What the US can learn from Ukraine's military innovations | Opinion

America possesses the world’s most expensive military and arguably the most powerful armed forces ever assembled. It fields aircraft carriers, stealth bombers, advanced fighter aircraft, satellites, global logistics networks and weapons systems that cost billions of dollars to develop. On paper, a war between the United States and Ukraine would appear hopelessly one-sided.

But wars are not fought on paper.

Before Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia was widely regarded as possessing the world’s second-most-powerful military. Many analysts predicted that Ukraine would collapse within days or even hours. Instead, Ukraine has fought Russia to a standstill, inflicted enormous losses that amount to between 1.1 and 1.5 millions dead or wounded Russians, and shattered long-standing assumptions about modern warfare.

The most important lesson from the conflict has been Ukraine’s mastery of innovation. While Russia invested heavily in traditional military hardware, Ukraine transformed inexpensive drones into some of the most effective weapons on the battlefield. Small, relatively cheap systems have destroyed tanks, artillery, ships and strategic assets worth millions of dollars. Ukrainian engineers and soldiers continually adapt, often developing and deploying new technologies in weeks rather than years.

This stands in stark contrast to the procurement processes of many large militaries - including that of the United States. American military systems are extraordinarily capable, but they are also extraordinarily expensive and often bureaucratically slow to develop. Ukraine has demonstrated that agility may matter as much as technological sophistication.

Ukraine possesses another advantage that should not be underestimated: determination.

For more than four years, Ukrainians have fought for their national survival against a larger adversary. Their willingness to endure hardship, adapt to changing circumstances, and continue fighting despite heavy losses has surprised observers around the world. By contrast, recent American military campaigns have revealed the limits of military superiority when political will and public support erode over time. The wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrated that overwhelming military power does not automatically produce strategic success.

History repeatedly shows that motivation matters. Armies fighting for their homes and survival often outperform armies pursuing more abstract objectives.

If the United States and Ukraine somehow found themselves at war, the conflict would not simply be a contest between American technology and Ukrainian technology. It would be a contest between two very different military cultures. One emphasizes massive resources, sophisticated hardware and global power projection. The other emphasizes improvisation, decentralization, resilience and rapid adaptation.

The United States would enter such a conflict with enormous advantages. Yet Ukraine’s experience against Russia suggests that military power should not be measured solely by dollars spent or equipment possessed. The most dangerous military may not be the richest one. It may be the one that learns the fastest and has the most tenacity.

For that reason, it is conceivable that Ukraine could do to the United States what it has already done to Russia: expose the limits of traditional military thinking and demonstrate that innovation, adaptability and determination can sometimes outweigh sheer military might.

There is also a larger strategic lesson. It is disappointing that the Trump administration has increasingly appeared to shift away from Ukraine and toward positions that align more closely with the interests of Vladimir Putin. Such an approach may not only undermine a nation fighting for its survival but also work against American interests. Rather than distancing itself from Kyiv, the United States should be studying Ukraine’s remarkable military innovations, organizational agility and battlefield adaptability. An alliance grounded in mutual learning could strengthen both nations. Ukraine has demonstrated capabilities that could reshape Western defense thinking for decades to come. Of course, for that to be successful, American politicians might have to give up the military-industrial complex gravy train that brings jobs to their congressional districts and voters to their political parties to gain long-term advantages for the country.

William J. Rothwell is Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Academy Professor at Penn State, University Park. His opinions are his own and do not reflect the university’s.