The Ethiopian air strategy appears to have two main objectives:
A by-product of the second objective is the closure of Asmara airport to commercial flights. This will isolate the Eritreans economically.
Both objectives seem close to being accomplished. The courageous, precision attacks on the airbase has caused serious damage to the Eritrean Air Force's ability to put planes into the air. Their maintenance and supply depots have received direct hits, as evidenced by news photos, and the noise of secondary explosions.
It appears that the Eritrean airforce could be (at least temporarily) non-operational just two days after the aerial war started.
In additon, the Eritrean pilots do not appear to have the necessary courage or skill to be a military threat. They can only accomplish high-altitude bombing of civilian targets. They lost one of their precious planes without accomplishing anything of military significance.
Asmara airport is now closed to commercial air traffic. Military traffic is also going to be difficult now that Ethiopia has reduced the Eritrean air force to non-operatinal status. Eritrea will have great difficulty in getting military charter flights to fly arms into Asmara airport. They have lost the ability to protect their air space.
In the near future, the Ethiopian air force is likely to switch its operations to air patrol and interdiction, close ground support, and roving attacks on Eritrean armored vehicles. Massawa port may also be attacked in order to close that supply route.
The Ethiopian airforce is doing its job methodically, professionally, and ETHICALLY, with great courage.
I again express my great admiration for their courage and determination.
- Dagmawi