David Deptula: Without Ukrainian air superiority, Russia will win the war

Ukraine needs effective aviation to win, as well as combat training that would enable decisive use of it. This was stated by retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula, as reported by Voice of America.

During a meeting of American generals, a specialized report was presented on potential ways to bolster Ukrainian positions in their confrontation with Russian warfare.

The report underscores the "absolute necessity for air superiority to achieve decisive victory in war." Furthermore, the authors of the report believe that Russia gained an advantage by imposing limitations on U.S.-provided weapons used by Ukraine.

General Deptula recently visited Ukraine where he advised military leadership on strategy, particularly in terms of aviation.

"The key lesson learned today is the absolute necessity for air superiority to achieve decisive military advantage," said General Deptula about the findings of the report, of which he is a co-author.

This would provide Ukrainian forces defense against enemy attacks and the freedom to conduct their own.

"A ground-centric approach has led to a war of attrition, where Russia holds the numerical advantage," according to the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, which convened prominent American generals for discussion on July 2.

Air superiority, participants argued, could provide Ukrainian Air Forces the edge necessary to break through Russian frontlines and alter the course of the war.

"It's time to start focusing on what victory looks like, not just avoiding daily defeats," organizers urged at the meeting.

They also emphasized that Ukrainian Air Forces have long operated under resource and capability constraints, hindering their ability to achieve desired air superiority.

Without such an advantage, assert American military experts, a war based on attrition favors the side with greater manpower and material resources—Russia.

The report authors proposed pathways through which Ukraine could conduct an integrated air-to-ground campaign to secure air superiority, strengthen their army on the battlefield, and reclaim territories occupied by Russia.