On August 9, several large explosions and plumes of smoke were visible from western Crimea: a Russian air base suffered extensive damage.The Russian Armed Forces thus lose 10 Su-24 and Su-30 combat aircraft destroyed or damaged on the ground.This base being 215 km behind the front line, many hypotheses can be invalidated but it is not yet possible to explain what caused this major incident.On August 9, around 3:20 p.m. (local time), several images and videos from Crimea showed numerous explosions and a large column of smoke in the Novofedorivka region (western Crimea, 50 km north of Sevastopol).The city includes an air base and the first information speaks of an explosion in an ammunition store.This is not exactly the situation on the spot: thanks to satellite photos taken the day before and photos taken after the incident, it is possible to analyze the various damages on the air base via the photo below.What is particularly surprising is that the damage is mainly found in a fairly large area (21 hectares) and that the front line is remote, the first Ukrainian troops being located 215 km from the base in question.Thus, the Russian Forces lose:Some personnel vehicles working on the base were also destroyed following the fall of objects ranging from projectiles to the beam of a metal structure.Military trucks were also reportedly destroyed but no image confirms the announcement.A video (here) also shows that the Il-76 heavy transport plane was taxiing when the first explosions began to take place.The fire also spread to a large part of the meadows located between the taxiways, thus explaining the ocher color (with still some fumaroles) of the photo above.Moreover, it is possible to see the difference in color of the intact grass and the burnt grass to the south and south-east of the antique Be-12 seaplane.Additionally, the attached tweet shows that the explosions were quite powerful.Moreover, it is possible to find images of buildings located not far from the air base with light damage (broken windows).#Novofedorivka Airbase in occupied Crimea.#UkraineRussiaWar pic.twitter.com/4IethdzlH1The hypotheses of the cause of this catastrophe for the Russian Army are numerous.However, it is already possible to rule out a few:In addition, the damage is scattered over an area of ​​21 hectares (a little less than the 24 hectares of the Champs-de-Mars in Paris).Thus, it is in any case not a one and only human error or a simple missile.Finally, other hypotheses are still open, such as the raid by Ukrainian special forces, the use of several suicide drones equipped with explosives or thermite (such as the Mugin-5 civilian drone that attacked the Rostov refinery has over 200km on June 26), or the commissioning of the Hrim-2/Grim-2 short-range missile system (first tests in 2019, maximum range - according to different sources - from 280 to 500 km), etc.RUSSIA-UKRAINE Russia Crimea Su-30SM Su-24M Su-30 Su-24 Russian Air ForceYes, well, we've known that for 2 days!It's not new!Were you on leave, Mr. Powis?It seems today that there are only two hypotheses that are credible.The most likely is that Dassault's B project is already operational.Hello my P'tit ETIENNE, you don't even have the courage to keep your old nickname of HANNOSET ' (from Donkey we know ..!) Our Guadeloupe compatriots finally fired you, I'm not surprised given the profile of Gus.Regarding your always provocative comment against France, I would rather lean towards a raid of the new Belgian F35s, which finally seem to me to be operational 😂!It seems to me that France currently needs water bombers more than Dassault's B project... Fortunately, the Romanians and the Greeks are there to help us.A US official (under anonymity) indicates that they have not yet provided ATACMSjmarc G./// If plan B at Dassault is operational, I'm delighted.Obviously, at Dassault the Neurones work well, especially since India, Greece, the Emirates .... Taiwan .... the Air Force, the Naval Air Force ... and so on , don't complain.Some, on this platform, praise us too often the qualities of the F35, it barely reaches 30% availability on all the bases where it is used.Norway breaks the contract with Airbus Hélicos concerning the Nh90 marine, a breach is opened in this kind of initiative.So a country, like Norway, would launch into this procedure about the F35 ???Nothing is written in advance."FRÉDÉRIC" Maybe the neurons but unfortunately not the Neuron... We have to stop dreaming and saying nonsense.We will have Rafales capable of operating with NATO planes in 5 years... Our Chiefs of Staff have just WRITTEN that we are incapable of dealing with a high intensity war!Since Sarkozy, the French army is UNDER AMERICAN COMMAND!Dassault has no plan B!We are not what we think we are, we are only what the US and EU decide we are!jmarc.g.I am very surprised to read "30% available".It was true 3 or 4 years ago, but currently the Pentagon is talking about more than 80%, over the last 15 months.This figure is confirmed by the European armies.Where do you get this number from?Thanks.Rolls-Royce lays the first stone of its production center in FranceRyanair CEO not convinced by Boeing 737 MAX delivery plansSigning of the purchase contract for the four Israeli KC-46A PegasusAn L-39NG simulator for the Hungarian Air Force in addition to the 12 aircraft orderedFinal preparations for the Eutelsat Konnect VHTS satellite30 years ago, the South Koreans took their first step into space (2/2)80 years ago: a final show of force for the end of the Second World War© Copyright 2022 - Air & Cosmos.All rights reserved.