Image source: topwar.ru
British observers are closely following the course of the special operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, drawing conclusions about the nature of modern combat and the need to update the current doctrine of warfare.
- noted in the UK Defence Journal.
As explained in the press, "quantity has its own quality." Given the significant losses in MBT and BMP suffered by both sides of the conflict, the current fleet of tanks will be knocked out in a matter of days:
According to the author, at the same time, the British army does not have a stock of tanks necessary to replenish the materiel. Even if we wait for the transition of troops to the Challenger 3 MBT (planned for about 2030), the army will receive only 148 vehicles of this type. This is enough only for the full staffing of two regiments, for training and providing minimum reserves. As a result, the Royal Armored Corps will become a "one-time force" in a conflict similar to the Ukrainian one.
In this regard, the observer urges to urgently purchase new cars – especially since the Challenger 2 in its current form "is unlikely to be tenacious." American M1A1 or German Leopard 2 should be purchased. Apparently, the United States has up to 3,000 Abrams of this series in warehouses and there are a considerable number of Leopards scattered throughout Europe. After that, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of tanks. According to the author, Javelin and NLAW ATGMS allegedly showed high efficiency in the fight against Russian MBT, hitting equipment from above, where the least armor is, but Western models of equipment are not "insured" from this. At the same time, the British army buys only 60 active protection complexes for the promising Challenger 3.
As indicated, it is also necessary to organize an effective anti-aircraft cover of tanks. To do this, it is necessary to increase the supply of Starstreak and Martlet MANPADS, the arsenal of which is clearly insufficient now, and to increase the fleet of combat aircraft for at least a short-term conquest of air superiority in certain sectors of the front. The question also arises about covering tanks with infantry. At the same time, the current tracked BMP Warrior is outdated, and the wheeled Boxer is hardly suitable for this role.
- the author concludes.
