Ukraine Will Have Europe’s Most Powerful Army After the War

A U.S. Air Force F-15D Eagle fighter jet from the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing piloted by U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Rob Swertfager, Director of the State Partnership Program for California and 194th Fighter Squadron F-15 Eagle pilot, with General Viktor Muzhenko, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, taxi back to base during a State Partnership Program incentive flight Oct. 26, 2017. The purpose of the SPP is to enhance military ties and strengthen partnerships with nations around the world. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)

Just some mid-week musings:

Since the war began, the United States has directed more than $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine, much of it in the form of military hardware.

And that’s just the U.S. — this doesn’t consider the billions of dollars in military assistance sent to Ukraine from other European nations and allies.

To put that number in perspective, that would put Ukraine in the top five largest military spenders at number five:

1. United States: $877 billion

2. China: $292 billion

3. Russia: $86 billion

4. India: $81 billion

5. Ukraine: $75+ billion

This staggering sum donated in the form of defense hardware means Ukraine has, on paper at least, a larger standing fighting force than other notable European heavyweights like Germany or Poland.

Perhaps more impactful, the Ukrainian armed forces now have more combined battlefield experience than any other European nation and are becoming the bona fide experts at combating Russian tactics and strategy.

Even the United States, which has perpetually been at war somewhere in the world for the past 100 years or so, doesn’t have any recent…