Preparing for Battle: Examining the Equipment and Ethical Consequences of the Latest Armor Being Delivered to Ukraine
The introduction of German Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine has significantly shaped the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian conflict, offering advanced capabilities but also posing notable challenges.
The Leopard 2 tanks, favoured for their widespread use in European arsenals, simpler operation, and maintenance compared to alternatives like the American Abrams, are set to bolster Ukraine's armored force. This upgrade brings highly accurate German 120mm guns optimized for advanced kinetic rounds, excellent sensor fusion, and quick reaction times. However, these tanks arrive too late to influence some earlier major offensives due to transport, training, and integration time requirements.
Russian forces have responded with countermeasures, employing precision loitering munitions, FPV drones, and anti-tank guided missiles that have proven effective against Western tanks. This has led to multiple confirmed tank losses, highlighting the emerging threat of drone swarms and the need for enhanced active protection systems.
In response, European tank users are investing in better armor and active protection systems to counter these threats. Russian T-90M tanks, for instance, feature layered protection aimed at defeating tandem warheads and drone attacks.
The tank remains a crucial component of warfare, and the next campaign should reinforce its importance. However, true combined arms warfare requires airpower as well as steel on the ground. The delayed approval of the tank transfer decision has slowed the delivery of both the tanks and their requisite training, logistics, and maintenance support.
The Ukrainian military gets a psychological boost knowing that Western armor and munitions are coming, increasing their confidence and lethality in offensive maneuvers. The decision to upgrade Ukraine's military with tanks has an immediate psychological impact, reinforcing Kyiv and signaling to Moscow that democracies are committed to Ukraine's postwar security.
Russia's efforts to mobilize fresh troops and put the economy on a war footing do not guarantee improved agility and endurance for the Russian military. The hastily mobilized conscripts of Putin's regenerated force are unlikely to be better than previous troops, and Russia should be expected to be more cautious about heavy losses with this next cohort of conscripted soldiers.
The Ukrainian people have proven quite agile at absorbing and adapting Western tech to their needs. The anticipated campaigns of this spring and summer will be the final test of Gerasimov's and the Russian General Staff's badly tattered credibility.
Ukraine's Western supporters have decided to upgrade security assistance, including modern armor systems like the German Leopard 2. However, the US M1A2 Abrams tank will not be delivered until late 2023, at best. Armored fighting vehicles, combining greater mobility and speed for offensive operations, may be more valuable than tanks in certain situations.
In summary, the Leopard 2 tanks contribute to strengthening Ukraine's armored warfare capacity through compatibility and advanced capabilities but are contested by evolving Russian drone and missile tactics targeting tank vulnerabilities. This dynamic is prompting both sides to improve tank survivability and battlefield tactics continuously.
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