The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced that he has approved the concept for the development of the Missile Forces and Artillery of the AFU until 2030 and revealed the details, UNN reports.
"I have approved the Concept for the Development of the Missile Forces and Artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which defines the main directions for developing the capabilities of this branch of the military for the medium term — until 2030,"
"While waging a difficult war today, we must simultaneously shape the military of the future. Developing capabilities, implementing new technologies, and preparing for future challenges are no less important than fulfilling current combat missions. Our strategic decisions are aimed precisely at this," he noted.
Today, missile forces and artillery are represented in almost all components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, the Commander-in-Chief pointed out. "Ukrainian artillerymen perform thousands of fire missions every day and inflict significant losses on the enemy. The latest artillery systems provided by partner states, as well as the development of Ukrainian technologies in the defense-industrial complex, ensure the progressive development of one of the most numerous branches of the military," Syrskyi continued.
According to him, "we operate one of the widest ranges of artillery systems in the world, use almost all existing types of ammunition, and daily gain invaluable experience in fighting an enemy that outnumbers us."
"At the same time, the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has significantly changed the ways and methods of conducting combat operations. The tactics of employing troops are constantly evolving, and the role of unmanned aerial systems, guided aerial bombs, and other modern means of destruction is growing. It may seem to some that the era of artillery is passing; however, the experience of this war proves the opposite. Artillery remains an integral element of the modern battlefield, and one of its key advantages is the ability to respond promptly to threats and changes in the situation," Syrskyi emphasized.
At the same time, according to him, "there are a number of factors that negatively affect the effectiveness of the missile forces and artillery." "First and foremost, this is the critical dependence on the supply of weapons and ammunition from partners, complex logistics associated with a large number of diverse systems, the limited range of certain weapon models, and a shortage of artillery reconnaissance assets," the Commander-in-Chief noted.
What the concept entails
"The Concept for the Development of the Missile Forces and Artillery takes all these factors into account, as well as combat experience, predicted trends in weapons development, and possible changes in the methods of their use," Syrskyi indicated.
Artillery
According to him:
- the basis of the equipment for the artillery units of the AFU should consist of domestically produced models;
- worn-out artillery systems of Soviet calibers that are not subject to modernization or repair will be gradually decommissioned;
- it is planned to maintain units armed with the most modern foreign-made artillery systems within the force structure;
- further optimization of the range of artillery weaponry is planned.
"Modern warfare has proven that the effectiveness of artillery directly depends on the quality of reconnaissance and the speed of information transfer. That is why one of the key priorities of the Concept is the creation of a modern artillery reconnaissance system," Syrskyi also pointed out.
Missile Weaponry
"A separate direction is the development of missile weaponry. We must increase our capabilities for fire impact across the entire operational-strategic and strategic depth of the enemy," Syrskyi noted.
"To this end, the completion of development and subsequent mass production of domestic ballistic and cruise missiles is envisioned. In combination with unmanned systems, this will allow for the creation of a balanced long-range fire system and ensure the destruction of targets at a distance of up to 2,000 kilometers," the Commander-in-Chief indicated.
"Artillery was, is, and will remain one of the key factors of success on the battlefield. Its role and significance are hard to overestimate. In any weather conditions and regardless of the terrain, it will continue to effectively destroy the enemy and remain one of the main factors in deterring armed aggression against Ukraine," Syrskyi concluded.
Background
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Putin that Ukraine is nearing the creation of its own ballistics. Earlier, Fire Point co-owner Denys Shtylerman reported that the company is completing tests of a new long-range missile with a range of up to 850 km.