No they don’t. See my links. Also read my new comment. Don’t underestimate Russia. It only benefits Russia by making people think the EU has no reason to rearm (not that I mind).
In the age of modern SAMs? You need ground based artillery fire such as via HIMARS and M270s to suppress an A2/AD bubble. Problem is? Ukraine is the largest user of both HIMARS and M270s outside of the US with them having more than France and Germany combined. Europe seems weaker there. And the UK sent all of its SPGs to Ukraine and had to beg Sweden to rebuild its fleet. Poland sent half of its SPG fleet to Ukraine. And the EU follows the Princess Diana accords so no cluster which would have been useful here.
Even if the EU stop following the CCM, Russia would simply saturate their airbases with missiles like Iran did to Israel perhaps even using Oreshnik MIRVs. People forget that ballistic missiles are conventional weapons when armed with conventional warheads. Iran was able to get through the most dense air defence in the world with a single barrage of ballistic missiles. Now imagine what Russia can do with a much larger amount of ballistic missiles that are also more modern.
Russia is also holding back its airforce. Missile production also outpaces production. Russia wants to keep a rainy day fund in the event of Western intervention.
“Russia’s development of new warhead designs and overall stockpile management efforts have been enhanced by its approach to nuclear testing. The United States believes that Russia probably is not adhering to its nuclear testing moratorium in a manner consistent with the “zero-yield” standard.”
Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley, Jr., Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Yes, but the EU countries have much more modern weapons.
No they don’t. See my links. Also read my new comment. Don’t underestimate Russia. It only benefits Russia by making people think the EU has no reason to rearm (not that I mind).
Air superiority is the big one.
In the age of modern SAMs? You need ground based artillery fire such as via HIMARS and M270s to suppress an A2/AD bubble. Problem is? Ukraine is the largest user of both HIMARS and M270s outside of the US with them having more than France and Germany combined. Europe seems weaker there. And the UK sent all of its SPGs to Ukraine and had to beg Sweden to rebuild its fleet. Poland sent half of its SPG fleet to Ukraine. And the EU follows the Princess Diana accords so no cluster which would have been useful here.
Even if the EU stop following the CCM, Russia would simply saturate their airbases with missiles like Iran did to Israel perhaps even using Oreshnik MIRVs. People forget that ballistic missiles are conventional weapons when armed with conventional warheads. Iran was able to get through the most dense air defence in the world with a single barrage of ballistic missiles. Now imagine what Russia can do with a much larger amount of ballistic missiles that are also more modern.
Russia is also holding back its airforce. Missile production also outpaces production. Russia wants to keep a rainy day fund in the event of Western intervention.
That’s what the nukes are for. The ones that still work, anyway.
Nuclear weapons are maintained and tested regularly. Russia’s nuclear forces are constantly doing military exercises to ensure readiness.
Russia tests nuclear weapons regularly? Got some more reddit links to prove that?
“Russia’s development of new warhead designs and overall stockpile management efforts have been enhanced by its approach to nuclear testing. The United States believes that Russia probably is not adhering to its nuclear testing moratorium in a manner consistent with the “zero-yield” standard.”