BLUF
This article from a former LtCol in the Royal Tank Regiment argues that tanks still have a role in coordinated combined arms groups, including infantry in Infantry Fighting Vehicles, recce vehicles, engineers, artillery and air defence.Summary
This article makes the following points:
- The conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the war in Ukraine have focused attention on the main battle tank’s role.
- It’s a continuous see-saw battle between tank protection levels, and the potency of weapons designed to defeat that protection.
- Bigger guns versus thicker armour or active armour that intercepts incoming missiles.
- In Ukraine, Russia has the technology to defeat many anti-tank weapons, but they haven’t been used or didn’t work.
- Russian tanks lacked logistic support, air superiority and air defence cover.
- Cheap mobile cannon/ laser systems can knock down drones.
- The Ukrainians have dispersed and conserved their aircraft, using them at the right place and time.
References
- Media Check: About Us| UK Defence Journal
- Collections | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
- ADDITIONAL READING RAAF RUNWAY (PME)
- RAAF RUNWAY: RATIONALE, GUIDELINES, LEARNING OUTCOMES, ETC
