logo
NATO learns as Ukraine's 'creativity' changes battlefield

NATO learns as Ukraine's 'creativity' changes battlefield

France 24a day ago

"What the Ukrainians did in Russia was a Trojan horse -- and the trojan horse was thousands of years ago," French Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, said in an interview.
"Today, we see this kind of tactic being reinvented by technical and industrial creativity."
Vandier said the operation showed how crucial innovation and adaptation were for victory, as modern warfare changes at lightning speed.
"It was a real coup."
"We are entering a dynamic era where armies must rely on both major planning but also adaptive planning," the navy commander said.
"We will witness continuous innovation where, week by week, month by month or year by year, we will be able to invent things we hadn't anticipated."
'Must act quickly'
Faced with the Russian threat, NATO this week adopted new objectives for its defence capabilities to ensure it will be able to repel Moscow.
But Western intelligence agencies have warned that the Kremlin is reconstituting its forces at a pace far outstripping NATO and could be ready to attack the alliance in as little as four years.
"Time is truly a crucial parameter. We must act quickly," Vandier said.
The admiral, who previously commanded France's flagship Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier, said NATO needed to amass the forces to dissuade any adversary from trying an attack.
"When you say 'I'm defending myself', you have the weapons to defend. When you say you deter, you have the weapons to deter," he said.
"That's what should prevent war -- making the adversary think: "Tomorrow morning, I won't win."
NATO countries under pressure from US President Donald Trump are expected to agree a major increase in their defence spending target at a summit in The Hague this month.
That should see a dramatic surge in spending on military hardware.
But if cheap Ukrainian drones can inflict billions of dollars in damage on Russian bombers, is it still worth investing in vastly expensive systems?
"No-one in the military sphere will tell you that we can do without what we'll call traditional equipment," Vandier said.
"However, we are certain we need new equipment to complement it."
Officials say that over 70 percent of battlefield casualties in Ukraine are caused by drones.
But while drones are indispensable in modern warfare, they are not omnipotent.
"Today, you won't cross the Atlantic with a 10-meter-long (33-foot-long) drone. You won't easily locate submarines with such tools," Vandier said.
"If they accompany your large platforms, you'll be able to achieve much better results at much lower costs."
Integrating new technologies
The admiral, who works out of NATO's US base in Norfolk, Virginia, said the major challenge was "integrating new technologies and new combat methods, based on what we've witnessed in Ukraine".
NATO and Ukraine have established a centre in Poland designed to help the alliance learn lessons from Russia's invasion of its neighbour.
Artificial Intelligence and robotics are also increasingly having an impact and are set to help reshape the battlefield.
"All modern armies will have piloted and non-piloted capabilities," Vandier said.
"It's much more efficient to deliver ammunition with a ground robot than with a squad of soldiers who could face a 155-millimeter (six-inch) shell."
This transformation of military capabilities within the alliance, which NATO aims to expand by at least 30 percent over coming years, will come at a significant cost, estimated in hundreds of billions of euros (dollars).
Vandier insisted that while the financial effort was "substantial" it was "fully realistic".
"Today, we have all the tools. We have the engineering. We have the expertise. We have the technology. So, we need to get started," he said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Israel deports Greta Thunberg after intercepting Gaza-bound aid boat
Israel deports Greta Thunberg after intercepting Gaza-bound aid boat

France 24

time34 minutes ago

  • France 24

Israel deports Greta Thunberg after intercepting Gaza-bound aid boat

Of the 12 people on board the Madleen carrying food and supplies for Gaza, five French activists were taken into custody after they refused to leave Israel voluntarily. Israeli forces intercepted the boat, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, in international waters on Monday and towed it to the port of Ashdod. They were then transferred to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, the foreign ministry said. "Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France)," Israel's foreign ministry said on its official X account on Tuesday, along with a photo of the activist sitting on board a plane. Five French activists who were also aboard the Madleen were set to face an Israeli judge, the French foreign minister said. "Our consul was able to see the six French nationals arrested by the Israeli authorities last night," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X. "One of them has agreed to leave voluntarily and should return today. The other five will be subject to forced deportation proceedings." In the early hours of Tuesday, Israel's foreign ministry said the activist group had arrived at Ben Gurion airport to "return to their home countries". "Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority," it said on X. The vessel carrying French, German, Brazilian, Turkish, Swedish, Spanish and Dutch activists had the stated aim of delivering humanitarian aid and breaking the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory. Dire humanitarian conditions Israel's interception of the Madleen about 185 kilometres (115 miles) west of the coast of Gaza, was condemned by Turkey as a "heinous attack" and Iran denounced it as "a form of piracy" in international waters. In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, was damaged in international waters off Malta as it headed to Gaza, with the activists saying they suspected an Israeli drone attack. A 2010 Israeli commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was part of a similar attempt to breach the naval blockade, left 10 civilians dead. On Sunday, Defence Minister Israel Katz said the blockade, in place for years before the Israel-Hamas war, was needed to prevent Palestinian militants from importing weapons. Israel is facing mounting pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. Israel recently allowed some deliveries to resume after barring them for more than two months and began working with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. But humanitarian agencies have criticised the GHF and the United Nations refuses to work with it, citing concerns over its practices and neutrality. Dozens of people have been killed near GHF distribution points since late May, according to Gaza's civil defence agency. The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 54,927 people, the majority civilians, have been killed in the territory since the start of the war. The UN considers these figures reliable. Out of 251 taken hostage during the Hamas attack, 54 are still held in Gaza including 32 the Israeli military says are dead.

At least five killed in school shooting in Austria, reports say
At least five killed in school shooting in Austria, reports say

Euronews

time37 minutes ago

  • Euronews

At least five killed in school shooting in Austria, reports say

At least five people were killed in a school shooting in the Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday, according to reports. Several others have been injured, including students and teachers, state broadcaster ORF reported citing local press. The suspected perpetrator, considered to be a student at this stage, has committed suicide, reports claim. A police operation was under way on Dreierschuetzengasse street, which has a secondary school. However, the authorities have refused to make further comments. Graz Police spokesperson Sabri Yorgun said special forces were among those sent to the high school after a call was received at 10 am, and that authorities were working to gain an overview of what had happened. Graz is a city of some 300,000 and is the capital city of the southern Austrian province of Styria. This is a developing story and our journalists are working on further updates. Russia launched another mass missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight on Tuesday, specifically targeting Kyiv and Odesa. Ukraine's Air Defence forces reported on Tuesday morning that they have intercepted 284 out of 322 air targets launched by Moscow. Russia used 315 Shahed-type strike UAVs, various types of decoy drones, two KN-23 ballistic missiles, and five Iskander-K cruise missiles in the attack last night. The Ukrainian capital was the primary target. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that emergency services were working in several districts following the attack. Kyiv authorities issued a warning to the residents early in the morning on Tuesday, saying a wave of drones was heading towards the city and urged people to remain in bomb shelters. Odesa in southern Ukraine was also hit overnight, when two people were killed in the attack. Odesa governor said the administrative building of an emergency medical station was 'completely destroyed' and a maternity hospital was damaged in the Russian attack. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was "one of the largest attacks on Kyiv. Odesa, Dnipro region, and Chernihiv region were also targeted." He pointed out that out of seven missiles launched by Russia, two were North Korean-made ballistic missiles. 'It is vital that the response to this and other similar Russian attacks is not silence from the world, but concrete action," Zelenskyy said. Action from America, which has the power to force Russia into peace. Action from Europe, which has no alternative but to be strong. Action from others around the world who called for diplomacy and an end to the war – and whom Russia has ignored." "There must be strong pressure for the sake of peace', he concluded. The renewed air attack comes just a day after Russia launched a record 499 drones and missiles against Ukraine on Monday night.

UN Ocean Conference: Macron shows enthusiasm as NGOs remain cautious
UN Ocean Conference: Macron shows enthusiasm as NGOs remain cautious

LeMonde

timean hour ago

  • LeMonde

UN Ocean Conference: Macron shows enthusiasm as NGOs remain cautious

French President Emmanuel Macron kicked off the United Nations Ocean Conference with great fanfare on Monday, June 9. "Today, we are celebrating a victory," he said in his opening remarks. Firstly, despite the fragmented international context, he managed to rally support: Around 60 heads of state and government made the trip to Nice, far more than at the second edition of this UN summit in 2022. The event marks a major milestone for the Elysée. It is the largest such gathering in France since the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21). Addressing the roughly 100 international delegations in attendance, the president, who is trying to position himself as one of the "champions" of ocean protection, insisted: "Our effort is essential." While, unlike a COP, the United Nations Ocean Conference is not a forum for negotiating a formal agreement, the Elysée hoped that many commitments would be made by participating states throughout the week. It also expected that the discussions in Nice would help move forward some ongoing international negotiations, such as those concerning plastic pollution.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store