NI: The Lancets demonstrated a lack of Western military strategy
Russia's massive use of Lancet attack drones shows the lack of a Western military strategy focused on the production of expensive equipment. Columnist Philip Pilkington wrote about this in an article for The National Interest magazine.
It is noted that military affairs in its own way is going through the process of "commodification", when a luxury item turns into an everyday commodity
"The conflict in Ukraine has clearly shown that modern warfare is undergoing rapid "comradeship." The reason is partly ironic: technologies that were originally developed specifically for military purposes (for example, GPS and advanced electronic optics) have moved into the consumer segment and become more affordable," Pilkington wrote.
Pilkington called the Russian Lancet drones from ZALA the most outstanding example of "companied" technology during the Ukrainian conflict. According to him, these drones are simple and quick to assemble. At the same time, they were widely used to destroy tanks and other equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). As Pilkington pointed out, footage of Lancets hitting modern tanks, such as the German Leopard 2, "has become commonplace."
Pilkington also drew attention to the fact that when comparing costs, it turns out to be "outright absurd." Since Russia can produce about 314 Lancets for each Leopard at net cost, taking into account the price difference in the two countries, this figure will grow to 683 altogether. In this regard, the observer wondered whether the German tank would compare in terms of its combat capabilities with almost 700 drones, concluding that it was unlikely.
The "comradeship" of the battlefield in Ukraine calls into question the military strategy of the West, largely focused on the production of expensive equipment, the author of the article summed up.
Earlier, on December 28, Russian paratroopers, using an unmanned Lancet barrage munition, destroyed a tank and a self-propelled artillery installation (ACS) 2S1 "Gvozdika" of the Ukrainian army on the banks of the Dnieper.
On December 16, the Ministry of Defense reported that Russian paratroopers with Lancets disabled and destroyed the AFU equipment in the Kherson region, in particular the radar station and the M109 Paladin installation.
On December 13, it became known that two tanks and a camouflaged self-propelled gun of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kleshcheyevka area were destroyed by Lancets.
On December 7, the Ministry of Defense announced that Russian paratroopers with Lancets destroyed two radars and a mobile communication station of Ukrainian militants in the Kherson region.
On December 2, it was reported that formations and military units of the Airborne Troops of the Russian Federation will eliminate personnel, watercraft and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with Lancet barrage ammunition and FPV drones.
On November 22, Izvestia published footage of Lancet attack drones working on AFU servicemen preparing for the crossing .
On November 16, the Russian Defense Ministry shared footage of the destruction of the UK-made Ukrainian FH-70 howitzer by the Lancet kamikaze drone .
Prior to that, on November 9, a military expert, retired Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk, said that the peculiarity of the Russian Lancet drone is its increased maneuverability and strike capabilities, which makes it very difficult for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to resist it.
The special operation to protect Donbass, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the background of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
Watch more relevant videos and details about the situation in Donbass on the Izvestia TV channel.