The idea that the US would not achieve air superiority against Russia is laughable. Russia’s Air Force has been pathetic in Ukraine relative to all their claims of supposed capabilities. The lack of stingers is not a hugely important factor compared to modern fighter jets, long range striking capabilities, and a competent set of pilots.
The “game changing weapons” that the US has been providing are very old. And we’re still not giving them the good stuff. Secrecy is not the reason.
Ukraine wants ATACMs for the HIMAR units and F16s.
The storm shadow missiles which have been making headlines lately are fired off of Ukrainian Soviet era planes
I worked on the F22 program, the same things that have prevented Russian air superiority in Ukraine can prevent American air superiority. F22's and F35's are not immune to attacks from lots of cheap IR missiles. Russia has also not yet brought most of its air force to the Ukraine fight. Secrecy is very much a stated reason for not giving Ukraine some weapons, the US doesn't even give some secret weapons to its EU allies. That is why it has export versions of weapon systems. Russia is perfectly capable of reverse engineering anything they capture in Ukraine.
Russia’s Air Force is largely non functional. It’s not capable of bringing it all to the front due to a mix of parts, maintenance, and pilot shortages. The latest phase of the war has seen them trying to use their copters (which are effective) but they’re dropping pretty fast.
It’s true that surface to air missiles are very good these days. But that’s not very useful against long range missiles precision weapons. Which Russia largely does not have. See their recent use of an iskander ballistic missile to take out a company of infantry under a bridge out of desperation and lack of alternatives.
The “game changing weapons” that the US has been providing are very old. And we’re still not giving them the good stuff. Secrecy is not the reason.
Ukraine wants ATACMs for the HIMAR units and F16s.
The storm shadow missiles which have been making headlines lately are fired off of Ukrainian Soviet era planes