The Tank's Enduring Role: Lessons from Ukraine and the Evolving Nature of Warfare

Images of destroyed Russian tanks have become synonymous with the ongoing war in Ukraine.

This has ignited a global debate about whether the tank, once a dominant force on the battlefield, has now become obsolete in the face of modern weaponry.

While the losses suffered by Russian armored units are undeniable, a closer look suggests a more complex reality.

Vulnerabilities Exposed​

Ukraine has effectively deployed a combination of man-portable anti-tank missiles like NLAWs, drones, and precision artillery strikes to devastating effect against Russian tank formations.

These relatively inexpensive, easily deployable weapons have exposed the vulnerabilities of tanks, particularly when operating without proper support.

The Indian Perspective​

Interestingly, Indian Army officials offer a nuanced perspective on these losses. They argue that while Ukrainian tactics have been successful, the blame lies less with the tank as a platform and more with "poor tactics" employed by Russia.

The lack of coordinated infantry operations, artillery support, electronic warfare capabilities, and sufficient air cover left Russian tanks exposed and susceptible.

Combined Arms: The Key to Success​

The Indian Army's analysis underscores the enduring importance of combined-arms warfare in the modern era.

Tanks, despite their strengths in firepower, mobility, and protection, cannot operate in isolation.

To maximize their effectiveness, they require integrated support from infantry, artillery, airpower, and electronic warfare assets.

The Future: Adaptation and Integration​

While the war in Ukraine has showcased inherent vulnerabilities in armored warfare, it would be premature to write the tank's obituary. The future likely lies not in the obsolescence of the tank, but its adaptation and integration within a changing battlespace.

Technologies such as active protection systems (APS), which can intercept incoming projectiles, along with enhanced situational awareness and improved communication networks, can significantly boost tank survivability.

These technological advancements, coupled with a renewed emphasis on combined arms doctrine, could ensure the tank's continued relevance.

Lessons Learned​

The conflict in Ukraine offers crucial lessons for militaries worldwide. Key takeaways include:

• The Dangers of Complacency: The Russian experience highlights the peril of relying on past tactics and assuming technological superiority.
• Adaptability: Armies need to constantly adapt strategies and technological capabilities to counter evolving threats.
• Combined Arms Warfare Remains Vital: The synergy between different military branches is essential for success on the modern battlefield.

Conclusion​

The tank's role in modern warfare has undeniably been challenged but not eliminated.

The images from Ukraine highlight the need for tactical and technological evolution rather than the outright abandonment of a platform that still holds potential value when used strategically.

 

[Baka007]

Tank designs are outdated now they need armour even at top and counter drone measures
But Indian army busy producing light tin cans which can be easily blown by cheap suicide drones costing u valuable money and more importantly trained men.

 

[Baka007]

Today, however, things have changed. Our financial situation is much better, and so we have to take the more reasonable option of having a large fleet of good tanks. The fleet wouldn't be as large as the older tank fleets being retired, but this smaller fleet of tanks will be more effective than the larger, older fleet.

Having larger/smaller fleet is not enough u should be able to mass produce quickly to compensate loses and indigenously

 

[alpha numeric]

well, that tandem warhead issue at close range is only a factor in urban warfare. wars in which India will fight will not be in urban environment. It will be very large scale movement spread over large distances against a peer opponent in pakistan or china.There is big ? on effectiveness of APS, better option I think would be to have anti air systems moving along with tanks. Like german gepard or russian pantsir. They can take out drones from 1 or 2 km away, as they have radars. They can even fight while on the move. APS systems are very close range, 1 tank can only protect itself and not other vehicles. Also, if tank is attacked by multiple drones, that is problem also.

Can't rule it out though. Islamabad has quite a lot of urban area we might at some point have to press into. But yeah no need to consider the possibility of urban war with China considering the hostile terrain, cant even get MBTs to properly function at that altitude . Also your suggestion I think is a bit too risky having AA systems moving in tandem with an armored columns just to deal with drones means those armored columns become that much more valuable prize for the adversary. AA systems aren't cheap and India will need LOTS of them considering Indian Airforce has a trash record against Pakis. Its the Army that has always carried the day. Not to Diss our aviators(we have material superiority and our geography is a net +ve) but Airforce is the one thing Pakis surpass us in as their whole schtick is to have a qualitatively superior air force to counter our numbers in air and on the ground. Their pilot's performance in the wars on the subcontinent and elsewhere proves this.

 

[Baka007]

The whole concept of modern armored cavalry tactics revolves around Main Battle Tanks (MBT) and armored vehicles and that itself is unlikely to change. U still require tanks to physically enforce control over a territory. The present concept of tanks is about a century old, when the British first launched the Mark IV tanks against German defense lines during The First World War. Since the end of the Second World War, conceptually what defines a MBT has remained more or less unchanged.

Why not add a radar and a SAM too, also sea and air capabilities with stealth features 😅
Probably some sonar and anti sub technologies

 

[NSR]

Entirely new paradigm shift in Tank/APC/AFV/WhaP fighting.
Ukraine/Russia war shows that there is no effective defenses against any of the drones being used against them at all.

If one bunches the tanks together for air and missile defenses deployment, then they will be vulnerable to guided missile rockets or precision armor attacks.

Wakeup call for IA to find a solution.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Can't rule it out though. Islamabad has quite a lot of urban area we might at some point have to press into. But yeah no need to consider the possibility of urban war with China considering the hostile terrain, cant even get MBTs to properly function at that altitude . Also your suggestion I think is a bit too risky having AA systems moving in tandem with an armored columns just to deal with drones means those armored columns become that much more valuable prize for the adversary. AA systems aren't cheap and India will need LOTS of them considering Indian Airforce has a trash record against Pakis. Its the Army that has always carried the day. Not to Diss our aviators(we have material superiority and our geography is a net +ve) but Airforce is the one thing Pakis surpass us in as their whole schtick is to have a qualitatively superior air force to counter our numbers in air and on the ground. Their pilot's performance in the wars on the subcontinent and elsewhere proves this.

india and pakistan wars have largely avoided civilian areas and casualties. Battles have been fought between armies head on in open areas. Airstrikes on airbases and military targets. Attack on cities or civilian areas can lead to escalation leading to nuclear war.

 

[Ajay]

With suicide drones, Tanks today have become what an Aircraft carrier is to the Navy. Tanks and even artillery need an air defence system, either integrated or accompanying.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Tanks will be less important in next ten years as the missiles, loitering ammunition takes over the battlefield. Hence it is right time to rethink battle concept with Tanks. Indian Army is a bit late in realizing it but finally they are aware of it.

Not quite. As I said before, Tanks are still indispensable to enforce physical control of the battles pace. That aspect will not change and no matter the risks is unlikely to change anytime soon. However we may nevertheless witness a radical change in the definition of role of Tank in battles pace and also expect a major change in equipment.

 

[Sandeep]

Most of the tanks used were older Russian T72 tanks and they can easily be destroyed by modern ATGM which was supplied by the USA and Europe. Also most of the tanks supplied by the USA, UK and European countries were destroyed by Russian ATGM and they had an even stronger, thicker and modern armour with the latest technology but they still ended up being destroyed.

India has upgraded the T72 tanks with the latest technology which increased its armour protection, ERA, fire control system, thermal imaging, laser warning system, stronger engine, modern NBC protection, navigation system, fire suppression system, modern communication etc etc. Although India needs to replace these tanks with the FMBT which should be ready by 2025.

Russia did use bad tactics with no adequate heavy artillery, attack helicopters or IFV and had they moved in as an integrated force then they wouldn’t have lost so many armoured vehicles. Also NATO military officials did advise Ukraine on what they need, tactics, supplying its military and how to hold back Russia by placing anti tank blocks, mines and this allowed them to use the latest ATGM supplied from USA, UK and Europe on a sitting target as they try and go through it or around it.

 

[SuvarPakisareHomos]

Having larger/smaller fleet is not enough u should be able to mass produce quickly to compensate loses and indigenously

India definitely needs to make in India....we have a long way to go still. We still dont have our own tank engines....or aircraft engines...that is what needs to happen first.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Finally somebody who actually pays attention.
We still need armored columns to physically pierce enemy defenses and solidify territorial gains to achieve and solidify tactical/strategic gains. Now as he mentioned nothing is stopping MBTs themselves from incorporating loitering munitions, portable drones for added battlefield awareness and especially the possibility of wider inclusion of Rows(which modern IFVs usually have) into MBTs(relying on passive cope cages) without the need for posting gunners and significantly increased rate of interception will most definitely reinforce existing APS measures.
We already have tracked UGVs, still might be a couple of decades away from actual unmanned tanks, considering the potential risks involved including vulnerability that added automation brings in the form of susceptibility to cyber threats.

Precisely, when people just question the utility of tanks in the modern battlefield, due to the increasing number of threats in the battlefield it does not make sense. Its like saying since the ground infantry is so vulnerable against heavily defended positions, its outdated.

What it just means is that the MBT would have to evolve to counter new threats. True the unmanned tanks may still be few decades away until we can develop a sufficiently robust firewall and encryption to secure it. But we may as well see integration of UGV to work with tanks to clear out minefields or outflank enemy vehicles or positions.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Why not add a radar and a SAM too, also sea and air capabilities with stealth features 😅
Probably some sonar and anti sub technologies

U sir are being foolish. The cycle of technology evolution in weapon development has been same. First, u invented the spear then u had the shield, which then again drove the development of Pilum to pierce shields. Thus based on the historic technology evolution trend, its obvious that the Tanks themselves would be integrated with UAV in either tethered or untethered form to scout for targets and also feature a more comprehensive APS, which can theoretically double up as CIWS as well. Its not that difficult, its just that the Tank themselves would have to become more larger to accommodate all the electronics for radars, networking systems, equipment to support data linking and ammunition stowage.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Can't rule it out though. Islamabad has quite a lot of urban area we might at some point have to press into. But yeah no need to consider the possibility of urban war with China considering the hostile terrain, cant even get MBTs to properly function at that altitude . Also your suggestion I think is a bit too risky having AA systems moving in tandem with an armored columns just to deal with drones means those armored columns become that much more valuable prize for the adversary. AA systems aren't cheap and India will need LOTS of them considering Indian Airforce has a trash record against Pakis. Its the Army that has always carried the day. Not to Diss our aviators(we have material superiority and our geography is a net +ve) but Airforce is the one thing Pakis surpass us in as their whole schtick is to have a qualitatively superior air force to counter our numbers in air and on the ground. Their pilot's performance in the wars on the subcontinent and elsewhere proves this.

True moving SPAAG such as Gepard or Shilka in long armored columns just increases the vulnerability of the entire armored column. That is why it's best to provide tanks with some organic air defense capability. The base capability for that already exists in the form of APS which is designed to knock down incoming missiles and rockets and protect the tank. What it now needs is also to consider airborne threats such as loitering munitions or drones with IED. It's not that difficult, but would require a serious redesign of the future tanks as a system as well as the tank to accommodate all the electronics, networking, and data-linking apparatus.

They would invariably start to feature Auxiliary power packs as a standard feature to support sentry duties, in silent observation role. Also the Auxillary power system itself would have to be fairly large to adequately power up all the electronics for radars, networking and data linking equipment. Lastly, the gun used in active protection system would have to be a fairly large caliber of about 20mm to perform air defense duties. We may also expect two distinct set of guns in APS to provide protection against drones as well as RPG, missiles.

 

[Preet kohli]

With close to half a million soldiers dead on either side i I do not hear Infantry is in trouble. On the contrary see the videos Infantry has been hunted outside and inside bunkers by the FPVs.... Whereas armour atleast took it on the chin and saved the crew and the Infantry Sticks inside the BMPs... All assaults over open terrain by both sides have been led by armour.... Pl see the terrain... open flat fields with no cover... extensive minefields restricting movement to certain corridors.....So If anything Armour has been the saviour. Pl see videos again not the ones that West show .... Most crews lived to fight another day. Al

 

[Anant]

Having larger/smaller fleet is not enough u should be able to mass produce quickly to compensate loses and indigenously

Mass-production is important, but so is the survivability of each individual vehicle.

If numbers were all that were needed to win wars, we would be throwing stones at each other, since you just have to blast some rocks to get those in large numbers.

 

[das bab]

Future will be air borne warfare with automated search and destroy

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Why not add a radar and a SAM too, also sea and air capabilities with stealth features 😅
Probably some sonar and anti sub technologies

Already partially done, how do u think the Active Protection System works? it works by integrating a small radar to sense incoming projectiles.

 

[Siddharth Asthana]

Future will be air borne warfare with automated search and destroy

For your grandsons....for indian subcontinent with $2k per capita GDP and lack of technical graduation degrees in soldiers, it will take a generation (Read 25 years) before we start thinking widespread use of AI and other fancy gizmos...until then the brute muscle force of a foot soldier will prevail

 

[Siddharth Asthana]

Not every joe on our western border will be hauling an ATGM, so our Tanks will fare better just becasue the Joe wont be running on infinite resources with billions being poured by 20+ nations.
Plus, all future conflicts in Indian sub-continent will not be in densely populated areas but rather in rural open settings....so armour by default has an upper hand in those...if you start hauling even an Abrahams MK4 in the streets of any densely populated city, it will meet a similar fate of being blown up through surprise attacks with RPGs and MANPADs

 

[Hari Sud]

Not quite. As I said before, Tanks are still indispensable to enforce physical control of the battles pace. That aspect will not change and no matter the risks is unlikely to change anytime soon. However we may nevertheless witness a radical change in the definition of role of Tank in battles pace and also expect a major change in equipment.

The loss of tanks in Ukraine invalidates your point. Moreover the flying ammunition has totally reduced the front line role of the tank.