dailyloe.com – Russia’s air force has become more dangerous to NATO since invading Ukraine, according to airpower experts. The conflict has provided pilots with vital combat experience and lessons in modern warfare. This development challenges previous assessments of Russian military capability.
Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute issued a stark warning in a recent report. He stated Russian airpower now represents a greater threat to Western air capabilities in Europe. This is a significant shift from the period before the February 2022 invasion.
Russia has upgraded its systems and weaponry throughout the war. It has also been producing more aircraft than it has lost in combat. This production surge has boosted the overall end strength of its air force.
Retired US Army Maj. Gen. Gordon ‘Skip’ Davis echoed this concern in comments to Business Insider. He served as NATO’s deputy assistant secretary-general for defense investment. Davis warned that NATO cannot be complacent about Russia’s evolving air power.
He stated Russia is more dangerous to NATO now due to lessons learned. The alliance must upgrade its view of the Russian air force’s current capabilities. Past perceptions no longer reflect the present reality of the threat.
Despite early failures, the VKS has adapted its tactics and technology. Bronk notes around 130 Russian fixed-wing aircraft have been shot down or badly damaged. These losses, however, have informed a more effective and modernized force.
Many NATO observers initially downgraded the threat after Russia’s early performance. Its failure to achieve air superiority and significant losses shaped this view. Analysts now argue this assessment was a critical mistake.
Bronk concludes the VKS of 2025 is a significantly more capable potential threat. It poses greater challenges to Western air forces than it did in 2022. The ongoing war has served as a brutal but effective training ground.[]
Source: Business Insider
