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| Kiev has in its possession a lot of modern weapons produced by the West. (Source: AFP) |
When Russia began its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian military relied heavily on Soviet-era weapons, from tanks and artillery to fighter jets. But now, with billions of dollars in military aid pouring into the country, Kiev has more modern weapons from the West and the advantages they can bring.
Missile attack
Attention has been focused on a modern US-made rocket launcher that has been sent to Ukraine. The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is said to give Kiev’s forces the ability to hit targets at much greater distances and with greater accuracy than Soviet-designed systems.
During the autumn counteroffensive, HIMARS provided the Ukrainian army with the ability to strike targets up to 80 km (50 mi) away and then rapidly move – it was used to attack bridges near the southern city of Kherson, cutting off Russian troops and their supply lines.
Kiev later wanted longer-range missiles (with a range of up to 300 km) that could also be launched by HIMARS.
In February 2023, Washington agreed to send ground-launched small diameter bombs (GLSDBs), which have a range of 150 km when launched by HIMARS. The UK also announced the delivery of Storm Shadow cruise missiles - which have a range of 550 km.
Both weapons have been deployed in combat, expanding Ukraine's offensive range.
Air defense
Throughout the conflict, Russia has made extensive use of missiles to attack Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. To counter these cover attacks, the West has sent Ukraine Patriot and Avenger air defense systems.
At $4 million a launcher, the Patriot missile is focused on countering ballistic missile attacks, leaving simpler weapons to deal with the cheap, slow-flying Iranian suicide drones often used by the Russians.
Even with these new air defense systems, Ukraine still struggles to defend its territory against Russian attacks.
Russia has relied on long-range cruise and ballistic missiles to strike targets deep inside Ukraine, avoiding the risk to its fighter jets after losing several in the early stages of the campaign.
Ukraine maintains a much smaller air force of Soviet-made Sukhoi and Mig-29 jets in areas far from the front lines and uses them to launch missiles from great distances to minimize losses.
Ukraine has long pushed the West to provide the jets, but their delivery is not expected to happen soon.
Artillery
Long known as the “King of Battle,” artillery systems are key in any conflict, especially in the conflict in Ukraine. Russian troops have pushed deep into the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine.
Artillery can knock out enemy buildings and weapons from a reasonable distance and cause enough chaos that the enemy is forced to retreat. Ukrainian forces are using artillery heavily in battles around Zaporizhzhia, where the ongoing counteroffensive began.
Ukraine has had a strong artillery force from the start – and now they have the US M777 and the German Panzerhaubitze 2000, both of which are more accurate and powerful than what they had at the beginning of the conflict.
Tanks and armored vehicles
Military analysts say Ukraine needs a "strike force" of tanks and other combat vehicles if it wants to break through Russia's defenses.
The tanks delivered so far – including several models of German Leopards and British Challengers – are more modern than the Soviet-designed T-64 and T-72 tanks that Ukraine relied on at the start of the conflict.
According to Craig Cartier, a retired US Soviet analyst with more than 30 years of experience, the new tank models have much better armor and can attack more accurately than Russian tanks.
Meanwhile, the US has sent Bradley fighting vehicles, which offer better protection for soldiers on board and better firepower than the Soviet-era armored vehicles that Ukraine has been using.
All of these vehicles can cause high casualties and destroy other weapons systems, making them extremely important to a counterattack.
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