The theme of this war is “Keep Calm and Attrit On” followed by “Keep Calm and Adapt Fast”. Your opening from Lawrence Freedman says it all. The attrition will set things up for quick maneuver. Maintaining strategic and political patience are essential, but the US needs to be faster and more proactive in providing what Ukraine requires to succeed in this war. Perhaps it is in the US foreign policy establishment where the most and fastest learning and adaptation must take place (looking at Jake Sullivan and his ilk) who fail to see evidence in front of their face with how to read and deal with Russia.
The first step in a “Minefields Manhattan Project” is providing the UAF with enough Air Power to gain air superiority over the immediate point of attack. A strong bombing attack against the minefields in front of the point of attack and the ability - along with artillery and drones - to curtail enemy counter battery and counter attack options could go a long way towards allowing the UAF mine clearing operation to successfully clear a path thought the minefield. As long as the Russians have the ability to interdict UAF minefield clearing operations (with their limited capability) at the point of attack, any frontal attack will be difficult and costly. While I agree that new technology and ideas are needed to address this problem, in the short term, air interdiction seems to give the best probability of success.
The theme of this war is “Keep Calm and Attrit On” followed by “Keep Calm and Adapt Fast”. Your opening from Lawrence Freedman says it all. The attrition will set things up for quick maneuver. Maintaining strategic and political patience are essential, but the US needs to be faster and more proactive in providing what Ukraine requires to succeed in this war. Perhaps it is in the US foreign policy establishment where the most and fastest learning and adaptation must take place (looking at Jake Sullivan and his ilk) who fail to see evidence in front of their face with how to read and deal with Russia.
The first step in a “Minefields Manhattan Project” is providing the UAF with enough Air Power to gain air superiority over the immediate point of attack. A strong bombing attack against the minefields in front of the point of attack and the ability - along with artillery and drones - to curtail enemy counter battery and counter attack options could go a long way towards allowing the UAF mine clearing operation to successfully clear a path thought the minefield. As long as the Russians have the ability to interdict UAF minefield clearing operations (with their limited capability) at the point of attack, any frontal attack will be difficult and costly. While I agree that new technology and ideas are needed to address this problem, in the short term, air interdiction seems to give the best probability of success.