METO Guido

You know very well ‘they’ can. Fund it, they will deliver. There are no sure bets. At the window, in a war, upon the altar.

CLazarus

If I were President for a Day, I'd tell the DOD to stop worrying about its artillery stockpiles (and probably armored vehicles, HIMARs rockets, etc.). We can restock our arsenal later as production catches up. No matter how much of that stuff we send forward, we would still have aerial weapons aplenty that can easily serve our short term needs. The Battle of Khasham in Syria comes to mind as an example of how lopsided an advantage we have, even when the enemy is allowed to mass unmolested and initiate an attack on its terms.

Excargodog

You clearly have never worked in military procurement.

https://defense360.csis.org/bad-idea...-dod-spending/

Excargodog

Well, I suppose one can always fall back on the nukes, but with ongoing wars in Ukraine, the Red Sea, much of the Middle East, and s potential major disagreement with China over Taiwan, the supply of nonnuclear munitions is getting a little skosh. Boeings troubles (and strike) don't exactly help Either - nor the fact that no one but the Marines is making their recruiting goals lately. Then there is the problem with transporting such munitions. Most of the major munitions plants are either government owned and contractor operated and have in peacetime been set up for a low continuous production or are defense contractor owned and optimized for efficient production, not volume production. Neither has proven amenable to a dramatic surge in production in an era of supply chain and personnel shortages.

https://warontherocks.com/2023/03/mu...onal-security/

As I have said repeatedly, we can certainly use tactical nukes, but there are potential risks and downsides to that option. Both for us and for our allies. It is definitely not a strategy for the faint of heart.

Part of the mutual assurance of destruction is the necessity to use or lose all your nukes if the other guy initiates against yours. Even taking out his early warning system for nuclear attack risks upping the ante considerably - even if it is dual purpose nuclear and conventional since it may be interpreted as clearing the way for an all out nuclear attack.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/06/opini...man/index.html

METO Guido

You can’t be serious. Guns & ammo, that’s what we do. Failing to collect payment on overdue accounts, pretty good at that too unfortunately.

Excargodog

We do it - but not very fast. How long have we been trying to replace the KC-135s?

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/ai...xt-gen-tanker/


The T-38?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/bu...acement-210402

KC-46?

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/re...ing%20aircraft.


How long did it take the Navy to develop and field the Zumwalt class (of three ships) and the LCS series (both of which were unmitigated disasters). Or their new frigate design which was approved only two years ago but is already three years behind schedule?

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-
106546

We positively suck at prompt delivery of anything.

Don't believe me? Ask Zelensky...
https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/09/...ed-to-ukraine/

Excargodog

https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-updates-ammo-depot-in-russias-tver-region-explodes/live-

Ukraine updates: Ammo depot in Russia's Tver region explodes

Published 9 hours agoPublished 9 hours agolast updated 4 hours agolast updated 4 hours agoA major Ukrainian drone attack on Russia caused a huge explosion in a large Russian arsenal in the western Tver region. DW has more.

METO Guido

Got to go with what we got. Said it yourself more than once. Can’t stop now. The bastards aren’t going to get anything close to what they came for. Because If they did, we’re finished anyway.

Excargodog

We have been going with what we got. But it isn't enough. Not while still being capable of responding in Israel, Taiwan, and a lot of other places. Had our NATO allies not disarmed themselves over the last 30-50 years it would no doubt have been better. But even now, 2 and a half years into this war, their defense industrial base is worthless as tits on a boar hog:

https://cepa.org/article/the-draghi-...allow-reality/

and here is a blast from the past:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66984944

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2023/02/18/french-military-lacks-ammunition-for-high-intensity-conflict_6016329_5.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68273449

METO Guido

Even more to the point, imo. Run them out of Odesa, the rest of the free world’s crown jewels become more secure overnight. Beneath an unbroken promise to liberate one blue & yellow standard. Going to have to win this thing. No doubt about it.