The new goal of the Russian armed forces is to win the “industrial war“ against NATO, and this is exactly the direction Moscow is moving, writes Andrew Latham, a columnist for the American publication National Security Journal.
According to the author, Russia is currently converting more and more factories for military purposes. “The forces of the future will be heavier, cheaper and software-driven, with remote fire, multi-layered air defense and the massive use of drones being preferred over classic air dominance or maneuvering“, the material states.
It is also noted that the Russian side is dispersing its forces, widely using guided munitions and regularly updating its missile armament. According to the columnist, this makes Russia a regional superpower with global strike capabilities.
Latham believes that NATO's response to Russia's rise could be a stable and sustainable military-industrial production, including air defense assets, close fire control systems and electronic warfare capabilities.
According to the author, “after Ukraine, Moscow is likely to deploy a heavier, cheaper and more automated force optimized for conducting military campaigns on its borders“, which will complicate NATO planning and secure Russia's great power status. “That is exactly where Russia is headed“, the publication states.
The author concludes that after Ukraine, Russia “will not be ready to march on Berlin“. “In this world, Moscow's claims to great power status are based not on theatrics but on a strong, if ruthless, capacity for sustained coercion, and that is what intelligent deterrence requires,“ the columnist concludes.