Weighing little more than 12 kilograms and able to be fired by a soldier with just an hour’s training,have become a symbol of Ukrainians’ resistance, destroying hundreds of Russian tanks, armoured vehicles and trucks.
What many feared would be the defeat of a democracy within a few days has now dragged into a second month, although few believe that Ukraine will ultimately defeat Russia on the battlefield. But the harder Ukrainians fight, the stronger their bargaining position at the peace table.
by the end of the decade. But while defence is flush with cash, the ramp-up is delivering only incremental improvements to capability, Hellyer argues., which was selected more than 15 years ago but began to be delivered only in 2018. “Eight years ago the Ukrainians really got their butts whipped by Russia,” Hellyer says. “This time around, despite a much larger Russian invasion, the Ukrainians have fought them to a standstill. To me that says you are capable of making fundamental changes to your war-fighting capabilities in a short term.
These claims have not been independently verified. Ukrainian officials have been tight-lipped over their casualties, while NATO has estimated 7000-15,000 Russians have been killed.Recently retired army major-general Mick Ryan says the success of Ukraine’s tactics has given military planners a lot to digest. “The No. 1 lesson is shiny equipment never wins war.
In two speeches this week, Dutton also indicated additional money would need to be found to bolster spending onThe government is soon expected to announce the winner of the $27 billion infantry fighting vehicle contract to replace Vietnam War-era armoured personnel carriers. But the government’s bid to establish a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing industry to produce missiles has gone quiet.