Russia-Ukraine battlefield sees unexpected Western innovations
The past year has been the most difficult for Ukrainians since the full-scale Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022. It was also a period marked by new equipment deliveries from Western countries and events that manufacturers of American and European weapons once considered unimaginable during the Cold War. Here, we present the most surprising equipment that has arrived in Ukraine as part of Western military aid.
At the onset of the conflict, Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones and M142 HIMARS systems gained widespread recognition for effectively decimating Russian columns and front-line logistics. However, as the situation on the front changed, other types of weapons began to play a more significant role.
In 2023-2024, Ukraine received modern tanks like the British Challenger 2s, German Leopard 2s, and American M1A1 Abrams. They were accompanied by older yet still valuable machines, such as Polish PT-91 Twardy and German Leopard 1A5, which, after modifications, have become quite resistant to the primary anti-tank threat in Ukraine, namely drones.
The second key category of heavy equipment in Ukraine includes infantry fighting vehicles — American M2A2 Bradley, Swedish Strf 9040C (CV90), and German Marder 1A3 — which, along with tanks, made their way into the Russian Kursk Oblast. A scenario where these types of vehicles engage Russians on their own territory was, decades ago, the stuff of fiction for designers of this weaponry.
New generation artillery shells and long-range weapons
The delivery of British Storm Shadow cruise missiles in 2023 and American ballistic missiles MGM-140 ATACMS at the turn of 2023-2024 was indeed a surprise. There was also a keen interest in the experimental German-Italian Vulcano GLR artillery rounds of 155 mm calibre.
Storm Shadow missiles gained fame due to their hard-to-detect nature and ability to strike targets up to approximately 500 kilometres away. Ukrainians successfully used these to destroy not only Russian depots but also command points in the Kursk region. Each missile weighs 1,300 kilograms and offers extraordinarily high precision, thanks to an advanced targeting system.
Conversely, ballistic missiles like MGM-140 ATACMS proved effective in eliminating several batteries of air defence systems, such as S-400 Triumph and S-300, and destroying targets on Russian military training grounds. Initially, Ukraine used M39 variants with a range of 166 kilometres, but it is possible they received newer versions with ranges up to 300 kilometres.
Ukrainians also received advanced 155 mm artillery shells capable of destroying elusive targets, like self-propelled artillery systems and tanks from the T-90 family. For that purpose, they were also equipped with Franco-Swedish Bonus rounds and German SMArt 155, which autonomously detect and engage armoured targets in a designated area using onboard sensors.
The Vulcano GLR guided projectiles allow for the effective destruction of significant enemy assets far behind the front lines. They are noted for their accuracy, hitting targets about 70-80 kilometres away within three metres, even under strong electronic warfare interference. Apart from a combination of satellite and inertial navigation, these projectiles also employ a seeker head that can be guided by a reflected laser beam, marking the target via drone or special reconnaissance unit until impact.
More air defence and debut of F-16 aircraft
As part of the support, Kyiv received additional medium-range anti-aircraft systems like the Patriot and SAMP/T (currently a total of seven batteries in Ukraine), which are crucial for defending against ballistic missiles.
Though Patriots date back to the 1980s (not counting newer variants from Romania), they offer effective protection against modern Russian weaponry. Equally competent are the somewhat enigmatic Franco-Italian SAMP/T systems. Additionally, Western countries provided more short-range anti-aircraft systems such as MIM-23 HAWK, IRIS-T SLM/SLS, NASAMS, Skynex, and Gepard.
In 2024, Ukraine also received its first F-16 aircraft. These planes are presently used mainly to complement ground-based air defence against drones and cruise missiles.
The F-16s that reached Ukraine are equipped with radar systems capable of detecting even the most challenging low-flying targets. The aircraft come with targeting pods for efficiently detecting and tracking such objects. Detected targets are eliminated using AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles or the onboard six-barrel M61A 20 mm cannon.
One of the Ukrainian F-16 pilots accomplished a feat worth of a film script; during one mission, he shot down more cruise missiles than he had missiles. Reports suggest that, after exhausting his four AIM-9 Sidewinders, the pilot managed to shoot down two additional Russian missiles using the onboard cannon. There is also a notable instance of an air combat victory where an F-16 downed a Russian Su-34.
Western weapons on Soviet equipment
Over time, there have been instances of improvisation involving the integration of Western weapons with Soviet platforms. A fascinating example is the adaptation of Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft with non-kinetic American ADM‑160B MALD missiles and French AASM Hammer-guided bombs.
These bombs resemble the American JDAM-ER, and their strength lies in effectively striking targets up to 14 kilometres when dropped at low altitudes. Because of the radar horizon, flying low is the only way to evade detection from ground-based air defence radars within 40 kilometres.
Unfortunately, such tactics restrict the distance for dropping bombs to just a few kilometres, making the aircraft susceptible to simple handheld launchers like the 9K38 Igla. The French addressed this issue by adding foldable wings, a control section, and a rocket engine to their conversion kit for standard bombs from the Mk 82, 83, and 84 families.
This technology, used with the TOSS manoeuvre (where the aircraft makes a quick climb before dropping bombs, then returns to a level flight after the release), achieves a striking range surpassing the capabilities of Pantsir-S1 air defence systems. This allows Ukrainian forces to target valuable Russian assets located even within deep dugouts near the front lines.
The front has also seen the emergence of anti-aircraft systems known as FrankenSAM. In this case, Soviet launchers and radars, with assistance most likely from Poland and the Czech Republic, have been paired with American RIM-7 Sea Sparrow and RIM-162 ESSM missiles. This kind of improvisation helps extend the use of seasoned crews for combat after exhausting stocks of Soviet missiles.
These are some of the most intriguing examples of how Western equipment is being used in Ukraine. However, it's important to note that the deliveries have been and continue to be very limited, and they arrived too late. This has resulted in the impacts of these weapon systems being less spectacular than anticipated by both Ukrainians and weapon manufacturers.
