Viking is designed for last-mile supply and would only occasionally be pressed into a 20-mile route. How far vehicles remain exposed depends on local control of the air, which varies across the Ukrainian front. The comparison with Afghanistan and Iraq argues that experience under relatively uncontested skies left NATO ground forces poorly prepared for renewed air threats. Israel's Trophy system provides an example of dedicated vehicle protection. Many NATO tanks are described as relying until recently on manually aimed machine guns for air defence, despite the alliance itself operating capable attack helicopters.
Notable Point · 1:21:43-1:24:44
Contested skies change the last-mile supply problem
Viking's useful supply range depends on local air threats, and experience in Afghanistan and Iraq helps explain the protection gaps exposed by drones.