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Air Defense or Fighter Jets? NATO Says Ukraine Should Focus on Ground Defense

March 7, 2023
No Comments Air Force, Europe, Ukraine, Weapons

Why NATO Focused on Air Defense Systems vs. Fighter Jets

At a meeting between US and European military officials to discuss the Ukraine dispute, Kyiv made a plea for advanced fighter jets, which has not been granted yet. This appeal for modern aircraft was the most recent expression of the Ukrainian government’s request. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov made a clear statement to the Western defense chiefs meeting on Tuesday, highlighting Ukraine’s urgent need for fighter jets. 

The Ukraine government has been pushing for advanced fighter jets from the US and European military forces to aid in its defense against Russia for months now. While NATO has thus far opted to focus on providing ground-based military resources such as artillery, tanks, and air defense systems, it is increasingly evident that Kyiv needs more sophisticated aircraft in order to best face off against the Russians. 

First and foremost, it is important to note that while Kyiv’s request for advanced aircraft has not yet been granted by NATO forces, the Ukrainian government believes that they can gain the upper hand over their opponent through improved air power capabilities. A Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) report notes that acquiring modern aircraft will give Ukraine a much-needed edge over Russia’s outdated aerial techniques.

“The Russian air force is not likely to possess air superiority over Ukraine, and it has run low on stocks of long-range, precision-guided munitions. Russia will also likely face long-term supply chain challenges for some weapons systems because of Western economic sanctions.”

In addition to improving its aerial capabilities, Kyiv must also focus on improving its air defense systems for them to effectively counter Russian advances. This includes investing in new surveillance technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and high-altitude radar systems, which are capable of detecting any incoming enemy craft before they reach Ukrainian airspace. 

As General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, remarked, “The principal features of future conflicts will be the extensive employment of precision weapons and other types of new weapons.” To identify targets in a relatively contested environment, the Russian military also utilized some airborne platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Similarly, Ukraine must also develop stronger anti-aircraft missiles which can shoot down any hostile planes that enter their airspace. In this regard, Kyiv should seek assistance from NATO member states who possess advanced missile interception technologies such as Patriot Systems or S500s that could prove invaluable against Russian aggressions.  

Moreover, one cannot underestimate the importance of adequately training personnel on properly using these defense strategies and tactics once they have been implemented by NATO forces. Major General Kolodinov acknowledges this when he states: “Ultimately it comes down to training – if we don’t teach pilots how to correctly utilize these new aircraft properly, then all of the hardware won’t do us much good when facing off against the Russians.” Therefore, investments in training regimens and equipment maintenance simulations should be integral to any NATO-led initiative to improve Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. 

There is also a need for increased diplomatic engagement between Kyiv and Moscow to prevent further escalations or provocations between both sides. Recent reports suggest that negotiations regarding Crimea are already taking place at a high level, but more needs to be done regarding other issues surrounding Ukraine, such as gas pipelines and energy supplies, which remain unresolved. Through continued dialogue between both parties, actual progress can be made in resolving this conflict once and for all so that peace may reign across Eastern Europe again. 

Ultimately, a robust air defense system combined with modern fighter jets may prove pivotal for Ukrainian forces seeking gains against Russian adversaries during their ongoing conflicts within Eastern Europe. With proper strategic guidance from NATO forces, including improved surveillance techniques, better anti-aircraft missile systems, and comprehensive personnel training programs – there is hope yet for peace between both sides as long as diplomatic efforts continue without fail alongside military advances under international supervision.

Current State of the War and Where the West Stands

The Biden Administration insists that the next six months will be crucial in determining the victor of this long-standing conflict. Kyiv has been notified that they should capitalize on this brief span of time as the White House will experience greater difficulty pushing through assistance packages with a GOP-controlled House, and allies will face a more complicated matter with dwindling armaments once this period is over.

At NATO headquarters, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called together 54 nations to discuss strategic matters. Sitting at the head of the table, he urged them to continue providing Ukraine with tanks, heavy weaponry, and instruction. 

“We have committed nearly $50 billion in lethal assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion last Feb. 24 and our coordination is making a real difference,” he said, sitting alongside Reznikov. “Today’s meeting comes at a critical time. The Kremlin is still betting they can wait us out.”

Western officials have noticed many Russian troops and attack aircraft being stationed near the eastern border of Ukraine. A US administration official spoke of “a lot of action on the border,” as well as Russian air forces sending in helicopters and jets. This has been interpreted as a possible indication of a wide-scale offensive planned to target the regions of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhya.

Ukraine has identified the necessity for air defense systems at the gatherings as a top concern. The UN human rights office reported on Monday that there had been 7,199 deaths and 11,756 injuries of civilians since Russia’s initial incursion on Feb. 24, 2022. With various fatalities deriving from airstrikes, a pressing objective is to bolster fortifications around towns and population centers so that Ukraine can more efficiently protect against future bombardments.

At the meeting with Ukraine and other allies, Austin acknowledged the presence of Russian combat power. However, he was uncertain if Moscow would start a bombing campaign in the immediate future. “We know that the Russians possess a large number of planes and a great deal of capabilities,” he stated to the press. “That’s why we are stressing the need to provide Ukraine with as much air defense as possible.”

On Tuesday, Italy and France offered SAMP/T anti-aircraft systems in addition to the NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems) and Patriot air defense batteries which had already been promised by the US and its allies. Around a hundred Ukrainians are being trained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to learn how to use the systems which can track and destroy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones.

The importance of punctuality is growing. On Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged members of the alliance to ensure their agreed-upon shipments of artillery, combat vehicles, and ammunition reaches their destination on time, considering the intensifying conflict in eastern Ukraine. “He said, “This is a prolonged war of attrition, making it an effort to secure the necessary supplies for the equipment,” Stoltenberg added that the alliance requires ammunition, spare parts, maintenance, and other logistics to support the artillery.

The Biden Administration expects tanks, armored vehicles, other heavy weaponry, and delivery timing to be of paramount significance. Germany and other European nations have consented to provide Leopard 2 battle tanks. Germany has initiated instruction with the Leopard 2 and is anticipating dispatching them to the battlefront by the end of March.

The war in Bakhmut has been one of the most intense and violent ones for Russia, whose long-term attack in eastern Ukraine, some areas of which were reportedly annexed by Moscow in September, mirrors the intention of President Vladimir Putin to take control of Donetsk and Luhansk, commonly referred to as the Donbas. Ukrainian authorities have stated that Russian soldiers have been assigned to achieve this goal by the end of March.

So far, Russian forces have been unable to gain control of Bakhmut or impede the supply routes for Ukrainian troops in the city. However, the continued fighting has had a considerable effect on the Russian military, with Oryx, an open-source intelligence website, estimating that Russia has lost up to half of its operational tank fleet since the beginning of the war. According to their visual evidence of military equipment losses, 1,000 Russian tanks have been destroyed, and 544 have been taken by Ukraine, with an additional 79 damaged and 65 left behind.

Ukraine has found itself in a difficult situation with its land forces weakened and signs that Russia’s air forces are becoming more active. As a result, Kyiv is looking to purchase new fighter jets to protect itself. Ukraine currently has a fleet of aging Soviet-era planes, which, since the nation declared independence over 30 years ago, have been no match for the modern Russian jets that can launch missiles from a distance without entering Ukrainian airspace.

Ukraine has asked several nations to provide them with fighter jets, such as F-16s, F-35s, Eurofighters, Tornados, French Rafales, and Swedish Gripens. However, President Joe Biden recently clarified that the United States will not supply Kyiv with F-16s, following the Deputy Foreign Minister’s suggestion to form a “fighter jet coalition.” When asked about the matter on Jan. 31, Biden gave a definitive “No.”

On Tuesday, Austin declared that the government’s stance had not shifted. “I have no news to deliver regarding whether we will be giving out the F-16s,” he stated, “and there is nothing more that I can add to what our president already said.”