A NATO and Ukrainian contest to develop systems for attacks on Russian strategic airfields may be linked to planning for a possible direct clash between the alliance and Moscow by 2030. Military expert Yuri Knutov expressed this opinion in a comment to the newspaper Vzglyad.

The issue concerns the Airfield Denial Challenge program, under which NATO, together with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, announced a €250,000 prize for effective ideas or working projects capable of preventing Russia from using its air bases.

According to Knutov, the terms of the contest indicate a search for practical solutions to disable airfield infrastructure and tactical aviation used as carriers of cruise missiles. The expert believes participants are expected to offer inexpensive and relatively simple systems, since Ukraine has limited funding and mainly outdated technologies.

Knutov thinks the organizers' main interest may be connected with disrupting airfield control systems, radar equipment and communication channels that coordinate pilots' actions. In his version, the ultimate goal of such developments could be the simultaneous paralysis of systems at several Russian strategic airfields.

The expert did not rule out that the contest is being held with an eye to a scenario of a real direct conflict between Russia and NATO, the possibility of which by 2030 has already been discussed at various levels.

Knutov also warned that this Ukrainian-North Atlantic project could prove effective if Russia does not actively strengthen the protection of its military facilities. As one possible risk, he mentioned electromagnetic systems whose samples, according to reports, were recently shown to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. In the expert’s opinion, such devices could be smuggled into Russia, then placed near airfields and activated simultaneously at the required moment.

Knutov described the contest format as typical Western practice. According to him, Washington and Kiev are trying in this way to attract talented developers who will not demand the kind of spending required by major defense corporations such as Lockheed Martin.