Ukraine is much better at combined arms operations than Russia

The war in Ukraine is the first large-scale conflict in which unmanned aerial systems play a significant role. Although drones are not new by any means—the U.S. Intelligence Community and military pioneered their use back in the 1990s—Ukraine is the first war in which drones are used profusely on all levels of fighting.

Both sides use drones, artillery, missiles, mechanized assets, infantry, and electronic warfare (EW) among others to achieve their battlefields. But one side has a clear superiority when it comes to combining them for maximum effect: Ukraine.

The Ukrainian forces recently launched several counterattacks in Kursk Oblast, inside Russia. (The Russian forces have been trying to eradicate the Ukrainian salient since it was first created in August.)

In its most recent counterattacks, the Ukrainian military displayed robust combined arms capabilities. For example, in support of their mechanized formations, the Ukrainians deployed electronic warfare measures, thus creating a “bubble” around their forces and denying access to Russian drones. Unmanned aerial systems can either be shot down via physical means or “commandeered” via electronic warfare systems. At a point in time when drones are everywhere on the battlefield, potent electronic warfare capabilities are that much more important.

“Widespread Russian concern over Russia’s ability to respond to improved Ukrainian [electronic warfare] technology and long-range strike capabilities indicates that Russian forces may be struggling to quickly adapt to Ukrainian battlefield innovations,” the Institute for the Study of War assessed in a recent estimate of the conflict.

According to Russian battlefield reports, the Ukrainian forces operating inside Russia are much more effective, maximizing their potential through combined arms operations. Combined arms operations refers to the employment and coordination of different arms in a single operation to maximize results.

For example, a mechanized attack against a fortified defensive line with artillery support on the target, long-range fires support behind the defensive line, and electronic warfare support around the target to keep out enemy drones would be a prime combined arms operation (mechanized assets, artillery on target, long-ranges fires behind target to maximize confusion and prevent a counterattack, and electronic warfare protection).

“Reports that Ukrainian forces are using long-range fires to interdict Russian rear areas and EW to degrade Russian drones in support of Ukrainian mechanized advances indicate that Ukrainian forces operating in Kursk are employing more effective combined arms tactics,” the Institute for the Study of War stated.

Conversely, the Russian forces lack the ability to wage effective combined arms operations. Although Russian units have integrated drones in their tactics, Russian offensives more resemble World War I and World War II operations than 21st century warfare. Usually, Russian attacks against the Ukrainian positions involve a lot of infantry with artillery support.

“Russian sources expressed concern about the Russian military’s ability to react to Ukraine’s ongoing combined arms efforts to integrate electronic warfare (EW) and long-range strike capabilities with ground operations,” the Institute for the Study of War added.

To be sure, the Russian military can conduct combined arms warfare in certain cases. For instance, when Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it used mechanized assets, airstrikes, missile strikes, special operations units, and even cyberattacks all in an effort to disorient the Ukrainian military leadership and achieve a quick victory.

Overall, however, the Russian military is seriously lacking in combined arms capabilities. And, if it came to blows with the U.S. military and NATO, Russia would be at a significant disadvantage.

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