School of War Ep 197: Mick Ryan on the Ukrainian Battlefield
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May 13, 2025 Mick Ryan, a retired major general in the Australian Army and author of The War for Ukraine, dives into the complexities of the Ukrainian battlefield. He shares firsthand insights on the evolving roles of drones and the adaptability of military strategies. Ryan discusses the necessity of rethinking procurement for rapid response, and challenges the notion that artillery is obsolete. The conversation also touches on Putin's ambitions, the potential for a ceasefire, and the surprising resilience of military tactics in modern warfare.
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Rapid Drone Evolution & Countermeasures
- Drones in Ukraine evolve rapidly with technology changing every week or two.
- Counter-drone tactics include drone interceptors and AI-assisted air defense to reduce costs of defense.
Combatting Wire-Guided Drones
- Address the threat of wire-guided drones by targeting operator stations, which are easier to detect than the drones themselves.
- Deploy dense, mobile air defense networks with layered sensors and AI to combat drone threats effectively.
Soft Integration Story from Afghanistan
- Aaron MacLean recounts a raid in Helmand Province where he could have easily arrested a high-value target but was denied.
- The official raid was more costly and less sensible, illustrating inefficiencies in military operations.
