Thread by @WarintheFuture

I think this is an interesting article, mainly because it discusses battlefield learning and #adaptation in #Ukraine. There are many skills needed by military institutions to be successful in combat. But fostering a learning culture is vital. 1/15
bbc.com/news/world-eur…

2/ It is very likely, in the coming weeks and months, that both Ukrainian and Russian military forces will commence offensive campaigns in different areas of #Ukraine.

3/ As I wrote in a recent article exploring the coming campaigns: "Over winter both sides will have been preparing and shaping the environment for these offensives." mickryan.substack.com/p/the-campaign…

4/ Further: "They will have been training soldiers, deploying units, conducting reconnaissance while seeking weaknesses to exploit in the offensives to come."

5/ Perhaps one of the most important endeavours of both sides since their major campaigns in 2022 will have been their programs to examine the key lessons from operations in 2022, and then turn them into force-wide adaptations for their 2023 campaigns.

6/ Both sides have adapted during the war. Russia, expecting to undertake a coup de main in the first days of the war, had to adapt from around D+3 to conduct combat operations. It had to reorient the mindset of its troops and adjust its logistics to do this.

7/ Ukraine has adapted its battlefield tactics, and its long range targeting and strike activities. More adaptation will occur if Ukraine receives the 150km range GLSDB. thedefensepost.com/2022/11/29/ukr…

8/ So, a vital undertaking for both sides in the lead up to their 2023 campaigns will have been to assess where they can quickly improve tactics, recon and intel collection & dissemination, force structure, C2, and fire / logistic support.

9/ Some of this learning is done away from the battlefield - particularly the operational analysis and dissemination of lessons through new training, techniques and doctrine.

10/ But ultimately, the most important 'classroom' in this war is combat. Whether it is close combat in urban environments or trench warfare, or long range combat through artillery duels and aerial combat, combat is the great teacher of soldiers.

11/ And therein lies the importance of this @BBCNews article. It gets to the heart of the importance of learning, and of adapting more quickly (and at a higher quality) than the enemy.

12/ A Ukrainian soldier quoted in the piece states: "We understand that Russia is learning every day and changing their strategy. And I think we need to learn faster."

13/ He has described a key battlefield advantage that both sides will want to build and sustain in the lead up to, and during, the 2023 offensives: the ability to learn, to share lessons and adapt at the tactical, operational and strategic levels, and do it faster than the enemy.

14/ As Barno & Bensahel write: “preparing to adapt in the next war is just as important as preparing to fight itself.” So while tanks and munitions are vital, winning the adaptation battle, built on tactical & institutional learning, is a core part of war. End.

15/ Thank you to the following whose links and images were used in this thread: @BBCNews @DefenceHQ @DefenceU @DefensePost @TDF_UA