Western military might: Unexpected force in Ukraine conflict
The past year has been particularly challenging for Ukrainians due to the full-scale Russian invasion that began on February 24, 2022. It was also a period marked by Western countries delivering new equipment and events that American and European weapons manufacturers once considered fictional during the Cold War. Here, we present the most significant equipment surprises that have 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 their effectiveness in devastating Russian columns and front-line logistics. However, as the dynamics on the front lines shifted, other weapon types began to play a more significant role.
In 2023-2024, Ukraine received numerous modern tanks, including British Challengers 2, German Leopard 2s, and American M1A1 Abrams. These were accompanied by older yet still beneficial machines like the Polish PT-91 Twardy and German Leopard 1A5, which have proven quite resistant to the primary anti-tank threat in Ukraine, namely drones.
The second crucial category of heavy equipment in Ukraine includes infantry fighting vehicles such as American M2A2 Bradley, Swedish Strf 9040C (CV90), and German Marder 1A3. These vehicles, along with tanks, have been deployed in Russia's Kursk Oblast. The notion of such vehicles engaging Russian forces on Russian soil was once unimaginable for the designers of this weaponry.
New generation artillery shells and long-range weapons
A major surprise was the delivery of British Storm Shadow cruise missiles in 2023 and American ballistic missiles, MGM-140 ATACMS, around late 2023 and early 2024. There was also interest in the delivery of experimental German-Italian Vulcano GLR ammunition with a 155mm caliber.
Storm Shadow missiles gained fame for their stealth and ability to strike targets up to around 310 miles away. Ukrainians effectively used this capability to destroy not only Russian depots but also command centers in the Kursk region. Weighing 2,866 pounds, these missiles offer extremely high precision thanks to their advanced targeting systems.
Conversely, ballistic missiles MGM-140 ATACMS proved effective at eliminating several air defense system batteries: S-400 Triumph and S-300 and destroying targets on Russian military training grounds. Ukraine initially used M39 variants with a range of 103 miles, but it's possible they received newer versions with a range of up to 186 miles.
Ukrainians also received advanced 155mm artillery shells capable of destroying difficult-to-hit targets, like self-propelled artillery systems and tanks from the T-90 family. They were supplied with Franco-Swedish Bonus rounds and German SMArt 155, which autonomously detect and attack armored targets within a designated area using onboard sensors.
Vulcano GLR guided missiles have been effective in destroying valuable enemy assets far behind the front lines. They are characterized by their ability to accurately hit targets at a distance of about 43-50 miles, even under strong electronic warfare interference. Apart from satellite and inertial navigation systems, these missiles can use a seeker head guided by a reflected laser beam. In this mode, the target must be illuminated with a beam by a drone or a special reconnaissance unit until impact.
More air defense and introduction of F-16 aircraft
As part of its support, Kyiv received additional medium-range anti-aircraft systems like the Patriot and SAMP/T (currently, there are a total of seven batteries in Ukraine), which are crucial for defense against ballistic missiles.
Although Patriots date back to the 1980s (excluding the newer Romanian variant), they have proven effective against modern Russian weaponry. Equally competent are the somewhat enigmatic Franco-Italian SAMP/T systems. Additionally, Western countries have supplied 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 aircraft are primarily used as a complement to ground-based air defense against drones and cruise missiles.
The F-16s delivered to Ukraine are equipped with radars capable of detecting even more challenging low-flying targets. Additionally, the aircraft are fitted with targeting pods suitable for detecting and tracking such objects. Detected objects are destroyed using AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles or the onboard six-barrel M61A 20 mm cannon.
One of the Ukrainian F-16 pilots achieved an extraordinary feat worthy of a film script. During one mission, he downed more cruise missiles than he had missiles. According to media reports, after using up all four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, the pilot destroyed two more Russian missiles with the onboard cannon. Furthermore, there is also a case of an aerial victory for an F-16 against a Russian Su-34.
Western weapons on Soviet equipment
Over time, there have been instances of equipment improvisation that involved combining Western weapons with Soviet platforms. A noteworthy example is the integration of Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft with non-kinetic American ADM‑160B MALD missiles and French AASM Hammer guided bombs.
The discussed bombs are conceptually similar to American JDAM-ER, and their advantage lies in effectively striking targets at a distance of 9 miles when dropped at a low altitude. Due to the radar horizon, flying at a low altitude is the only way to conceal a traditional aircraft from ground-based air defense radars at a distance of less than 25 miles.
Unfortunately, such a maneuver limits the bomb-dropping range to a few miles, exposing the aircraft to threats from simple handheld launchers like the 9K38 Igla. The French resolved this issue by adding foldable wings, a control section, and a rocket engine to the conversion kit for standard aerial bombs of the Mk 82, 83, and 84 families.
These improvements, combined with a TOSS maneuver by the aircraft (where it climbs sharply before releasing the bombs and then dives), provide a striking range that exceeds even the capabilities of Pantsir-S1 air defense systems. Consequently, valuable Russian frontline assets can be targeted by bombs capable of destroying even the deepest bunkers.
On the frontlines, there have also been sightings of anti-aircraft systems known colloquially as FrankenSAM. In these cases, Soviet launchers and radars have been integrated, with the help of Western countries (most likely Poland and the Czech Republic), with American RIM-7 Sea Sparrow and RIM-162 ESSM missiles. This type of improvisation allows experienced crews to remain effective in combat after depleting stocks of Soviet missiles.
These examples showcase some of the most interesting uses of Western equipment in Ukraine. It's important to note, however, that the deliveries have been both limited and often delayed, reducing the impact of these weapons to less spectacular outcomes than both Ukrainians and weapons manufacturers anticipated.
