London delivers 3 (three) helicopters to Ukraine – why it still makes a difference British deliver ambulances to Ukraine ++ NATO supplies anti-drone jammers

Ben Wallace probably made several announcements during his visit to Oslo: during the meeting with countries that support Ukraine, the British defense minister is said to have announced the delivery of another 10,000 artillery ammunition. “Our support for Ukraine is unwavering,” he said at the meeting, according to the British Times.

So far, so normal for the UK. After the United States, the kingdom is one of the countries that have most supported Ukraine since the announcement of Putin’s “military operation”.

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A second announcement from the minister, on the other hand, could cause more excitement. In addition, Ukraine will receive three Westland WS-61 helicopters, also known as “Sea King”, from the British. This is reported not only by the “Times”, but also by other media. One of them is said to be in Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers are said to have been trained for six weeks to operate the helicopters.

Helicopter anti-submarine warfare?

In terms of number, three helicopters are not much at first. In addition, the devices were mothballed by the British Army in 2018 and are no longer used.

If the reports are correct, the delivery will be a first: for the first time since fighting began in late February, Ukraine would receive manned aircraft of Western design. And these could provide a decisive advantage in the defense of the Black Sea: because the “Sea Kings” are suitable for repelling submarines and possibly also ships.

“Three helicopters may not seem like much at first, but they represent a dilemma for the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” said military expert Christian Mölling of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in an interview with t-online. Are the “Sea Kings” changing the course of the war in Ukraine’s favor?

Memories of «Moskva»

The helicopters are actually intended for search and rescue operations. But some can also be equipped with torpedoes, depth charges and a machine gun, which should be of greater interest to Ukraine.

“If the helicopters can defend against submarines, that’s a new level of escalation,” military expert Gerhard Mangott of the University of Innsbruck told t-online.

But Christian Mölling also assumes that the helicopters can also attack targets above water in addition to submarines. In theory, it would be possible to sink ships the size of the “Moskva”. The Russian guided-missile cruiser was the largest ship in the Black Sea region. According to Ukraine and the United States, it sank in mid-April after being hit by two anti-ship missiles.

Does Germany need an explanation?

However, military expert Mölling believes that a comparable attack with helicopters should not take place: the presence of the “Sea Kings” alone could bring more security to the Ukrainians.

In the future, Vladimir Putin’s army should think very carefully about bringing one of their ships near the helicopters. The loss of another part of the Black Sea Fleet would not only be of great symbolic importance, it would also leave a “huge hole” in Russian planning, according to Mölling.

The delivery of the “Sea Kings” could create problems not only for the Russian army. This can also raise questions in NATO countries such as Germany, Italy or France. “If the British are the first to supply such weapons within NATO, the position of the German government will be more difficult to maintain,” said Gerhard Mangott of the University of Innsbruck.

Until now, all states have refrained from supplying heavy weapons such as main battle tanks or other armored vehicles. However, Mangott points out that the British government has internalized Ukraine’s war aims: “Like the Ukraine, the British pursue a maximum war goal: to expel all Russian troops.”

Bigger offensives again next year?

However, neither Gerhard Mangott nor Christian Mölling believe the helicopters will be the prelude to short-term deliveries of heavy weapons – although there is still a need for them. Long-range artillery rockets, in particular, would be useful in pressuring Russian forces deeper into their occupied territories. In addition, air defense is currently very important to protect critical infrastructure, adds Mangott.

Chances are that both sides will try to get through the winter months unscathed. Larger offensives by both camps are only conceivable in the spring. According to military expert Mölling, Ukraine can then count on new arms supplies from the US.