Ramstein Seeks Game-Changers
Creating a coalition for Ukraine's Ground-Based Air Defence involving 20 participating countries, a separate cybersecurity assistance package led by Estonia, and a maritime group led by the UK and Norway - these are the key outcomes of the 17th meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group on November 22. The meeting, chaired by US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, followed his recent visit to Kyiv on November 20, where he announced the provision of the 51st military aid package to Ukraine.
Immediately upon his return from Ukraine, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius participated in the 17th meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group, focusing on coordinating military support and the long-term development of Ukraine's future forces. Germany and France have taken the lead in the coalition for air defense. This comes at a critical time for Kyiv, given the experiences of the previous year when massive Russian missile attacks disrupted the country's energy networks, resulting in severe consequences such as power outages, economic losses, and human casualties.
The 17th meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein Group, took place amid complex discussions in the US Congress regarding the funding of security programs. This includes a support program for Ukraine amounting to around $61 billion USD. The debates about the appropriateness of supplying Ukraine with more long-range weapon systems also take place. These long-range systems are essential as game-changers, considering that Russian invasion forces, while equipped with somewhat outdated weaponry, are numerous and heavily armed.
In his opening remarks at the 17th session of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group, US Defense Minister Lloyd J. Austin III declared, "... Ukraine's fight for freedom matters to us all. As President Biden said, when tyrants do not pay for their aggression, they continue to threaten the world."
Unfortunately, the issue of sanctions against Russia does not fall within the scope of the Ramstein Group's discussions but sanctions are also a weapon. Sure the US, EU countries, the UK, and other developed nations gradually escalate sanctions against Russia, the goal remains to undermine the financial and technological capabilities of the aggressor to continue the war and threaten other countries.
Concerningly, Moscow's speed in producing new batches of both outdated and modern weapons, along with amassing thousands of drones using components, including those of Western origin, raises alarms. The pace of arms production in Russia serves as an indicator of the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of sanctions. Those sanctions should intensify until the arms production in Russia will be stopped. This action should have been introduced the day before yesterday, and today it is not too late.
PHOTO: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, after visiting Kyiv, declared the leadership of Berlin and Paris in creating an air defense coalition for Ukraine. Source: Ministry of Defense of Germany
Against Russian Rockets and "Shaheds"
Russia had practically inexhaustible stocks of Soviet-era short-range missiles, primarily aviation ones. The relatively small number of more modern ground, air and sea-based missiles such as "Iskander," "Onyx," "Kinjal," and "Kalibr" was partially compensated by the use of Soviet S-300 anti-aircraft missiles for strikes on ground targets. The older imprecise Soviet missiles like the X-22 type are widely used for terrorizing cities, as they are not well-suited for hitting pinpoint targets. A new development in Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine is the extensive use of drones like the "Shahed," acquired from Iran and assembled with Iranian components. On some nights, waves of these drones numbered up to 50 units, accompanied by attacks with medium-range cruise and ballistic missiles.
Ukraine's air defense system, in dire need of diverse systems ranging from pick-up trucks with large-caliber machine guns, spotlights, thermal imaging sights, and skilled operators to "Patriot" complexes, which protect Kyiv and literally one or two points in the country, stands against all of this.
"Give us 'Gepards,' many 'Gepards,' because this German anti-aircraft tank shoots down 'Shahed' with a series of 5-7 shots," say Ukrainian military personnel, highly appreciating this product from the consortium Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. Ukraine has already received nearly 50 units. Quantitatively, this German anti-aircraft tank is perhaps the most mass-produced system with radar targeting among the provided by partners. Additionally, Germany continues to supply Ukraine with Iris-T anti-aircraft missile complexes, and with the consent of the US, provided one long-range Patriot complex. In spring 2023, France, along with Italy, provided Ukraine with a long-range anti-aircraft complex SAMP/T-MAMBA.
This is precisely why Germany and France have taken the lead in the coalition for Ukraine's Ground-Based Air Defence, consisting of 20 participating countries. As announced by Austin Lloyd during Ramstein No. 17, Germany and France have already begun consultations on the action plan within the Ground-Based Air Defence initiative.
Ahead, there seems to be a heap of important decisions, including technological ones. Some of them are already implemented. For example, with the support of American colleagues, Ukrainian experts effectively integrated RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles into the old Soviet Buk anti-aircraft missile system. Another similar project involves combining AIM-9M air-to-air missiles with a platform equipped with the Soviet radar.
PHOTO: The German anti-aircraft tank "Gepard," produced by the Krauss-Maffei consortium stays on duty in the suburbs of Kyiv. Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
Sea Finish
The armed forces and security forces of Ukraine have displaced Russian military ships from the Black Sea west and central zones, gradually restoring freedom of navigation, even without possessing a powerful military fleet of their own - these are the results of Ukrainian asymmetric actions. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reminded of this in his opening speech at the 17th meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group. Ukrainian forces used missile systems and naval drones. Thus, in April 2022, the flagship of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea, the cruiser "Moskva," was destroyed and sunk. It had a uniquely branched air defense system and a large number of launchers for "Kalibr" cruise missiles.
The latest blow is the destruction of the Russian ship "Askold," the newest representative of the "Karakurt" project with "stealth" technology, which is a carrier of "Kalibr" missiles. The missile strike reached it in the dock of the Zaliv shipyard in the annexed Crimea city of Kerch in 2014.
Last year and in the first half of 2023, the Russian fleet regularly shelled Ukrainian cities with "Kalibr" missiles; now this is no longer happening. A certain number of ships have even been withdrawn from Crimea to the port of Novorossiysk (Russia) on the Black Sea coast of the North Caucasus.
The maritime coalition within the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group is led by the UK and Norway. No specific measures within this coalition have been announced, but it is known, among other things, about the previously started supply of maritime drones to Ukraine in addition to those developed and produced by the Ukrainian military themselves.
PHOTO: Ukrainian forces are asymmetrically attacking the Black Sea fleet of the Russian Federation by the sea drones. Source: CNN screenshot
Quiet and of Utmost Importance
Weapons prefer silence until they roar. Consequently, there has been minimal public discussion about the Aviation Coalition emerging on the 17th meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group. It is known only that training of Ukrainian military personnel on F-16 fighters continues, both in the US and in certain European countries. This pertains not only to pilots but also to support staff.
The IT Coalition, led by Estonia, has declared the provision of a support package to bolster the cybersecurity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Netherlands has allocated 2 billion euros for military aid to Ukraine. The supply of the most scarce 155mm caliber shells, anti-tank systems, and demining systems is ongoing. Given the winter season, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, and other countries of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group are delivering suitable equipment and gear.
Fundamentally, there is currently a reevaluation of the challenges posed by this war. It is evident that Ukraine is defending itself against Russian invasion, waging a war that combines elements from the early 20th century to the mid-21st century. This amalgamation involves trench warfare with mining and heavy artillery, coupled with a drone war. The issue of global security is now on the table, signifying that the stakes are perilously high. Therefore, Ramstein is in search of game-changers.