With the reality of diminished or nonexistent intelligence, surveillance, & reconnaissance (ISR), Russia has consumed close to half of its entire missile inventory in 20 days. Russian military forces under the direction of Vladimir Putin have resorted to indiscriminate artillery and tank fire, coupled with its missile strikes, resulting in significant civilian casualties and the leveling of cities and towns. Russia’s recent announcement of the use of its air-launched long-distance hypersonic weapon, the Kinzhal, or “dagger,” its latest hypersonic missile has been validated by the identification of launch points by its heat signature; unknown at this time though is their impact on targets. Despite this, Russian videos of the destruction of underground Ukrainian installations don’t match launch points and appear to be fabricated for propaganda purposes. Also not revealed by Russia is the significant number of missile failures that have caused a great deal of unexploded ordnance currently sitting on Ukrainian soil.
ISR and the ability to provide analysis and advanced warning of adversarial intentions is fundamental to any military operation. Further exacerbating Russia’s military struggles in Ukraine is the lack of training, discipline, and tactical refinement of the Russian combat forces. The Russian military has been exposed.
Frustrated that Ukraine has not yet sued for peace, it is likely that Russia will increase their missile and artillery attacks on Ukrainian cities; we are seeing this in indiscriminate strikes against hospitals, shopping malls, apartment complexes, theaters, and schools. If not successful, Russia may look to demonstrate the test and detonation of a tactical nuclear weapon on Russian Soil to signal a significant escalatory threat to Ukraine, NATO, and the United States.
What remains tragic is that the United States and NATO possess the technologies and capabilities to detect, track, engage, intercept and assess rockets, artillery, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hypersonic missiles. Yet these technologies and capabilities are not saving lives or preventing mass destruction.
Missile Defense has to change for the betterment of humankind and the sustainment of the World Order. Allies and adversaries alike are watching to see how we will face these challenges. Does a Russian tactical nuclear weapon test need to occur for our missile defense strategy to change or is there enough evidence of Russian missile and long-range artillery to catalyze a new approach?
The evidence is clear and compelling. Russia is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The solution is clear and compelling — comprehensive Missile Defense is essential for defending and saving lives, and for deterring unlawful aggression, in the future
