The Big Push

Ukraine's much anticipated Spring offensive appears to be gearing up. In order to be successful, its forces need: 1) air support, 2) superior armour in quantity, and 3) the ability to strike targets deep in Russian rear areas. Poland's and Slovakia's decision to send Mig-29s to Ukraine is welcome news. These replacement aircraft need to be refitted to employ NATO munitions such as the SDB (Small Diameter Bomb) and JDAM-ER. The Joint Direct Attack Missle-Extended Range is a bolt-on kit that converts unguided bombs into precision guided munitions. Both of these glide bombs have GPS aided internal guidance systems that allow precision strikes up to 81 miles away--far enough for Ukrainian MIGs to successfully evade Russian anti-aircraft weapons. Another effective long-range weapon is the ATACMS (prononced appropriately, "attack ems") intermediate range balistic missile. This land based system has a range of 185 miles compared to the 50 miles of HIMARS, sufficent to reach rear area targets and Crimea, if the Ukrainians regain the coastline of the Azov Sea*. One drawback is its expensive cost of over $2 million each compared to the GLSDB (Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb) of $40,000 each.

  

Massed armour is critical to waging an offensive ground campaign. Ukraine is receiving Leopard I and IIs in numbers now. The Leopard I is an aging tank equivalent to the T-64. It was the first tank built for the Budeswehr in the 1960's and designed by Porsche. The original model does not have a fully stabilized 105mm gun and its amour is thin compared to more modern tanks. However. later variants added more armor and improved fire control systems. In numbers, it could be useful in a support role while the Leopard II and a few MBTs from other countries form the spearhead of an advance. Reports are that Ukraine is forming three corps of about 60,000 men and women. They will ride into battle aboard hundreds of IFVs and APCs supplied by NATO countries and Sweden. Slava Ukraini! {photo: Leopard I in storage}

*The tide of battle turned in the Allies favor after they subjected the city of Kerch to naval bombardment and took the city.