PARIS, April 22. /TASS/. Russian troops during the conflict in Ukraine have been able to learn how to counter the weapons that the West supplies to Kiev, said French Admiral Pierre Vandier, who holds the post of NATO’s supreme allied commander transformation.
"For three years, Russia has been schooled in Western military equipment. Ukraine had almost everything we could give it, so Russia adapted and learned how to counter that equipment," he said on a podcast of the L'Express magazine.
The admiral warned that if NATO forces "do not regain their technical and tactical superiority," they could face difficulties during the next conflict. One of the challenges for the alliance, he said, will be the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions on the battlefield.
According to Vandier, the Ukrainian conflict has gone through several phases since 2022, with different weapons dominating during each of them. First, they were tanks and anti-tank missiles, then drones that were followed by surface-to-air missile systems and electronic warfare capabilities. Finally, both sides started to rely heavily on artillery and infantry. That means, Vandier said, that modern conflicts require constant changes in weaponry and tactics and adoption of innovative technologies.
"If you don't adapt, you will definitely lose," the admiral said.
The post of NATO's supreme allied commander transformation was created in 2002 as part of a major reform of the alliance. The holder of the post is tasked with preparing NATO's military forces for new challenges that could arise in the future. This strategic command is headquartered in Norfolk, US.