Wed Sep 18 01:38:40 UTC 2024: ## Russia’s Military Grows Despite Heavy Losses in Ukraine, US Officials Warn

**WASHINGTON** – Despite suffering heavy casualties in Ukraine, Russia’s military is becoming larger and more capable, according to US Air Force General James Hecker, commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Africa.

“They are actually larger than they were when [the invasion] kicked off,” Hecker told reporters at the Air & Space Forces Association’s annual conference. He added that Russia’s military will be a “long-term challenge” for the US, regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine.

Hecker’s statement comes as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced a planned expansion of the Russian military by 180,000 active-duty troops, bringing the total to 1.5 million soldiers, making it the second largest army in the world behind China’s.

While some experts believe this move is a sign of Russia’s strength, others like William Pomeranz of the Kennan Institute, see it as a sign of weakness. “This is an open signal from Vladimir Putin that his army and his military is in trouble and doesn’t have the resources to maintain troops in the field,” Pomeranz said.

Despite Russia’s growth, Ukraine has been able to inflict heavy losses on the Russian military, including the destruction of over 100 Russian aircraft, far more than Russia has been able to destroy on the Ukrainian side. This has led to a stalemate in the air, with both sides struggling to gain air superiority.

To counter Russia’s numerical advantage, Ukraine has relied on low-cost solutions, like drones, which have proven effective against more expensive Russian equipment. This strategy has also caught the attention of the US military, who are looking for ways to reduce costs while maintaining effectiveness.

One such solution is the US Space Force’s “Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking Program”, which uses commercial satellite imagery to provide situational awareness for military operations. This program has been proven to be more cost-effective than traditional reconnaissance drones, and has been used to maintain situational awareness during the US withdrawal from air bases in Niger.

The US is also exploring other cost-effective solutions, such as the “Sky Fortress” system used by Ukraine, which employs thousands of inexpensive sensors to detect aerial threats. This technology has been demonstrated in Romania and other countries.

While the US and its allies are concerned about the growth of Russia’s military, they are also confident in their ability to counter Russian aggression through innovation and cost-effective solutions.

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