Weapons - Polityka Insight

Ukraine has decided to defend itself deep within its territory, mainly with the use of dispersed warfare. Russian columns were attacked by armoured units and aviation, but it was the light, portable anti-tank weapons that played the biggest role in blocking their movement. These included the Javelin and NLAW guided missile systems, the AT4 and Panzerfaust grenade launchers but also RPG grenade launchers and guided anti-tank missiles, which are used by Ukraine’s armed forces. In targeting and taking down helicopters, aircraft, drones and cruise missiles, the biggest efficiency was shown by systems that included the Western-made Stinger, Piorun and Starstreak, and the Soviet-designed Igla and Strela. Since the beginning of the conflict, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been used by both sides to guide artillery fire and carry small precision-guided munitions. Ukraine used the Bayraktar TB2 drones purchased in Turkey, Polish FlyEye and Ukrainian Leleka UAVs. Among those used by Russian forces, the Orlan-10 was the most common type. During the phase of trench warfare, Ukrainian troops adapted four-rotor commercial drones manufactured in China for reconnaissance and bombardment of enemy vehicles and trenches with the use of grenades. They were often purchased from civilian fundraisers. Ukraine also converted some post-Soviet Tu-141 reconnaissance drones powered by a turbojet engine into combat aerial vehicles. Russia purchased from Iran a significant number of Shahid kamikaze drones, which it used to bomb Ukrainian cities. Batteries of towed guns and highly mobile self-propelled howitzers were the main weapons used to stop attacks, destroy fortified targets and eliminate troop concentrations in direct contact. Ukraine used post-Soviet 152 mm and 122 mm calibre artillery, but already in April, deliveries began of the Western self-propelled M109, Krab and PzH2000 as well as the towed M777 155 mm guns, along with high-precision ammunition that offered the range of 40 km. In the offensive in Donbas, Russia used the rolling artillery barrage tactics known from World War 2, increasing the consumption of munitions to ten thousand per day. Ukraine could counter with a maximum of several thousand a day. Both sides commonly used counter-battery fire, trying to acquire target positions of enemy artillery as soon as artillery fire was detected. In July, Ukraine received the first HIMARS missile systems from the US, and similar MLRS launchers from its European allies. They enabled Ukrainian troops to hit targets located 85 km away with an accuracy of a few metres. Within two months, Ukraine completed a squadron of several launchers and, with the support of Western aerial and satellite reconnaissance, implemented the tactics of surgical-precision strikes against high-value targets (HVTs): command posts, ammunition and fuel depots, bridges and pontoon crossings, airports, and places of troops concentration behind the frontlines. Russia, which theoretically has systems with a comparable range, was unable to demonstrate similar effectiveness. It focused on massive strikes against Ukrainian cities and troops using the unguided Grad rockets and other weapons of this type. At the time of the Russian invasion, Ukraine had about 30 squadrons of the S-300 systems in various versions, and largely managed to keep them intact by dispersing and concealing the systems. Fearing that they may be targeted in air raids, Ukraine’s anti-aircraft systems did not fire in the first days of the war, but over time, they were able to ensure that Russia never gained air superiority (Kyiv claims the systems shot down 300 Russian aircraft, which is difficult to verify). In the autumn of 2022, Russian missile and drone strikes became a growing problem. In response, the West began to transfer modern and older generation air defence systems that included the IRIS-T, NASAMS, HAWK, Crotale and the Avenger. The West has also pledged to transfer to Ukraine three batteries of the Patriot anti-ballistic missile systems. From the very beginning, tanks have played a major role in manoeuvre and defence warfare as well as skirmishes between smaller units. Both sides avoided intense tank battles. Ukraine and Russia use similar tanks: different versions of the T-72 but also the T-80, T-64 or the T-90. Kyiv reports that it has destroyed over 3,000 Russian armoured vehicles over the past year (destroyed Russian hardware is removed from the fields even with the use of tractors). Kyiv's appeals for the transfer of western tanks and the rapid introduction into service of about 400 post-Soviet designs transferred by Ukraine’s closest neighbours all point to the fact that tanks have proven highly useful. A breakthrough in Western support came in January 2023 when the decision was reached to transfer the Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. In the coming months, Ukraine will receive two battalions of the Leopard 2 tanks (62 tanks). Unable to purchase tanks overseas, Russia pulls 50-year-old T-62s from long-term storage and mobilises its defence plants to step up production to replenish the losses. Moscow is also planning to send the latest T-14 Armata tank to the frontlines. Helicopters were the first type of aircraft used and lost during the initial stages of the invasion. The unsuccessful Russian landing at the Hostomel airport ended with a shot down of several transport and attack helicopters. Since they can be taken down by MANPADS, over time helicopters began to be used as flying artillery, firing unguided missiles. Air-to-air combat between Ukrainian MiG-29s and Russian Su-35s also took place over Kyiv and Kharkiv. On the battlefield, the Su-25 attack aircraft played the biggest role, as they are used by both sides for direct fire support. This year, Ukraine is counting on deliveries of Western combat aircraft, such as the F-16, along with some modern long-range missiles. In the early stages of the war, Russia attacked Ukraine with the Iskander ballistic missiles fired from its own territory and from Belarus, and the Kalibr cruise missiles fired from submarines and warships in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. Over time, the Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers began to play a greater role, as they can carry several dozen Ch-101, Ch-55 or Ch-22 cruise missiles. In Ukraine, for the first time in combat, Russia used the Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. They were carried by the MiG-31 heavy fighters, but their use was sporadic and failed to show any significant advantages of the weapon. Ukraine does not have an equivalent, nor is it able to reach its carriers. It only used converted drones to carry out two attacks on the Engels strategic operations air base. Incoming Russian missiles were targeted by ground-based anti-aircraft and anti-missile fire. Kyiv's appeals for the transfer of ATACMS missiles with a range of 300 km from the US have received no positive response (the Pentagon, however, approved the order for GLSDB missiles with a range of 150 km).

What the two sides are fighting with

Large-scale warfare means that both sides use the full range of conventional weapons. Different weapon systems stood out at different stages of fighting.

PORTABLE ANTI-TANK AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS DRONES AND KAMIKAZE DRONES ARTILLERY LONG-RANGE PRECISION MISSILES AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS TANKS HELICOPTERS AND TACTICAL FIGHTERS LONG-RANGE WEAPONS WESTERN LEADERS IN ARMS SUPPORT VALUE OF WESTERN MILITARY SUPPORT

PRZENOŚNE SYSTEMY PRZECIWPANCERNE I PRZECIWLOTNICZE

Portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems

Piorun Man-Portable Air-Defence System (Piorun MANPADS)

OPERATIONAL RANGE, FLIGHT CEILING:

6.5 km, 4 km

MASS:

19.5 kg

UNIT COST:

over USD 100 000

MANUFACTURER:

Mesko S.A. (PGZ), Poland

Drones and kamikaze drones

Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle

FLIGHT ENDURANCE, FLIGHT CEILING:

27 flight hours, 7.5 km

PAYLOAD:

150 kg

UNIT COST:

approx. USD 5 million

MANUFACTURER:

Baykar, Turkey

Artillery

Krab 155 mm Self-Propelled Tracked Gun-Howitzer

RANGE:

400 km

MAX. SPEED:

up to 60 km/h

FIRING RANGE:

approx. 40 km

RATE OF FIRE:

up to 6 rds/min

UNIT COST:

approx. USD 11 million

MANUFACTURER:

Huta Stalowa Wola (PGZ), Poland

Long-range precision missiles

M142 HIMARS Multiple Rocket Launcher

Wieloprowadnicowa wyrzutnia rakietowa M142 HIMARS

RANGE:

480 km

MAX. SPEED:

up to 90 km/h

FIRING RANGE:

up to 85 km (GMLRS), up to 300 km (ATACMS)

UNIT COST:

approx. USD 4.5 million (including the missiles)

MANUFACTURER:

Lockheed Martin, USA

Air defence systems

S-300 Air Defence Missile System (various versions)

Przeciwlotniczy system rakietowy S-300 (różne wersje)

TRACKING RANGE:

up to 300 km

ENGAGEMENT RANGE, FIRE CEILING:

40-200 km, up to 25 km

UNIT COST:

USD 120-150 million (excluding the missiles)

MANUFACTURER:

Almaz-Antei, Russia

Tanks

T-80 Main Battle Tank

RANGE:

up to 500 km

MAX. SPEED:

up to 50 km/h

MASS:

46 tonnes

ARMAMENT:

125 mm gun, 12.7 and 7.62 mm machine guns

MANUFACTURER:

Omsktransmash, Omsk, Russia; Malyshev Factory, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Helicopters and tactical fighters

SU-25 Tactical Strike Aircraft

MAX. COMBAT RANGE (FULLY ARMED):

375 km

MAX. SPEED:

975 km/h

PAYLOAD:

4 tonnes of bombs, guided and unguided missiles

MANUFACTURER:

JSC Sukhoi Company, Irkutsk, Russia

Long-range weapons

Tupolev 95MS Strategic Bomber

MAX. COMBAT RANGE (FULLY ARMED):

15 000 km

MAX. SPEED:

925 km/h

PAYLOAD:

15 tonnes of bombs, cruise missiles

MANUFACTURER:

JSC Tupolev, Moscow, Russia

Western leaders in arms support

Note: Data refers to equipment already handed over as well as announced deliveries

Source: ORYX

Value of Western military support (EUR billion)

Note: Refers to support delivered and announced

Source: Ukraine Support Tracker Kiel Institute for World Economy, official government data

Authors: Marek Świerczyński, Kacper Wańczyk
Graphic design: Małgorzata Gryniewicz, Joanna Pamuła, Karolina Tomaszewska Lead image: Karolina Tomaszewska
Programming: Maciej Kurczewski
Editing: Marta Tycner, Leszek Baj

Photo sources: Armed Forces of Ukraine, East News, Shutterstock, Wikimedia Commons, Depositphotos