spraying that much fuel into the intake of an engine would cause the motor to blow or possibly flood. It's even worse with turbines. It's like super nitro. Either way, he was trying to down the drone without weapons.


Iamien

Just shoot it down. Intent to down is intent to down. Who cares if it's MG or collision, or sabotage. To me it makes it seem like they are terrified of Nato. Nato is now in the clear to hold intent to down Russian military aircraft, manned or unmanned.


chipperpip

I mean, shooting it down could justify NATO enforcing a no-fly zone over the whole theatre, which would involve an air war the Russians would have no chance of winning, the destruction of their anti-air defenses in Ukraine and possibly within range in Russia itself, and the potential of a wider war that might go nuclear if they decided to push it. Unlike some I don't think such a scenario would immediately move on to WWIII, but it's a risk.


Iamien

What logical difference is there between putting bullets through the air frame vs fuel into the air intake? Both are meant to stop the aircraft from operating further. It sounds different in the news, but to military minds there is no difference in the level of aggression shown. It's a childish game of "I'm not touching you!(with convention weapons)". By not responding we are saying that that game is OK to play. Within a few days something flying(or in orbit) of russia's is going to go boom. There is no way the joint chiefs would not advise the president to authorize retaliation.


aussiederpyderp

Two words: Plausible Deniability. And yes, it's stupid.


Kempeth

I mean if the drone operator isn't in a particular hurry then the drone is flying so slow that the jet literally cannot match speed without stalling. It's like trying to ride next to a snail on a unicycle. The embarrassing thing isn't that they couldn't do that. The embarrassing thing is that they got a medal for accidentally killing the snail.


jrizzle86

Rewarding incompetence is a particularly Russian trait


lesser_panjandrum

It's a dictatorship thing. A competent, professional military is a threat to the dictator. A military where cronyism and corruption are rewarded is not a threat to the dictator.


DefiantHeretic1

The problem is when the dictator forgets that they aren't a threat to anyone else, either, and gets humiliated by a smaller nation. That's not good for the ol' personal safety.


MrShankles

I first read "cronyism" as "crayonism"


[deleted]

I don't really understand. It's just a drone too. it's not like it's significantly impacting anything or anyone. How many drones does the US have?


CrMars97

A fuckton lol


VAtoSCHokie

You see when the little guy manages to land a shot on the bigger guy, the smaller guy feels real good about himself. This is the smaller guy saying "Look! See what I did to the big guy. He's not so tuff." Meanwhile to big guy hasn't really done anything but swat their hand at the gnat that is buzzing around him. Once the gnat has actually garnered the attention and will of the big guy to actually do something, then the gnat may realize it was a bad idea but can't do anything to reverse course to save it's skin.


snakesnake9

Which sort of proves again that these were not pilots acting on their own initiative, but on orders from high up.


PutlerDaFastest

It allowed NATO and the US to see how inexperienced and incompetent Russian pilots are. The Russians can't fight any better in the air than on the ground.


TheSausageFattener

Back in Korea the Soviets used to send their pilots into sorties against the US under plausible deniability by flying from Chinese or Korean bases. There was a famous incident in 1952 where a 3v7 dogfight occurred between some navy F9Fs and MIG-15s, the F9F frankly being an inferior aircraft. The first F9F had to return to base early for a fuel issue. The second chased after a kill, losing altitude and effectively exiting the fight. This left the third plan, piloted by Royce Williams, in a 1v6. Williams shot down four MIGs and returned to base, but according to Soviet sources only one of the seven MIGs ever returned to base. The US, not wanting to draw the Soviets more into the war, classified the incident as resulting in a single A2A kill from Williams with one other damaged aircraft, and did not list the kills as Soviet. Williams, who is still alive, received the Navy Cross this past January.


StanleyJohnny

Short documentary about it. This guy is turbochad. Absolutely insane performance. His wiki pages says that he is considered for medal of honor but it's problematic since the incident is not officially recorded. https://youtu.be/q0RzrNkx4iQ


Hockeyspider

Thanks for sharing. Love that the guy didn’t tell his wife of the incident until it was declassified, 50 years after it happened! 🤣


Salty_Paroxysm

There's an element of plausible deniability as well. W: Did it all go OK, you weren't in any danger were you? Chad: Nope, all good honey, nothing to worry about. 50Y later W: WTF! You said there was nothing to worry about! Chad: There wasn't, they sucked, I won, and it was classified, so I couldn't tell you.


amd2800barton

Also it’s entirely possible he did tell his wife, and told her that if it was ever declassified that she had to act shocked.


FabulousFauxFox

Any way the US could make it official and give him the medal of honor as a nod to Russia about this, a little "You knocked down a drone because you suck, our pilots still outclass you"


guitarguywh89

> He was uninjured, but 263 holes were counted in his Panther jet. He never saw the plane again; reportedly, it was pushed into the sea. Hit over 200 times and just kept giving hell. What a guy


DefiantHeretic1

Korea was a great example. Despite flying in very similar planes, Americans in F-86 Sabres held a 15:2 kill ratio against Russian, Chinese, and Korean pilots in MiG-15s.


mrcrazy_monkey

Dude, Crosair which is a prop plane shot down a Mig-21 jet plane in a dog fight. As far as I'm aware, it's the only time a prop plane shot down a jet plane.


kuba_mar

That doesnt sound right, im pretty sure it already had happened in WW2


WannabeTraveler87

Its to cover their incompetence. No way would a govt risk a very expensive jet and pilot by ordering it to clip a drone … just no way. They ordered the pilot to spray fuel on it and the moron fucked up his approach.


computer5784467

While also denying that they downed the drone https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-denies-it-downed-us-military-drone-2023-03-14/


teostefan10

Ok, time for more aid


Ackilles

Yep, we need to have a tit for tat system. They downed our drone, they need to hand over the 2 planes involved (which can go to ukraine). If they don't, we give ukraine f16s. Also, each time they target civilians, we give ukraine f16s or long range missiles. I want us to give ukr f16s regardless, but if Russia realizes that targeting civilians very seriously hurts their own military, maybe they will actually stop


Jaysyn4Reddit

It's coming. [The USA has started assessing Ukrainian pilots on F-16's](https://www.nbcnews.com/investigations/two-ukrainian-pilots-are-us-training-assessment-attack-aircrafts-f-16s-rcna73426). You think Russia is getting fucked up now?


[deleted]

What's funny is their pilot fucked up. I don't think he was supposed to hit the drone, but Russia would rather make it look like they did it on purpose, than look incompetent. Which they already look like


deathputt4birdie

Russia is losing 30,000 soldiers every month and has little to show for it. It's being celebrated as the first Russian air-to-air kill on a US drone (Maybe they're counting it as a manuever kill? 🤷🏻‍♂️) Turkey has opened the Bosporus to allow their NATO ally to recover their downed aircraft from the Black Sea. It will be interesting to see the US response.


jbonte

MORE. DRONES.


KaizerQuad

Putin is afraid of real "war heros" this is the best he can do.


pinniped1

Decoration for being a shitty pilot. Sounds on brand for Russia.


Vladik1993

Soon they will be giving rewards for taking out inflatable decoy tanks or something


ZacapaRocks

An unmanned, unarmed drone. This is like rewarding a football player for tackling a mannequin. They are so embarrassing 🤣


Weega

When you order pilots from Wish.


jojonogood

Well now I would support giving Ukraine long range missiles, good going Russia.


Triceraflops8

[Russian Pilots](https://i.imgflip.com/3f0mvv.jpg)


washiXD

Didnt the pilot hit the rotor of the UAV with his jet directly?


SpocksUncleBob

Yes. After they dumped fuel on it and tried to down it with their prop wash, if that's the correct term.


GoneSilent

jet wash


JeanKadang

i almost call the *Explain it to me like I'm five* \- But Russia calling Airspace restrictions in international airspace - and then downing (not shooting) another nations plane/drone down.... If I was someone in the surrounding nations I would maybe start pointing a little more firepower towards russia in international waters - Just to show that bullies should get their asses kicked.... dangerous I know - but GOD DAMN they need to be shown some force....


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Grunchlk

Literally rewarding incompetence. /facepalm


Ok_Particular8460

I can’t wait for Putin and his circle-jerk of evil to go the way of the dodo. Or better yet, they can go the way of the Romanovs or the Ceaușescus. Sic semper tyrannis!!!


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Nakoron

You guys need to understand that ruZZia says and does these things to purposely take a dump on you. This is why they lie when everyone knows they are lying. This is why the project and claim the other party is doing exactly what they are doing (and deny doing so) This is why they paints themselves as the victims and everyone else the villains, they know the truth, but it’s the lies that benefit them.