In April, the US provided a much-needed boost to Ukraine’s forces fighting against the Russian invasion by releasing $61 billion in aid.
Ukraine, however, is not the sole recipient of the deal. According to analysts, the United States is acquiring invaluable knowledge about the weaknesses of its crucial weapons and military production systems.
Since the war began in 2022, the United States has emerged as Ukraine’s primary ally, offering a substantial $107 billion in aid to the Ukrainian government.
The US is gaining important insights into its weaknesses in the brutal battlefields of east and south Ukraine, from the jamming of missiles to drones and artillery.
Electronic warfare
This Article Includes
The US has been facing challenges in the field of electronic warfare, particularly when it comes to countering Russia’s jamming systems. These systems have proven to be highly effective in disrupting the functioning of Western precision weaponry, including GMLRS rockets and Excalibur artillery shells, as highlighted by a previous report from Business Insider.
The provided image is credited to Scott Peterson via Getty Images.
Russia’s electronic warfare units have developed a remarkable ability to disrupt the GPS navigation systems that guide missiles and shells to their intended targets. By scrambling these systems, they can divert the projectiles off course, rendering them completely ineffective.
Stacie Pettyjohn, a military analyst at the Center for a New American Security, has highlighted that the war has exposed the vulnerability of certain US precision-guided munitions in an intense electromagnetic environment.
Cheap, off-the-shelf drones have proven to be incredibly valuable in Ukraine, where the Ukrainian military has relied on them to address their manpower and equipment limitations in the face of Russia’s advances. These drones have effectively carried out missions such as surveillance of enemy positions, providing guidance for artillery strikes, and even being equipped with grenades or explosives to target enemy strongholds.
Ukraine’s drones are not immune to electronic warfare, but the country has developed advanced technology to counter jamming signals and capitalize on weaknesses in Russia’s electronic warfare defenses.
The use of drones on the battlefield
According to Pettyjohn, one of the challenges that Pentagon experts are currently facing is how to effectively maneuver, conceal, and supply troops on battlefields that are constantly under drone surveillance.
The Pentagon is actively working on enhancing its capacity to deploy drones in order to provide support to troops and counter enemy drones. Military analysts anticipate that drones will become a common presence in future battlefields. Currently, the US army units are equipped with a limited number of outdated drones per unit, as highlighted by Pettyjohn.
Pettyjohn emphasized that a crucial lesson learned from this conflict is the increased lethality of the battlefield due to the democratization of precision strike weapons.
A shortage in weapons
The conflict in Ukraine has revealed not only issues with the effectiveness of weapons but also with the United States’ ability to manufacture them in the necessary quantity for Ukraine’s needs.
For decades, the United States has been preparing for war against militant groups like the Taliban in Afghanistan. However, the conflict in Ukraine bears a greater resemblance to conflicts such as World War I, where two well-defended militaries engage in constant artillery exchanges in an attempt to wear down the enemy. The US military has yet to adapt to this new type of warfare.
Russia has taken a different approach by putting its economy in a state of preparedness for war. This involves a significant increase in the production of military equipment, putting Ukraine at a significant disadvantage.
According to Pettyjohn, the Ukraine war has highlighted the major issue of insufficient procurement of munitions by the Pentagon for a prolonged conflict.
During the recent US aid block, parts of the front line in Ukraine were under heavy fire, with a ratio of 10-1. Ukraine’s Western allies faced challenges in supplying sufficient artillery and ammunition rounds throughout the war.
US Patriot air defense systems have effectively protected Ukrainian cities from large-scale Russian drone and rocket attacks. While some of these attacks have been intercepted, the devastating impact of HIMARS long-range missiles has been felt by Russian forces far behind their front lines. Additionally, reports indicate that Ukraine has successfully utilized the Switchblade 600 exploding drone to target Russian artillery batteries and troops, further enhancing their defensive capabilities.
A high cost
According to Pettyjohn, a challenge with US air defense systems is that the cost of the missiles used to shoot down cheap drones is significantly higher. This poses an additional problem for US military planners to address.
According to her, relying on expensive missiles to combat inexpensive drones and missiles is not a viable long-term strategy. She believes that the United States needs a more sustainable approach to prevail in these conflicts, as they require resilience and persistence.
Pettyjohn emphasizes the importance of both quality and quantity in learning.
According to Pettyjohn, it is crucial for the US military to recognize the significance of both mass and precision. To meet the demands of modern warfare, the US should prioritize acquiring a larger quantity of artillery shells, missiles, and drones. Furthermore, it is essential to establish a robust industrial base capable of scaling up the production of these vital systems.
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