You are right. Since there are none of the needed weapons or ammo available (they have not been manufactured yet), the $61 would have had no effect for months. I suppose DC could palletize $61 billion in cash. The Ukes could throw bundles of hundred dollar bills at the attacking Russians if we got the cash there in time.
There are many months of backlogged 155mm ammo produced, plus large stocks of 155mm and HIMARS cluster munitions. There were vast stocks lined up for disposal and these were barely nibbled at.
Other critical items that can be immediately shipped are Patriot missiles, which have run very low in Ukraine, AMRAAMS for the NASAMS systems, ATACMS of the cluster variant, TOW, Javelin and misc other missiles.
Add the very large numbers of GLSDB that were just entering production before shipments were halted.
US gave 200 Vietnam era M113's to Ukraine, while having 5,000 in storage. The Iraqi Army received 1,026 M113A2
US gave Ukraine 190 older Bradleys while 2,000 are in storage. Currently the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle is being developed to replace the Bradley.
US gave Ukraine 31 Abrams tanks, while it has 3,100 in storage.
US gave Ukraine 20 ATACMS, while hundreds of older variants will have to be destroyed due to questions of reliability. The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is being currently tested and will replace the ATACMS.
US retiring planes(F15 and A10) instead of transferring to Ukraine:
Defense bill would let Air Force retire A-10s, F-15s
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/12/07/defense-bill-would-let-air-force-retire-a-10s-f-15s-but-not-f-22s/ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies