Why are pilots in Ukraine firing rockets so clumsily?
“Lofting”, which dates back to the 1940s, suggests both sides lack modern weaponry
![DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE - JUNE 16: A Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25 jet buzzes low in the sky on June 16, 2022 in the Donetsk region, Ukraine. In recent weeks, Russia has concentrated its firepower on Ukraine's Donbas region, where it has long backed two separatist regions at war with the Ukrainian government since 2014. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20220625_BLP504.jpg)
Russian aircraft have adopted an unusual tactic for firing unguided rockets. Rather than launch them in pairs directly at a target on a downward angle, pilots tend to fly low before climbing and firing an entire pod of rockets steeply upwards, after which the pilot veers away. This clumsy approach, known as “lofting” or “tossing”, has some advantages, but points to a lack of modern weaponry on both sides.
This article appeared in the The Economist explains section of the print edition under the headline “Why are pilots in Ukraine firing rockets so clumsily?”
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