"US ATACMS: Fueling Russia's Stinger Missile Surge in 2023?"

The UK Ministry of Defence has claimed that Russia lost 14 helicopters in strikes by Ukraine using US-provided Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), highlighting the potential game-changing role of the missile system for Ukraine, similar to the impact of US-provided Stinger missiles for the Afghan mujahideen in the 1980s. While ATACMS and Stinger missiles are different, their ability to alter the dynamics of a conflict during a frontline impasse shows initial similarities. The loss of helicopters is expected to impact Russia's ability to defend its assets in contested territories and its ongoing offensive against Ukraine.