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

Russia attacks Kyiv and Odesa with another missile and drone strike
Russia attacks Kyiv and Odesa with another missile and drone strike

Euronews

time43 minutes ago

  • Euronews

Russia attacks Kyiv and Odesa with another missile and drone strike

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. Equipped with high-visibility vests and lamps, a group of Dutch citizens has been carrying out their own checks at the German border, prompted by dissatisfaction with the current migration policy. The participants, who number around a dozen according to local media reports, decided to take matters into their own hands and have been engaged in border checks, videos of which have been circulating on social media. They have been applauded by right-wing politician Geert Wilders, whose PVV party withdrew from the Dutch coalition government last week after it refused to adopt his migration proposals. The same day, Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced he was also stepping down, slamming Wilders' decision to leave the coalition as "irresponsible and unnecessary". "As far as I'm concerned, this shouldn't have happened," he said. A snap election will take place on 29 October following the collapse of the government. In contrast to Wilders, the Netherlands' Minister of Justice and Security, David van Weel, has been less enthusiastic about the citizens' action. "Frustration is understandable, but don't take the law into your own hands," he warned. He said the government is in favour of stricter immigration laws, he advised citizens to "Let the police and border police do their job." The police also advised the citizens to stop the border checks immediately. "Such actions create extremely dangerous situations on and along the road," the Dutch police said in a statement carried by the newspaper De Gelderlander, calling the border checks "really unacceptable."

Macron calls for release of Gaza activists as thousands demonstrate
Macron calls for release of Gaza activists as thousands demonstrate

Local France

timean hour ago

  • Local France

Macron calls for release of Gaza activists as thousands demonstrate

Tens of thousands of people staged rallies on Monday after Israel stopped the boat, the Madleen, that was carrying 12 activists. In France, rallies in Paris and at least five other cities were called by left-wing parties. Jean-Luc Melenchon, head of La France Insoumise (LFI) party, called the seizure of the Gaza boat by the Israeli military "international piracy". In Switzerland, several hundred people blocked train stations in Geneva and Lausanne to protest Israel's military operations in Gaza, media reports said. Some 300 protesters carrying Palestinian flags occupied two tracks at Geneva's main station for about an hour, leading to delays and cancellations, the reports said. A similar protest was staged in nearby Lausanne where police cleared the tracks. Macron meanwhile urged the immediate liberation of French nationals among the 12 activists on the vessel. Macron had "requested that the six French nationals be allowed to return to France as soon as possible," his office said. Advertisement France was "vigilant" and "stands by all its nationals when they are in danger," he added. The French government had also called on Israel to ensure the "protection" of the activists. Macron also called the humanitarian blockade of Gaza "a scandal" and a "disgrace". Israel's foreign ministry said earlier that "all the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed", and it expected the activists to return to their home countries. Israel has virtually sealed off Gaza as part of its military operation in the Palestinian territory since the Hamas militant group's attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Activists to be deported after aid boat destined for Gaza was intercepted by Israel
Activists to be deported after aid boat destined for Gaza was intercepted by Israel

France 24

time4 hours ago

  • France 24

Activists to be deported after aid boat destined for Gaza was intercepted by Israel

01:59 09/06/2025 Paris Peace Forum seeks to create new momentum for two-state solution ahead of high-stakes UN event Middle East 09/06/2025 Italian conservationists denounce cruise line development in Fiumicino Europe 09/06/2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice: Stark warnings on ocean conservation Environment 09/06/2025 French Open: Two in a row for Alcaraz after thrilling final France 09/06/2025 Dozens held after Trump-ordered immigration raids in Los Angeles Americas 09/06/2025 French politics: Assessing Macron's difficult year after snap vote France 09/06/2025 Where does French president Emmanuel Macron stand a year after snap vote? France 09/06/2025 'Netanyahu very cynically exploiting the situation: Israeli PM staying in power by sowing division' Middle East 09/06/2025 Exploring France's cutting-edge ocean research ahead of the UN conference Environment

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