NATO at risk: Admiral warns of Russia’s growing prowess in countering Western tech

Russian troops have had the opportunity to thoroughly study the weaponry supplied to Ukraine by the West during the conflict, and they have learned how to counter it. 

This opinion was expressed by French Admiral and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Pierre Vandier in a podcast for the L'Express magazine, Caliber.Az reports referring to Russian media.

"Over the past three years, Russia has undergone a school of counteracting Western military technology. Ukraine had nearly everything that we could give them, and so Russia adapted and learned how to resist this technology," Vandier said.

The Admiral warned that if NATO forces "do not restore their technical and tactical superiority," they may face difficulties in the next conflict. According to him, one of the alliance's challenges will be the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions on the battlefield.

As Vandier explained, since 2022, the Ukrainian conflict has gone through several phases, each dominated by different types of weaponry. Tanks and anti-tank missiles were initially used, followed by widespread deployment of drones, then surface-to-air missile systems and electronic warfare capabilities, and finally, both sides returned to artillery and infantry. As a result, Vandier noted, modern conflicts require constant changes in weaponry, tactics, and the implementation of innovative technologies. "If you do not adapt, you will definitely lose," emphasised the Admiral.

The position of Supreme Allied Commander Transformation of NATO’s Armed Forces was created in 2002 as part of a large-scale reform of the military alliance. The officer holding this position is tasked with preparing NATO’s military forces to perform new types of missions that may arise in the future. The headquarters of this strategic command is located in Norfolk, USA.

By Tamilla Hasanova