In struggle, it's not the scale or sophistication of the expertise, however the way it's used – particularly in mixtures. Elena Tita/World Pictures Ukraine through Getty Pictures
In lower than a yr, Ukraine’s navy has emerged as a contemporary, efficient combating pressure largely on account of an abundance of expertise supplied by the USA and its NATO allies.
On Feb. 24, 2022, the date of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian navy was nonetheless depending on Russian-made navy gear, a lot of which was antiquated. Right this moment it fields high-tech Western weapons techniques like Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and anti-radar missiles.
Nevertheless, it isn’t expertise alone that wins battles. Ukraine has managed to obtain a big assortment of NATO gear, learn to use it and produce it to the battlefield with spectacular pace and effectiveness. The previous yr has seen Ukraine change into a technical combating pressure, in a position to mix completely different ranges of expertise in help of a cohesive technique.
In distinction, this yr has proven that Russia, regardless of having fashionable expertise and weapons, has been unable to make use of its seeming technological benefit on account of poor management, dangerous technique and lack of competence.
A lot of the eye on Western-furnished expertise has targeted on top-tier techniques just like the Patriot missile battery, HIMARS, Excessive-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) and Javelin transportable antitank missile, and different precision anti-tank weapons. This doesn’t do justice to the dimensions of expertise Ukraine is utilizing each day throughout the struggle zone.
Superior anti-tank weapons just like the U.S.-made Javelin and the British-made NLAW, seen right here, have helped the Ukrainian navy fend off giant numbers of Russian armored automobiles.
AP Picture/Efrem Lukatsky
Three tiers
Army expertise within the struggle in Ukraine will be categorized in three tiers. The weapon techniques talked about above fall within the high-end tier. These techniques have proved to be highly effective weapons within the fingers of Ukrainians, however have considerably restricted utility on account of price and coaching necessities. These elements restrict the variety of techniques obtainable to Ukrainian forces. Ukraine now fields 20 HIMARS, and can get solely a single battery of the Patriot system.
The Patriot alone requires a number of months of coaching within the U.S. Along with the coaching burden, these weapons require a big help system of extremely specialised elements and upkeep. The lengthy logistics tail for the very best tech techniques decreases their utility. These high-end techniques are crucial to Ukraine’s battle, however should be supplemented by mid- and low-tier techniques that may be delivered and utilized in giant numbers.
The mid-tier techniques embody drones like Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 and the American-made Switchblade and ScanEagle. These techniques have been supplied within the a whole bunch and include minimal outdoors coaching necessities, whereas providing a direct benefit on the battlefield. This stage of expertise requires much less coaching, which implies it might enter the battlefield rather more shortly and be put in additional fingers.
The Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone is much less succesful than subtle American-made drones however significantly extra reasonably priced.
The power to offer weapons techniques which are less expensive and fewer training-intensive has supported the efforts to get high-end techniques into Ukrainian fingers by shopping for the Ukrainian navy time. With mid-level expertise as a stopgap, Ukraine has been in a position to meet the speedy Russian threats whereas making ready to make use of high-tech techniques.
The low-end tier of techniques shouldn’t be mistaken as much less vital than the opposite lessons of weapons and capabilities. This tier contains commercially obtainable, off-the-shelf merchandise which have proved to be recreation changers in Ukraine, merchandise like industrial quadcopter drones and Starlink satellite tv for pc web terminals.
Business expertise has allowed Ukrainian forces to equip themselves with capabilities that dramatically enhance command and management, communications and general situational consciousness. Command and management in a navy context refers to battlefield commanders having the ability to effectively direct the forces and techniques below their command. Situational consciousness in a navy context refers to figuring out battlefield situations, together with the positions and standing of pleasant and enemy forces.
Placing it collectively
Ukraine’s success has come by determining methods to combine these three tiers of weapons and expertise right into a cohesive battlefield technique. They use Starlink to make sure connectivity between commanders, personnel who establish targets and front-line models who assault these targets.
Drones based mostly on industrial quadcopters which have been retrofitted for navy use and mid-tier drones present crucial concentrating on and surveillance knowledge in actual time. This connectivity and airborne intelligence permits small, cell models to make use of their restricted provides of precision high-end munitions to biggest impact.
The pace with which Ukraine has taken this hodgepodge of expertise and capabilities and mastered their integration and use is exceptional. It gives a stark distinction to Russia’s use of expertise.
Russian mismanagement
In February 2022, Russia seemed to be technologically superior to Ukraine on the battlefield. The Russian navy has regularly did not capitalize on this benefit due to poor command and management, lack of awareness and dismal efficiency of troops within the subject.
Russia has confronted most of the similar pressures as Ukraine to adapt to new expertise and has come to some related options. Russian forces have additionally used quadcopter drones for tactical surveillance and reconnaissance, and, just like the Ukrainians, have fitted some with grenades. They’ve hit civilian in addition to navy targets with Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones, that are a type of loitering munition that may fly overhead till a goal is recognized and detonate on impression.
Russia has embraced mid-level expertise as a result of it has been hesitant to commit its most superior weapons techniques just like the beleaguered Su-57 fighter jet or the T-14 Armata tank, which was solely not too long ago deployed in Ukraine. Russia has been unable to safe air superiority or destroy Ukraine’s air defenses or long-range artillery, which implies committing Russia’s finest weapons places them at nice danger.
Nevertheless, Russia nonetheless maintains a bonus in long-range precision strike weapons like cruise missiles. Regardless of the scale of its arsenal, Russian forces have continued to squander their technological benefit and depend on low-quality, international choices just like the Shahed. The Russian navy has did not suppress Ukraine’s sturdy defenses whereas concurrently counting on poor techniques, management and coaching.
Classes from the struggle
Whereas Russian forces continued to mismanage their expertise, Ukraine was mastering theirs. This gives the important thing lesson for the West. The mere existence of leading edge expertise and high-tech weapons doesn’t present a navy with a assure of success.
Western militaries can look to Ukraine for an instance of methods to combine applied sciences and weapons to stay agile and adaptable. On the similar time, they will look to Russia for example of the hazards of lack of competence and poor command and management.
Ukraine is a window into future warfare. The subsequent wars may also hinge on which aspect can higher use all ranges of expertise and combine them right into a coherent technique. Expertise is a recreation changer, however solely for individuals who make one of the best use of it.
The creator is an officer in the USA Air Power. The views expressed are these of the creator and don’t replicate the official place of the USA Air Power or Division of Protection.
