Originally Posted by
SATCOS WHIPPING BOY
Best thing is to ensure every person capable on the ground has efective anti-air assets, and open the skies so that if it flies it is a target. No risk of blue on blue. Purely a defensive stance and reason to escalate reduced.
Maybe this is Ukraine's ultimate aim i.e. for NATO to say "Well we can't provide a no-fly zone but here, have some more Stingers and we'll look what else is in the locker"
One advantage of doing this is that there is no fanfare i.e. can be supplied covertly, and their use is fairly deniable assuming dedicated radar systems aren't involved. I doubt even an the most experienced combat pilot will know what system they were engaged by.