Lecture | Air War in Ukraine 2022-25: Are Air Forces Obsolete?

The Air War in Ukraine since 2022 has surprised all the western experts/pundits and all countries’ armed forces are struggling to catch up with the changes we are seeing.  In the UK, the last time our forces were significantly attacked from the air was in 1982, and before that, in 1943/44. Over history, it’s reckoned that more military aircraft have been destroyed by fire from the ground than by air fighting. Against a background of the story of Ground Based Air Defence since WW2, Lt Col (Retd) Mike Blair will explore the immense changes the Ukraine war shows, especially about drones, and how future war in the air, from ground level up, is changing.

Lt Col (Retd) Mike Blair was commissioned into the Royal Artillery TA in 1975, and in a short service commission in the regular Regiment from 1976 -1980, serving in 16 Regiment in Germany, Northern Ireland, Belize and England, he then left the regular army to take up a legal career.  Lt Col Blair continued serving in the TA/Reserves during the Cold War, commanding 212 (Highland) Battery 105 (Scottish) Regiment Royal Artillery, he went on to command 105 Regiment from 1994-97.  In all that time the Regiment’s role was Air Defence, in which he has retained an interest.  He is the present Chairman of the Royal Artillery Council in Scotland.

6.30pm Drinks Reception (Drink included in ticket price), 7.00pm Lecture Commences

£12 non members | £10 Friends