US Air Forces in Europe and Africa are learning lessons from the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine to develop the strategies, capabilities and tactics needed to better defend NATO nations, Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker told the Air Force Group today. Defense Writers.
Hecker, speaking from his headquarters at Ramstein Air Base in , also discussed the situation in Africa.
Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 gave NATO leaders a glimpse into President Vladimir Putin's military machine. "It gave us an opportunity to take a look and learn some lessons from what's been happening over the last year and a half," Hecker told reporters. “I think by far the biggest lesson we've learned is that neither side was able to gain air superiority. I think we all thought that Russia would pull this off in a few days, and we would be looking at a 10-day war.”
Ukrainian anti-aircraft capabilities were up to the task. The general said the Ukrainians shot down at least 75 Russian aircraft before the Russians changed tactics. Many were brought down by shoulder-fired anti-aircraft guns, he said. Russian forces attacked the suburbs of Ukraine's capital Kiev before the Ukrainian military pushed them back.
Had the Russians gained air superiority, it might have been an entirely different picture. “But because they weren't able to do that, we ended up with a fight that we have today… we probably haven't seen one like this since World War I,” the general said.
The war evolved into an artillery duel with the Russian military firing indiscriminately at civilian areas of Ukraine.
"What we've seen from the Russian side is that they're just going to use a path that they get very cheaply from Iran, they use cruise missiles from their bombers that they launch thousands of kilometers away," he said.
Both Ukraine and Russia have significant integrated air and anti-missile defense systems. These surface-to-air missiles prevented either side from establishing air superiority.
“My No. 1 priority – and across NATO – on the air side is countering the anti-access and area denial mission,” he said. “We have been putting a lot of effort into improving our skills and working with all allies to do that.”
The general said his second priority is to fight the way Russia fights when it fails to gain air superiority. Ukrainians have been very good at shooting down unidirectional UAVs and cruise missiles, and NATO nations also need to improve their capabilities, he said.
“My third priority is information sharing,” Hecker said. “It's amazing what you can do if you share information among your allies – and how much better and more capable you become at zero cost. It’s just a policy change, but an important one.”
He said the Air Force also needs to invest in and exercise agile combat capability. ACE, as it is called, deals with the dispersion of high value aircraft and equipment to safeguard deterrence. “As weapons get much more accurate, they can hit all aircraft even if they are scattered,” Hecker said. “What we have to do now is disperse our aircraft between different airfields and potentially even on highways.”
He said his ultimate priority is command and control, which is complicated by the ACE concept. “How are we going to command and control all these units, especially if they are taking off and landing at other airfields using the ACE concept?” he asked. “How are we going to make this happen?”
Operating in the face of cyberattacks also complicates this situation.
Hecker is also responsible for Air Force in Africa, where the situation in Niger is at the center of attention in that theater. Nigerian General Abdourahamane Tchiani, former head of the country's Presidential Guard, took power from Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July. in floor.
The United States has about 1.000 employees in the country. “If our civic leaders decide they want us out there, then obviously we're planning on that and we'll be ready to take us there,” Hecker said. “We hope it was a permissive environment.”
Taking troops and capabilities out of the nation would have an effect on counterterrorism operations in and around the Lake Chad region. “But we're obviously going to look for some other allies that we can partner with and then move our assets over there,” he said.
The general emphasized that no decision has been taken and the plans are just a prudent precaution. “What we hope is that we have a peaceful diplomatic solution to this and we don't have to move,” he said.
Street: US Department of Defense
