Could you explain further Nadew?

So all the bragging about the so how many expanded R-27R by both sides is just…what?

How you can help us.

I have no idea where all these stories are coming from but the reality is as follows:

During the assault on badme, the MI-35 gunships completely cut off the supply lines and prevented the Eritreans from moving reinforcement and supply from the other fronts while the MIG-23s and An-12 conducted heavy bombing; the MIG-23s were actually coming to strike behind Eritrean lines. As it became clear the trapped force would not be able to withstand the huge offensive, the Eritreans decided to use their airforce in an attempt to make it harder.

On Feb 25, 1999, an Eritrean Air Force MIG-29 was dispatched to the war zone. Once detected, two Ethiopian Su-27s were scrambled and the lone MIG-29 was shot down. On the following day, they also sent another MIG-29 but it was detected way before it reached the war zone. Both pilots (Yonas and Samuel) were killed. What is strange and unexplainable to this day is, the Eritreans only sent one aircraft each day. Standard operating procedures would tell you, you at least send an element (two planes) – a leader and wingman to protect the leader.

No other engagement took place other than that. There was an instance, during the attack on Massawa, escorting Su-27 and Eritrean MIG-29s were both in the air at the same time. The Eritrean MIGs did not attempt to confront or even get close to the Su-27s despite being seen by radar and the Su-27s did not try to engage as their orders were strictly to protect the MIG-23s.

Eritrea received five or six MIG-29s. Two were shot down and at least one is a trainer (ERAF501). You just can’t do much with two planes.

There is one huge difference between your example and the ERAF/ETAF situation. Your example lists two countries with absolutely incomparable militaries where Iraqi AF does not stand even a theoretical chance against USAF. I am talking about numbers, training, force multipliers and even the quality of hardware (MiG-17 vs F-15/F-18/F-16). In such situation, purchase of MiG-17s does not make any sense.

On the other hand, Eritrea has had a much more comparable military to the one of Ethiopia. On both sides no AWACS, no ECM or other multipliers were used, the aircraft were of the same generation, even the quality of training was roughly on par (on both sides provided by paid mercenaries). To make long story short – Eritreans bought reasonably good aircraft to protect their strike assets (read MB339CDs) and their purchase was perfectly legitimate at that time – they only were unlucky to find even better aircraft in the hands of the enemy. Sh!t happens, even in Africa.

Note: if you really want to look for some absolutely senseless African purchase, what about the two MiG-23s purchased by Democratic Republic of Congo from Libya? I wonder whether these two ever got into the air at all..

LOL!

You write as if you know!

How many women do they have flying Flankers? I seem to remember a report on Acig.org a few years back about a female Ethiopian Su-27 driver (Cpt. Tolossa) shooting down an Eritrean MiG-29U.

Aster Tolossa is a fictional character. Nobody by that name exits. The Su-27 pilot was and is the only female fighter pilot the Ethiopian Air Force produced.

But do you have a pic of the whole Etiopian Flanker ???

The ones I have are loaded with “goodies” and not in electronic format.

model Ethiopian F-5E

You can’t compare L-39 with T-38 and its derivative, F-5B. L-39 is a jet transition trainer while T-38 is an advanced combat trainer.

L-39 is comparable (role wise) with T-33 while T-38/F-5B is best compared with MIG-21U/UB and its Chinese versions.

Eritrean Reddigo

This might help you too. It has the new dispensers.