Russia's chances in case of conflict with NATO
(Baonghean.vn) - Vice President of the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, Doctor of Military Sciences Konstantin Sivkov, in an article for the Military Industrial Courier publication, assessed the chances of the Russian Air Force when fighting the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
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| Russian military airborne troops. Photo: AP |
According to him, with current military equipment, the Russian Air Force can successfully fight coalition forces only in the context of a local conflict on the territory of a third country.
Mr. Sivkov noted that in the conditions of local war, NATO is capable of creating a group of troops with up to 2,500 aircraft, including 1,500 helicopters and 600 UAVs, and can also use up to 2,000 cruise missiles. He stressed that the key factor in repelling an air attack with such a number of troops is the creation and maintenance of military stability of the high-altitude radar field.
According to his assessment, the Russian Air Force has enough heavy fighters, attack aircraft, strategic aircraft and helicopters to engage in a local conflict with the US and its allies.
However, the military expert believes that Russia lacks light fighters, long-range reconnaissance aircraft, long-range radar detection and control aircraft, as well as transport helicopters. In the event of a protracted global war, the expert believes that Russia will not be able to withstand the alliance's forces for a long time due to NATO's many advantages in the number of planes, helicopters and other air force equipment.
However, in this case, according to Dr. Sivkov, a large nuclear arsenal will come to Russia's aid. "When there is a threat that our armed forces will be crushed and if the country loses its sovereignty and territorial integrity, we can switch to using both tactical and strategic nuclear weapons to deter aggression," Sivkov stressed.