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Matthiey t1_iy4m597 wrote

Reply to comment by Culverin in US eyes long-range rockets for Ukraine as arms supplies dwindle by likeiamnoone

Look, the US needs to get rid of obsolete or near obsolete inventory, not to mention that that inventory needs to be replaced by Lockheed Martin and friends as well as lining a couple Senators' pockets on buying shares from them. Do you REALLY think that having a short war is in ANYONE's interest save for the Ukrainians?

The help is not half-assed. It's full ass to milk this situation for all it is worth.

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Culverin t1_iy4ntmn wrote

That's a bit too simplistic. It's not just about replenishing inventory levels.
Ukraine is also free advertising for the might of the American military industrial complex. The more it can flex on the Russians, the better it looks.

For context, Poland previously had 20 HIMARS on order.

Now they want 500 units.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/05/27/poland-eyes-500-us-himars-launchers-to-boost-its-artillery-forces/

That's not rockets, that's the actual vehicle launch system.

How throw in the parts and service, the supply vehicle and the rocket reloads,

and now Poland sees how much ammo is needed for a sustained fight?

You're thinking medium amount of milking it. Ukraine only has 16 HIMARS at this point.

This Poland result is the big picture of milking it.

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Jebus_UK t1_iy52j0i wrote

Plus you know....at about 20 billion for a war that destroys one of the USAs biggest threats or at least sets it back 20 years with zero US casualties, well it's a bargain. I mean it needs to happen don't get me wrong but it suits the US and NATO to have a perma weakened Russia.

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Matthiey t1_iy4og0t wrote

As of last week, it's actually 20 HIMARS but, yes, this has been the best PR event for US military engineering firms.

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grchelp2018 t1_iy4ykdu wrote

Poland is buying big because they hate russia. As soon as russia acted out, they were going to place a big order. Are countries far removed from the russian threats suddenly increasing their US mil purchases?

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imjesusbitch t1_iy5gsxz wrote

Ya that article was from May and the US waited until June to send HIMARS to Ukraine. Not really the best example. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia all ordered some shortly after seeing them in action in Ukraine. Though I'm not sure if they were planning to get them before the war.

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digginghistoryup t1_iy656lo wrote

Didn’t Poland decide to buy South Korea mobile rocket launchers instead because they are readily available?

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arnicticon t1_iy4s7un wrote

Peace is maintained by superior weaponry. That's sorta how things have always worked.

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All_Work_All_Play t1_iy4tv75 wrote

Superior weaponry and rational actors on both sides of the table. The latter is missing, at least on Russia's side. Well, they're also missing weaponry too...

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