In the weeks leading up to the invasion, the United States made no secret of the high-tech threat that Russian armored vehicles would face.
Hundreds of tanks decimated. After the Russian army withdraws from the outskirts of kyiv, the Ukrainian fighters take a close look at their scores obtained thanks to their courage and the mobilization of their resources. The most famous, even revered, is the javelin anti-tank missile.
An artist nicknamed “Saint Javelin” is the patron of the Ukrainian resistance. His image helps raise over $1 million in merchandise sales, benefiting humanitarian relief.
Admittedly, javelins, supplied by the United States, are one of many anti-tank weapon systems that Ukraine uses to extract a heavy toll from Putin.
“This is a class of weapon,” said Mark Cancian, senior adviser to CSIS’s International Security Program. “Javelins are the top of the line. They are the most expensive and the most effective.”
Most effective at ambushing tanks and other heavy armor at a distance of up to two and a half miles.
Here’s how it works: An individual soldier uses the command launch unit to identify the target. When the missile is fired, a launch motor propels the missile out of the tube. The main flight engine does not turn on until the missile is within a certain distance. This makes it harder for the enemy to identify the location of the person who fired.
The javelin is known as a “shoot and forget” system. An on-board computer guides the missile to the target. It can either be set to attack the tank head-on, or to mount and strike at the top of the tank where it is weakest.
According to a running tally by open-source intelligence experts – who base their tally on video and imagery – at least 450 Russian tanks in Ukraine have been either destroyed, damaged, abandoned or captured.
In the weeks leading up to the invasion, the United States made no secret of the high-tech threat that Russian armored vehicles would face.
“Analysts wonder why the Russians show so little tactical skill,” Cancian said. “Their doctrine and our doctrine say if you’re going to use armor, you use artillery in front of them to suppress any infantry and anti-tank weapons. And you use recon to find out where they are. They don’t seem to have done that. “
Tanks are also vulnerable to fighter jets, but NATO and the United States say they will not directly engage Russia militarily. This is why javelins, along with advanced air defense weapons, prove to be so crucial.
“Using the right kinds of techniques and the right weapon systems, the javelin, the stingers have proven to be very, very effective in this fight,” the US Defense Sec said. said Lloyd Austin.
The problem for Ukraine is that they throw their javelins fast and say they need more, fast.
Reports estimate that the United States has already sent them 4,600. And is sending another $100 million.
“As fast as we can, as much as we can, and just keep going to make sure the Ukrainians can defend themselves,” Asst. Second. of Defense, John Kirby said.
As the war continues, this means increasing production.
“It’s at its current production rate, which is quite high, but it can go higher,” said Doug Bush, the Army’s procurement and logistics manager.
The Russian tank graveyard at Bucha, near kyiv, is cold comfort for Russia’s alleged war crimes. But for the Ukrainians, they are a symbol, along with the javelin, of their army, for now, beating the odds.
