NATO Apparently Unprepared for War, Here is the Evidence

The Russia-Ukraine war has raised serious questions regarding the readiness of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to face modern conflict. Rapid changes in tactics and technology mean that several of the alliance’s weaponry systems and military doctrines are at risk of becoming obsolete.

Five Ukrainian and Western defence officials told Reuters that developments on the battlefield are moving far faster than NATO’s weapons procurement processes, which can take years. Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, is said to be able to adapt within weeks based on direct experience facing Russian forces.

Denys Shtilerman, co-owner and chief designer of the Ukrainian missile and drone company Fire Point, stated that cheap drones are now capable of threatening armoured vehicles at a much lower cost. “Tanks are now useless because a US$5,000 drone can destroy them,” he told Reuters.

Nevertheless, European nations continue to allocate large budgets to tanks, which some military analysts believe still maintain a functional role in future combat. Drones are also altering troop movement patterns, as large groups and vehicle convoys are now more easily detected and attacked from the air.

Oleksandr Pivnenko, a commander in the Ukrainian National Guard, noted that NATO forces possess the capability to assault enemy positions but face significant challenges when operating under the threat of drones. “However, if there is a drone overhead and you do not even look up, what do you think will happen to your troops?” he asked.

Another weakness is evident in air and missile defence. Russian attacks on various Ukrainian cities have highlighted European nations’ dependence on US-made anti-missile systems such as the Patriot, while Ukraine itself faces a shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles.

In response, Europe is attempting to develop alternatives. Ukraine is awaiting the French-Italian SAMP/T-NG air defence system, while in July, Ukraine and nine European nations launched an air defence coalition to develop a new ballistic anti-missile system named Freyja.

Fire Point is one of the primary partners in this project. Shtilerman emphasised the importance of Europe’s ability to produce its own air defence systems.

“If you spend US$20 billion on air defence systems, you must be self-sufficient in terms of security,” he stated.