ANALYSIS: Ukraine War Proves Big Guns Are Back.

• Author: Peck, Michael

For centuries, artillery was called the king of battle, and great commanders relied on masses of cannons to dominate the battlefield. But then came the invention of the airplane. Since 1945, "flying artillery" has replaced big guns as the favored source of fire, especially in advanced Western-style militaries such as those of the United States, NATO nations and Israel. Mobile, long-range and glamorous, aircraft were seen as a high-tech, low-manpower instrument for delivering precision strikes in conflicts such as Vietnam, Sinai and Desert Storm. But the Ukraine war has been different. Airpower has played a relatively limited role, while artillery has emerged as the dominant weapon. For both sides, how to employ--or destroy --those howitzers and multiple rocket launchers has become a priority.

Ukraine may offer a glimpse into the future of artillery. As Russia's erstwhile blitzkrieg fizzled into trench warfare, the conflict has become the infantry's nightmare but the gunner's laboratory. On display in Ukraine is the full panoply of modern artillery: a bewildering array of towed howitzers, truck-mounted cannons, self-propelled armored guns and multiple rocket launchers manufactured by numerous nations. "Ukraine is providing a very good study when assessing the future of artillery," said Nick Reynolds, land warfare analyst for Britain's Royal United Service Institute.

At the least, it suggests that cannons are back with a bang.

There are local reasons why air-power has not been a major factor in Ukraine, such as the small number of Ukrainian aircraft or the timidity of the Russian Air Force. Despite initial successes, even attack drones have become less effective.

But in an era of high-performance air-defense systems, airpower may have less freedom to operate in contested skies such as Eastern Europe or Taiwan. At the same time, highly expensive aircraft and limited stockpiles of smart munitions may be allocated to distant targets in the enemy flank, rather than close-air support.

While less flexible than aircraft, artillery does offer firepower 24/7 under any weather conditions and without relying on airbases vulnerable to bombardment.

The Russo-Ukraine War also highlights the importance of range. With its pre-war Soviet-era artillery being pummeled by Russian counterbattery fire, Ukraine quickly clamored for longer-range Western artillery and rockets. Delivery of U.S. and NATO 155mm and 105mm howitzers--and especially M142 High-Mobility...