The topic of weapons that Ukraine needs is always relevant because, since February 24, 2022, we have faced a full-scale russian invasion. In this regard, we need international support, which cannot be sufficient, because what they give us is naturally reduced on the battlefield by the occupiers. This is what the Head of Ukraine’s largest “military” fund “Return Alive” Taras Chmut said about it.
“A lot of what we get, we lose, because it is war and there is no other way. Most likely, what we received last spring-summer is no longer available. Of course, “HIMARS” work – this is a difficult goal, but what is destroyed on the battlefield is normal, because this is war”.
So we asked two military experts what Ukraine really needs right now to successfully fight and got a clear answer.
It is necessary to at least reach parity with Russia: Igor Romanenko’s opinion
Retired lieutenant general, Candidate of Military Sciences, and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces from 2006 to 2010, Igor Romanenko said that the enemy outnumbers us in missile weapons, aviation, artillery, ammunition, and manpower. That is why, in order to fight, we need to establish at least parity in those areas, but it is far from that.
“Firstly, in order to, for example, fulfill the tasks of the strategic defense operation, which is being conducted in our country in the east from the Kupyan direction to the Donetsk direction, we need artillery and ammunition. Firstly, shells, we could solve a lot of things with them. Why so? Because 80% of the targets are destroyed by the available means in our country, that is, barrel artillery and MRLS,” – he said.
According to him Ukraine definitely needs air defense and modern fighters-jets to cover troops and facilities around the country.
“Our capital is more or less defended, but our other objects are not covered from ballistic missiles, and in general, the number of anti-aircraft missile systems is insufficient to fulfill this task. We need air defense systems. We have salvo fire systems that could use ATACMS missiles”.
Since there is no other way to advance, we need long-range missiles such as “Storm Shadow”, French “SCALP”, German “Taurus” [some types of weapons have already arrived from the allies – ed.], which are also not available yet. However, they are aerial launch platforms, and we need those that we already have, for example, on the “HIMARS” and “MLRS” salvo fire systems, with which we have experience, we need “ATACMS” missiles”, – explained the expert.
ATACMS – is a solid-propellant surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile manufactured by the US company Lockheed Martin. It has a range of up to 300 kilometers.
He added that the basic NATO aircraft of at least the 4th generation, which includes the F-16, F-18, the Swedish “Saab JAS 39 Gripen” and a number of others, solves the problem of both air defense and damage. By the way, “The Ukrainian Review” previously wrote an article with Igor Romanenko about the aircraft needed by Ukraine.
We asked him what the situation is with Ukraine’s readiness for likely winter mass shelling of civilian infrastructure, as was the case in 2022, and he answered:
“It is necessary to clearly imagine that, according to the current state of affairs, our air strike exceeds the potential of our defense means. That is, no country in the world, the USA, Israel, UK, are not able to cover all their objects, if they were to protect themselves from air strikes. Especially Ukraine, because we are provided with complexes, but they are not enough. And that is why we ourselves know how our objects are struck and can analyze how our troops are struck – they are sufficiently covered. As for infrastructure facilities, of course, the picture is such that we cannot provide cover for all”.
He emphasized that whoever said about complete readiness, it is not true. No one will ever be ready, the most vulnerable objects are covered by the capabilities of the state and its armed forces. This is the situation with us.
We also became interested in what the military officer thinks about the pace of training of our soldiers for the weapons provided to us by international partners, and personnel. He said that the enemy greatly outnumbers us, but we are on the path of quality:
“This work is planned in the course of what they add to us. Our soldiers learn quickly. This is a great motivation for us. And in terms of the enemy’s manpower, the enemy exceeds us in resources by the number of people four times. Therefore, it is not our way to compete with them in terms of numbers, because they fundamentally outnumber us in this regard. Our path in the struggle for the quality of the use of troops. And this means obtaining modern weapons, mastering them and using them professionally. Preferably, of course, modern and most effective”.
He expressed an interesting opinion about Ukraine’s chance in the course of this war to get rid of old Soviet weapons and update them with better units. Here is what he said:
“There is definitely a chance to take this step. We received enough weapons, more modern than we had. We learn it. Moreover, the companies of our allies are interested in conducting, so to speak, tests of these weapons, so they do not provide them to solve the problem, but often, they provide them for testing and identifying flaws with subsequent elimination”.
A weapon that can turn the tide of war: Petro Chernyk opinion
Candidate of political sciences and military expert Petro Chernyk also shared with us his opinion regarding the necessary weapons for Ukraine.
“When it comes to breaking the tide of war, really, there are three major big aspects. First, artillery, artillery, and once again, artillery. And, as much as possible, more highly surrounded ammunition, such as “M-982 Excalibur”, “SMArt 155“, “BONUS” or “Vulcano“. The more accurate the projectile, the more accurately it destroys enemy equipment”.
In addition to artillery, he also highlighted the need for aviation:
“Aviation really breaks the course of the war. Winston Churchill also said that aviation is the cavalry of modern times and nothing has changed since then. If we suddenly had three aviation regiments in Ukraine, and one aviation regiment is 48 machines, that is, more than 120 machines and the entire nomenclature of weapons to it, which is 105 indicators. Plus extra heavy bombs like “GBU-10”, “GBU-12”, “GBU-24”, “GBU-31” etc.”.
He added that the most important thing is long-range missiles, such as the “AGM-158 JASSM” or the “AGM-154 JSOW” cruise missile bomb in large numbers. If we talk about bombs, then we are talking about hundreds, if we talk about missiles, then about tens, but preferably also hundreds.
“And, of course, “ATACMS”, which does not speak. And long-range missiles, ground-based, which can be used from “HIMARS” and “MLRS” installations. In large quantities, such weapons can change the course of a war literally in a few months. The question is whether it will come,” – he added.
That’s how he talked about expectations, but the real situation with the arrival of weapons is somewhat different. According to him, if by the New Year, or by late autumn, one F-16 squadron will be operational, that is 12 machines, in interceptor mode, that is, they will hunt for cruise missiles, then it will be very good.
“In the “ATACMS” part, hope has appeared. Why? After all, the British and French took the first step. Missile complexes “Storm Shadow” and “SCALP” were handed over. The German ice is melting in part of the “Taurus” missiles, this will be the second step. And, perhaps, the Americans, realizing that the allies have gone for it, will reach this rhetoric. They have 4,000 missiles in stock, and 500 missiles would be great for us. How it will be in reality, I will not venture to predict, because this issue is not of a military nature, but of a political nature”, – explained Chernyk.
Regarding the readiness for winter and the situation with air defense, he expressed a solidarity opinion with Igor Romanenko:
“The more, the better. Unfortunately, the Russians have a large potential of missiles. They put such missiles as “X-101” air-based, “3M14” sea-based caliber and X-47M2 “Kinzhal”, the most dangerous hypersonic missile. However, we have confirmed the downing of at least six “Kinzhals” by the “MIM-104 Patriot” complex. That is, you can potentially fight with them. It is only a matter of sealing the grid of the sky of Ukraine”.
He also agreed with the fact that Ukraine has already begun to update its arsenal with newer and more powerful weapons provided to us by international partners.
“All this has already been put on the conveyor, I’ll explain why. Large digital arms corporations have announced, in particular Bayraktar, that they are ready to enter Ukraine into joint ventures for the production of new weapons. We are well aware that no one will build anything according to the old Soviet standards. As a citizen and an expert, I am an ardent supporter of the opinion that everything in the shelter for the Kalashnikov assault rifle should be replaced,” – the expert explained.
Both experts agreed that now Ukraine most needs artillery capable of hitting enemy positions. However, other components are no less important, for example, aircraft can significantly affect the course of this war, as can the availability of a sufficient number of shells.
Tetiana Stelmakh
