Many weapon systems sent to Ukraine or deployed by Russia have been characterised by at least some commentators as potential "game changers." From Javelin to Lancet and the Leopard 2, many new systems have been introduced and/or scaled up in use over the course of the war, and some have entered in dramatic fashion (as with the recent ATACMS strikes). In this episode I review a sample of "game changer" systems, discuss how we might evaluate whether or not a system deserves the title, and figure out what each did, or didn't, do to change the war in Ukraine. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PerunAU Caveats & Comments: Correction relating to the stated number of ATGM launchers and missiles in UA in 2022 - the 950 launchers are for relatively modern, long range systems. They exclude thousands of NLAWs, 9K111 and 9K115-2 missiles in UA hands. All normal caveats and comments apply. Relevant Reading/sourcing Credit to all featured twitter post creators including but not limited to - @COUPSURE, @Tatarigami_UA, and @Rebel44CZ Meatgrinder: Russian Tactics in the Second Year of Its Invasion of Ukraine – Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds https://static.rusi.org/403-SR-Russian-Tactics-web-final.pdf Rusia’s Artillery War in Ukraine: Challenges and Innovations – Sam Cranny-Evans: https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/russias-artillery-war-ukraine-challenges-and-innovations Stormbreak: Fighting Through Russian Defences in Ukraine’s 2023 Offensive – Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds https://static.rusi.org/Stormbreak-Special-Report-web-final_0.pdf Preliminary Lessons in Conventional Warfighting from Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: February–July 2022 -Mykhaylo Zabrodskyi, Jack Watling, Oleksandr V Danylyuk and Nick Reynolds https://static.rusi.org/359-SR-Ukraine-Preliminary-Lessons-Feb-July-2022-web-final.pdf Reporting on Javelin April 2022 https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukrainian-forces-get-crash-course-on-javelin-missiles-from-u-s-volunteers-11651224602 Featured Warzone article featuring revetments https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/widespread-destruction-seen-after-blasts-at-russian-base-in-crimea Lancet reported on https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/cheap-russian-drone-menace-ukrainian-troops-equipment-2023-06-28/ https://www.rferl.org/a/lancet-drones-russia-invasion-counteroffensive-kamikaze/32493513.html The Airbase strike https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/10/a-russian-drone-just-knocked-out-a-ukrainian-attack-jet-on-the-ground-at-its-base/?sh=3dd68049ae2f https://www.businessinsider.com/video-russian-lancet-drone-range-hits-ukrainian-mig-29-jet-2023-9 https://twitter.com/squatsons/status/1711835637211607527 Foreign components in Lancet https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2023/08/28/7417354/ And the successor: https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/russia_is_developing_the_scalpel_kamikaze_drone_a_cheaper_analogue_of_the_lancet_uav-7915.html 2023 Javelin reporting https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/05/ukraine-war-javelins-russia-tanks/ Various articles on hyped systems https://www.wsj.com/articles/himars-transform-battle-for-ukraine-modern-warfare-11665169716 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-has-destroyed-50-ammunition-depots-using-himars-war-with-russia-2022-07-25/ https://en.topwar.ru/226738-pressa-ssha-ukrainskaja-armija-lishilas-srazu-dvuh-shvedskih-tankov-strv122-unichtozhennyh-rossijskimi-dronami-lancet.html https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-receives-the-first-set-of-refurbished-leopard-tanks-from-poland/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/04/ukrainian-troops-recovered-one-of-their-damaged-strv-122-tanks-in-time-for-the-tank-to-meet-the-president/?sh=6e41797a7b4b https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2023/01/19/why-russias-terminator-vehicle-might-be-the-next-stage-in-tank-evolution/?sh=7e58ffed6228 https://www.newsweek.com/how-american-m777-howitzers-turning-tide-ukraine-war-russia-1705184 Featured images of artillery cages https://www.rferl.org/a/makeshift-armor-ukraine-war-invasion-mad-max/32369222.html https://www.reddit.com/r/TankPorn/comments/166lx4h/ukrainian_m109_with_antilancet_cage/ CSIS on Javelin https://www.csis.org/analysis/will-united-states-run-out-javelins-russia-runs-out-tanks https://www.csis.org/analysis/saint-javelin-limited-supply Timestamps 00:00:00 — Game Changers 00:01:30 — What Am I Talking About? 00:02:17 — Understanding "Game Changers" 00:08:41 — Javelin (and Other ATGMS) 00:15:50 — HIMARS, GMLRS & TOS-1A 00:26:34 — ATACMS 00:39:58 — the Lancet 00:49:58 — Leopards & Terminators 01:00:47 — Reflecting on "Game Changers" 01:03:07 — Conclusion 01:04:22 — Channel Update