are fitted with a reprogrammable microprocessor, allowing the seeker to be modified for emerging threats. Lithuania also received two AN/MPQ64 Sentinel air defence radars. At least one VTMDS was shown during Snowstorm-2022, but there is no evidence that the attendant radars were also delivered to Ukraine. Ukraine has received a wealth of military equipment from sympathetic governments. Most of it is tactical in nature, including ammunition for small arms and artillery, and shoulder-fired anti-armour weapons such as the UK’s NLAW. While all of them, including Stinger, will improve Ukraine’s ability to inflict damage on Russian forces at a tactical level, they are inherently limited in their ability to deter, and do not answer a lot of the UAF’s pressing problems. Stinger, for example, can engage targets at an altitude of 3,800m, whereas the ORLAN-10 UAV, which is the primary reconnaissance platform of the Russian armed forces, is capable of flying at 6,000. Furthermore, its deployment does not resolve gaps in Ukraine’s medium and long-range air defence network. It is at this operational-tactical level that Russia would seek to cause the most damage, and where Ukraine is most lacking in capability. Javelin proved to be quite effective in the early days of the invasion. (Photo: US DoD) Also unwavering - and not to be taken for granted – is the the support shown by the United States for the Alliance. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has said that the American commitment to NATO and Article 5 remains “ironclad,” and that the US will “defend [if necessary] every inch of NATO territory” without, however, elaborating on possible future US moves in Europe. In these tense hours, the US awaits a response from Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, to Washington’s proposals on European security. Meanwhile, the situation in Ukraine remains incandescent. After the West accused Russia of lying about withdrawing from Ukrainians borders, tensions are currently mounting in Donbas, where Ukrainian forces accused Russian-backed separatists of hitting a kindergarten during shelling, while separatists pointed the finger at Kyiv. “Russia is trying to stage a pretext for an armed attack on Russia” commented Austin, who also described reports of mutual accusations of shelling as “troubling.” He went on to say that Washington and its allies are still gathering details, but “we have said for some time that the Russians could do something like this to justify a military conflict, so we’re going to be watching this very closely.” Ukraine Receives Stingers and Javelins (Sam Cranny-Evans, 20 February) The Ukrainian armed forces (UAF) have received FIM-92 Stinger air defence systems from Lithuania, according to a 13 February announcement from the Ukrainian MoD. The missiles were later displayed during the Snowstorm 2022 exercise held on 18 February and inspected by President Zelensky. Ukraine also received a delivery of FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles from Estonia on the same day. Estonia is also considering sending instructors to Ukraine, the MoD said. The Stinger system procured by Lithuania was the Vehicle Tethered Dual Mount Stinger (VTDMS). A total of eight were delivered in 2007, along with 54 combat rounds of the Stinger Block I missile. These missiles Nations in Focus MT 2/2022 · 35 Meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Defence Ministers’ session with Georgia and Ukraine. (Photo: NATO)
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