The SAAF Forum

I think you misunderstood me. The reporters obviously collected various snippets of footage and chose what seemed to be appropriate in compiling the news report. With "splicing" I simply meant the standard practice of compiling the various snippets into a report that has to fit into a slot of a few minutes. Perhaps I used the wrong term - I didn't mean it in the nefarious sense. I think the inclusion of the footage was relevant in the overall context of the report, but as an aviation enthusiast I would have liked if they said a bit about the F-35's presence specifically. However, as it stands, the main theme of the report was about the MiG-31s, Tu-22s and the cooperation between the Russian Navy and Air Force, not really about the presence of other forces in the Eastern Mediterranean.

No problem, rest easy.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Thanks Tally-ho and Mfezi for the additional links and info, most interesting.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Pleasure Dean. Since Tally-ho's video clip directed the discussion in a slightly different direction, I thought these would be additional useful links for more context about the Russian MiG-31K deployment and their joint exercises with the Russian Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean. They basically correspond with what was said in that Russian news story, but as is usual with that Dutch Scramble website, they also provide additional details like bort numbers and units involved:
https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/r ... -messaging
https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/e ... th-mig-31k

Thank you Dean.

Of course Mfezi and I contribute from different angles. If we were men in uniform, he would be a MiG-31 pilot with that hoo-haa Kinzhal under the fuselage, me, I would just be an old-school staffer in a dimly lit office somewhere contemplating the next move, whilst watching the staged theatrics.

All tongue in cheek of course ...

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Please don't make assumptions about me, Tally-ho. I am an engineer first and tend to be very analytical about all areas in which I have interest. I therefore read sources from all sides and perspectives before I will even start to form my own opinion on current events. I have always endeavoured to post in a neutral manner and to only stick to the facts, where they are available or where at least multiple sources agree. You will notice that all the links that I posted on this thread are from Western sources, except the news report which was an attempt to find the context of the misleading video clip that you posted.

I speak Russian due to my domestic situation. On the other hand, I also have a strong affinity with our Western way of life due to my upbringing and having lived in South Africa and the United States for all my life. My entire professional career has been spent around Western manufactured equipment and all of the multi-national projects that I worked on were with Western countries or countries with close ties or aliances with the major Western powers. Many of these projects were directly with NATO members. Nevertheless, the fact that I have visited Russia many times along with being able to follow Russian news sources, gives me a slightly unusual perspective in some cases that I thought readers on this forum would find interesting. In my professional environment I have also often been consulted as a result of that mixed perspective or sometimes simply for a translation. It is not a reflection of my political or ideological beliefs, which by the way are not very strongly aligned with anyone except for the basic principles of democracy, respect and appreciation of personal freedoms and the responsibilities that go with them. I also don't think there is any country or institution that is beyond reproach. In the context of this thread, that goes for both the UK and the Russian militaries along with their political masters.

You must have a massive misconception of who I am if you think I have any interest in being a MiG pilot or wearing the associated uniform. Frankly, I find the suggestion quite offensive, "tongue in cheek" notwithstanding.

If you feel offended Mfezi, please accept my apologies, it was not intended.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Continuing with Vladimir Putin on the Black Sea incident:-

Article and video – a short video clip with Putin speaking – link below from The Sun. The message and virtual signalling of a man who clearly thinks bully-boy tactics can be applied to all who disagrees with him.

From The Sun newspaper - (Quote) Putin boasts even if Russia had sunk HMS Defender it would not have caused WW3 because West 'can't win that war' (Unquote)(thesun.co.uk)
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15441966/

Well, Putin and Co have clearly miscalculated on British resolve and the Royal Navy being unintimidated by schoolyard bully-boy tactics.
The mere fact that he even speaks of war, says much about his state of mind. In the video clip, take note of his facial expressions, this is a bitter man feeling humiliated having been put in his place, because he miscalculated. He thought the Royal Navy would change course because he and the Russian Coast Guard tells them to – now the whole world knows the outcome of that miscalculation.

I made mention earlier in a post about ‘Narrative Warfare’, the pursuance of a story overdosed on propaganda and at times plain old bulls… whereby you frighten or force people into believing your narrative. Putin may have success with a home audience, but clearly this is not working outside his playground - check that face in the video clip.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

I came across this handy 'quick-look' infographic showing the hardware which was involved in the Black Sea incident on 22 June 2021. HMS DEFENDER, a Royal Navy Daring class destroyer, also referred to as a Type 45, is primarily an Air Defence destroyer. It is ideally suited to its tasking in providing Air Defence for the Carrier Strike Group (10 naval vessels in total) currently in the Mediterranean, en route to the Asia-Pacific region.

Further reading:-
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organi ... s-defender


Credit MailOnline

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Mission accomplished - HMS DEFENDER sailing from her deployment to the Black Sea, through the Bosphorus (Strait of Istanbul, Turkey) back to the Mediterranean. The Rumelihisari (Throat-cutter castle) and the Sultan Mehmet bridge in the background.
HMS Defender and the Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group will pass through the Suez Canal soon on their way to the Asia-Pacific region.


Photo Credit Yörük Işık

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Tally Ho, frankly you come over as an outright propagandist, with your emotionally loaded language.

Mfezi, thank you for the balanced perspective.
It has been a long time since we last communicated.
Too long.
I hope you are well.

And your contribution to the subject under discussion is what? Perhaps read the Subject line above.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Hey Mfezi..
I sent you a pm

Just to keep us all informed as to ongoing progress, and to re-enforce the raison d'etre for HMS Defender visiting the Ukrainian naval base at Odessa in June this year:-

Babcock (UK) Signs Cooperation Agreement with Ukroboronprom (Ukraine).
Babcock, the international aerospace, defence and security company, with a leading naval business, has signed a Cooperation Agreement with Ukroboronprom in support of Ukraine’s Naval Capabilities Enhancement Programme (UNCEP).
https://www.babcockinternational.com/ne ... ence-dsei/

Ukraine previously signed a Memorandum of Intent with the UK to secure £1.25 billion in funding to build new naval vessels for the Ukrainian Navy. The first of the Barzan class, a British-designed fast attack missile boat will be constructed in the UK and the remaining 7 vessels will be built in Ukraine.

Inking the Cooperation Agreement on 15 Sept 2021 is Yuriy Husyev, General Director of the Ukroboronprom State Concern, and David Lockwood, Babcock CEO.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Apologies, LE, I've had very little time to read or respond to the forums and this probably won't change in the near future. I'll contact you via PM and see if I can track down what you asked for.