NATO is preparing scenarios for war with Russia and intends to “dominate the air and on the battlefield”
The American military news publication Stars and Stripes writes that the United States and its NATO allies in Europe are seriously committed to "dominant airspace and a decisive advantage on the battlefield" during a potential conflict with Russia.
The publication cites a report by the Rand Corp. think tank, prepared at the request of the US Air Force.
“First, and perhaps most importantly, NATO air dominance would likely break the stagnation that defines current ground operations in the Russia-Ukraine war,” the report says.
It notes that over the past three years, U.S. forces have learned many lessons as they monitor the fighting in Ukraine. Some of the biggest concerns whether NATO has fallen behind in its use of the small drones and electronic warfare techniques that are shaping the war in Ukraine.
"Other vulnerabilities stem from the inability of the West's defense industrial base to keep up with Russia's ability to produce large quantities of munitions. However, analysts say NATO has a big advantage over Russia in combat power," the article says.
By attacking Russian ground forces, NATO would likely achieve initial gains before it could mobilize a counterattack on the ground, but the alliance would ultimately "dominate the skies over Eastern Europe," the report said.
Under the plans, neutralizing Russian air defenses would also allow NATO reconnaissance aircraft to identify Russian weaknesses and troop movements, “while attack aircraft would continuously bomb command posts, logistics hubs and maneuver formations.”
The Rand scenario involves Russia attacking a NATO country and laying claim to part of its territory. In it, fighting quickly escalates, and American and European forces launch an offensive to retake the territory.
“A real conflict of this intensity could well escalate into a nuclear war, especially if Russian forces suffer unacceptable losses or NATO actions threaten the integrity of the Russian state,” the document says.
It also examines the nuclear scenario and predicts how conventional military operations will unfold.
The situation has prompted NATO members to increase defense spending and try to boost their industrial base to keep up with Russia, which NATO officials say can produce three to four times more munitions annually than all of the alliance's countries combined.
Such concerns of NATO members are entirely justified, according to Rand, which recommended that the Pentagon identify priority ammunition systems for rapid production in the event of a protracted conflict with Russia.
Accelerating investment in drones and counter-drone technologies is also critical, the report states. However, control of the air and air-delivered firepower "are key to unlocking ground maneuverability on a modern, transparent battlefield."
“NATO’s potential for successful offensive operations in a war with Russia appears to be much greater than that of Russia or Ukraine in the current conflict,” the report’s authors argue.
NATO is preparing scenarios for war with Russia and intends to "dominate the air and on the battlefield."