Testing ground: new samples of foreign equipment for Ukraine
American BMP M2 Bradley. Photo by the US Department of Defense
Foreign partners and patrons of the Kyiv regime have long used Ukraine as a free testing ground for testing their weapons and military equipment in a real conflict. In the near future, new samples of various types are going to be sent to this test site, which will also have to be tested in practice. What results foreign armies hope for is unknown. But the results of such tests can be very different from expectations.
New armored vehicles
In recent weeks, several foreign countries have revealed their new plans to send weapons to Ukraine. This time, several states at once expressed their readiness to provide not only infantry weapons or artillery, but also armored combat vehicles and anti-aircraft missile systems. Delivery of all this property is expected within the next weeks or months.
The most attention in early January was attracted by information from the United States. The Pentagon expressed its readiness to transfer to the Kyiv regime 50 M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, one of the main modifications. It is also planned to supply 18 M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers and M992A2 ammunition transporters for them. Infantry fighting vehicles and self-propelled guns of these types will be sent to Ukraine for the first time.
British Army Challenger 2 MBT. Photo by the British Ministry of Defense
The UK is also preparing to supply armored vehicles not previously included in aid packages. The other day, its Ministry of Defense announced its readiness to provide 14 basic tanks Challenger 2 and 8 AS-90 self-propelled guns. It is curious that the possibility of transferring British self-propelled guns was discussed earlier, but the decision was made only now.
The other day, Poland expressed its readiness to send 14 German-made Leopard 2 MBTs to Ukraine. At the same time, she does not want to supply tanks on her own. It is proposed to create some kind of international coalition, which, through joint efforts, will recruit a sufficient number of Leopards-2 and transfer them to the Kyiv regime. Several other countries agree in principle to participate in this. However, the position of Germany remains unknown - without its approval, the re-export of tanks is impossible.
Probably, the situation with Leopard 2 will become clear in the very near future, following the meeting of the NATO Contact Group. On January 20, representatives of the Alliance countries will again gather in Germany at the Ramstein base and, perhaps, find a common language in the matter of supplying tanks.
The Leopard 2PL tank is a Polish version of the German vehicle. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
Air Defense
In the latest assistance packages, air defense assets are attracting attention. Kyiv for a long time begged modern anti-aircraft systems from foreign partners, but for a long time received only promises and mostly outdated equipment. Only now are the deliveries of the desired samples planned.
So, only at the end of December, despite all the requests, the Pentagon announced its intention to transfer one Patriot air defense system battery to Ukraine. The modification of this complex, the configuration and number of various technical means, as well as other features of such a delivery have not yet been reported. The timing also remains unknown. At the same time, it should be noted that almost a month has passed since the announcement of such assistance, and during this time there has been no visible progress.
In early January, the US also promised to provide RIM-7 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles, which were developed in the past for surface ships. To use such ammunition, it is planned to rebuild a number of land-based Buk air defense systems that Ukraine has. How soon this will happen, and when the updated complexes will begin service, is unknown. The number of missiles planned for transfer is also not disclosed.
Replenishment and strengthening
The latest aid packages for Ukraine have several common goals. By joint efforts, foreign states are trying to maintain the overall combat capability of Ukrainian formations, for which various types of ammunition, infantry weapons, vehicles, etc. are being transferred.
ACS AS-90. Photo by the British Ministry of Defense
Against this background, anti-aircraft weapons are being supplied with the aim of building a modern layered air defense system. With the help of modernized "Buks", "Patriots" and other products, it is planned to cover strategically important objects and protect them from Russian strikes. Transfer of new types of armored vehicles, incl. MBT and BMP, speaks of the desire of foreign allies to restore the fleet of Ukrainian military vehicles. It cannot be ruled out that they even want to provide Kyiv with some offensive capabilities.
In addition, an important implication is clearly visible in the announced deliveries of modern systems and samples. The US and NATO see assistance to Ukraine as an opportunity to test their products in a real conflict against a technically advanced adversary. In recent decades, they have not had such an opportunity, and now in Ukraine they are catching up.
Even in small quantities, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, air defense systems and other samples will make it possible to test the existing theoretical constructions and collect new data on operation and combat use. At the same time, foreign states minimize the risks - Ukrainian personnel will face all the characteristic dangers, which they are not going to take care of.
Funds from the American Patriot air defense system. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
Obvious results
Thus, a number of foreign developments in the coming weeks or months will get to Ukraine and go to a kind of test. Given the events of the past months, it is not difficult to imagine what will happen next. It should be expected that newly arriving foreign equipment will ensure the collection of the necessary data, but will do this "at the cost of their own lives."
Despite all the declared determination, foreign countries are ready to supply only limited quantities of modern equipment. Due to this, Ukrainian formations will be able to rearm only individual units, and this will not allow changing the situation at the front. In addition, foreign armored vehicles will arouse increased interest - and will become a real object of hunting. Even the most modern MBT and infantry fighting vehicles will not be able to work effectively in such conditions.
A similar scenario should be expected in the case of new foreign air defense systems. They pose a potential danger to our front-line and army aviation, and can also interfere with missile attacks on military infrastructure. In this regard, air defense systems will become a priority target for the next demilitarizing strikes. They will face the same fate as other anti-aircraft weapons that Ukraine had a year ago.
Anti-aircraft missiles RIM-7. Photo by the US Department of Defense
It should be noted that the "tests" of foreign technology are of great interest to our army and defense industry. For the first time, Russian troops will encounter Challengers or Leopards - and will be able to evaluate such equipment, as well as find the best means and ways to destroy it. In addition, such a technique can become a trophy, extremely useful in terms of study and further conclusions.
Help continues
Foreign patrons and allies actively supplied weapons and equipment to the Kyiv regime. At the same time, in recent months they have actually spent the entire available stock of Soviet-style materiel suitable for operation. Nevertheless, they are not going to refuse support and intend to continue the supply of weapons and equipment - and now they have to take modern equipment from their own formations and units.
It is assumed that new assistance in the form of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, etc. NATO model will support the Ukrainian formations and help them resist longer. In addition, foreign partners get a chance to test their models in a real conflict. Whether this justifies all the losses and the reduction of our own fleet is a rhetorical question.
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