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The ongoing war in Ukraine has brought to light a significant shift in military strategy, revealing that weapons once deemed obsolete are now proving to be essential in modern combat scenarios. NATO countries are currently scrambling to replenish their arsenals, as the conflict reveals the urgent need to reevaluate their defense capabilities.

In a notable development last week, Finland joined several other European nations in repealing a long-standing ban on anti-personnel land mines. This decision aligns with similar moves made by Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, all of which have announced their intention to abandon the 1997 Ottawa Treaty that prohibits the use, manufacture, and sale of these contentious weaponry. The rationale behind this strategic shift is clear: these countries are fortifying their borders with Russia, as the Kremlin intensifies its military focus amid worsening relations with the West.

While the Ukraine conflict has certainly showcased advanced military technologies, such as drones and precision-guided missiles, it has also underscored the enduring value of more rudimentary weapons like shells and land mines. As Europe transitions into what has been described as 'an era of rearmament,' nations are coming to the realization that they need to invest in traditional weaponry that they had previously dismissed as outdated in the context of modern, tech-centric warfare.

Ukraine has effectively utilized land mines to impede the advance of the much larger Russian military, creating stalemated conditions in the east and south of the country. These mines serve a dual purpose: they not only slow down enemy advances but also funnel Russian troops into defensible positions for Ukrainian forces.

Despite the advanced precision-guided missiles provided by NATO to support Ukraine, these high-tech weapons are vulnerable to Russian electronic jamming techniques that disrupt the signals necessary for their guidance. In contrast, traditional artillery shells, while less sophisticated, are not hindered by such electronic warfare, making them a more reliable option.

In response to the renewed demand for conventional munitions, Ukraine's European allies have ramped up shell production. However, NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli, recently informed the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia is on track to amass a stockpile of artillery shells that could be three times greater than the United States and Europe combined. This alarming statistic highlights the urgency for NATO to bolster its own ammunition capabilities.

A recent analysis from the Royal United Services Institute, a prominent defense think tank based in the UK, indicated that European governments had anticipated that private defense contractors would resolve the ammunition production dilemma. Unfortunately, they failed to create the necessary incentives or regulatory framework to facilitate this outcome.

Paul van Hooft, a leader in defense research at RAND Europe, explained to Business Insider that the current threat posed by Russia is starkly different from what Western military leaders had been preparing for in recent decades. For the last thirty years, NATO forces were primarily focused on addressing asymmetric threats from insurgent groups, such as those encountered in Afghanistan, where the utility of land mines and shells was minimal. However, the nature of warfare has sharply shifted back towards conventional land battles, necessitating the defense of extensive territories.

While artillery may be seen as outdated technology, its effectiveness is greatly enhanced when used in conjunction with modern surveillance technologies like drones. Mark Cancian, a senior advisor with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, remarked that as the conflict in Ukraine has settled into a more static phase, the value of traditional munitions like shells and land mines has become increasingly evident. He stated, These weapons become useful, even dominant, whenever the front lines stabilize. He further explained that although maneuver warfare can complicate the deployment of such weapons, they become straightforward to utilize when armies are entrenched in static positions.

In the context of the Ukrainian battlefield, drones have proven to be invaluable for monitoring troop movements, identifying command posts, and marking targets for artillery strikes. Cancian also cautioned against military planners becoming overly enamored with futuristic warfare concepts, especially as billions of dollars are funneled into European defense budgets and military tech startups compete for contracts to develop cutting-edge drones and AI-integrated weapons. He emphasized the continued importance of artillery, stating, Artillery-firing, unguided munitions are still critical, and reminded that the anticipated scenario of the next war being fought solely by small teams with precision munitions has not materialized.