It is possible to use the conflict in Ukraine as a starting point to predict which weapons will be frequently employed in future conflicts.
While howitzers, drones, and anti-tank weapons outperformed expectations, some of the key weapons of the war—tanks, jets, and rocket artillery—did not exert their maximal efficacy on the battlefield and were even easily destroyed. Although necessary, many more types are still in the research and development phase, including radio-electronic weapons and laser weapons used to defend cities.
The best place to determine which weapons are efficient and which are not is on the battlefield. The situation in Ukraine is no exception, and this can be used as a starting point to predict what kinds of weapons will be often employed in future conflicts.
Defensive Laser Weapon
Both unguided weaponry and modern “smart” weapons with precise laser or GPS guidance, such as mortars, artillery, rocket launchers, and rocket launchers, were used in the Russian-Ukrainian war. the use of cruise and series missiles to attack ground targets. Up to 60,000 rounds are fired daily by Russia at Ukrainian military sites.
The principal method of defence against artillery and bomber attacks in the past was the destruction of their launch vehicles. Many nations, including the United States and Israel, have concentrated on creating laser weapons recently in an effort to defend soldiers in the field. There are theoretically an infinite amount of shots in the laser that the laser generator emits. They can eliminate numerous threats in a matter of seconds by hitting their targets swiftly. The laser defence system proved successful in defending non-military sites during the conflict in Ukraine.
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare was one of Russia’s advantages from the start of the conflict. Modern battlefields place a premium on electronic warfare, which is commonly used. Electronic warfare, according to the US Department of Defense, is any military operation that employs electromagnetic energy to attack or obstruct an enemy’s operations. It can be done from the ground, in the air, over water, on land, or in space, and it can damage any electrical equipment. The creation of potent jammers that can block adversary radar, GPS, and battlefield communications has long been a top priority for Russia. According to a recent study, Russia has the potential to damage the enemy’s defences by jamming Ukrainian military communications and engaging in electronic warfare. In order to coordinate all of the military campaign’s actions, Russia additionally transmits radio signals, such as wireless communications signals, air defence radar signals, and drone control signals. Ukraine, on the other hand, has the edge in being able to find and target Russian equipment that produce potent electromagnetic signals. In addition to allowing Ukrainian forces to coordinate well, anti-radiation missiles (ARM) with the ability to locate and destroy enemy radars, jam vehicles and trucks carrying mobile satellite stations on the ground also occasionally render their adversaries “blind” and prone to missing their target.
Guided shells
The highly mobile multiple rocket launcher system (HIMARS), which the US provided to Ukraine, was one of the most cutting-edge weaponry to be used in the Russo-Ukrainian War. HIMARS consists of an armoured truck weighing 5 tonnes that can fire 227 mm missiles. One Army-grade tactical missile (ATACMS) with a range of 300 km or six multiple-launch guided missiles (GMLRS) with a range of 70 to 80 km can be carried by each of these systems. However, the US has not yet given Ukraine ATACMS.
HIMARS, according to the US Army, is capable of carrying out artillery missions as well as heavy bombardment, suppression, and counterattack operations. When given directions, the system can quickly move toward and away from the fight. HIMARS has much greater power than traditional artillery like cannons or 2S19 Msta self-propelled howitzers.
HIMARS is now being used by Ukraine to stop enemy soldiers from resupplying and giving artillery support to frontline units by intercepting missiles or attacking high-value Russian targets behind the front lines. Ukraine declared that 50 Russian munitions stockpiles had been destroyed using the HIMARS system.
Although few nations outside of NATO presently possess precision-guided missiles, following the development of HIMARS and GMLRS, more nations will be wanting to purchase these weapons during the next ten years.
Small drone
Drone deployment in the Russo-Ukrainian War was not new, but its frequency was unmatched in military history. Unmanned aerial vehicles are used extensively by the armed forces of both Russia and Ukraine to locate enemy positions and direct ferocious shelling.
In order to lessen the risk to hostile forces’ personnel, the Ukrainian military has utilised small, widely available civilian drones to give the military the ability to observe its surroundings. These UAVs make it possible for small or medium-sized units (of 30 to 40 personnel) to remove the element of surprise, particularly while operating armoured vehicles. A small unmanned aerial vehicle can give military teams excellent field visibility and the potential to sneak behind enemy lines when coupled with cutting-edge digital optical sighting and secure data communication capabilities. The NATO forces, the Chinese military, the South Korean military, or the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force may think about applying small drones in 2030 due to their unique significance on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Satellite Internet
The New York Times claims that Ukrainian helicopters with a reputation for risky flights delivered anti-tank armaments and Starlink satellite Internet receivers to Mariupol during the April conflict. For military and civilian forces stuck in the Azovstal steel plant, which is encircled by Russia, this equipment is incredibly helpful. The device’s direct satellite connection enables coverage in places where Internet cables cannot go or network infrastructure in unstable locations. It acts as a backup communication channel for the military of Ukraine. The Starlink system will open the door for the creation of satellite transceivers with military-specific features, even if it might not be secure enough to handle critical military communications. / .
