Posted on 01/26/2023 9:03:18 PM PST by Zhang Fei
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is racing to boost its production of artillery shells by 500 percent within two years, pushing conventional ammunition production to levels not seen since the Korean War as it invests billions of dollars to make up for shortfalls caused by the war in Ukraine and to build up stockpiles for future conflicts.
The effort, which will involve expanding factories and bringing in new producers, is part of “the most aggressive modernization effort in nearly 40 years” for the U.S. defense industrial base, according to an Army report.
The new investment in artillery production is in part a concession to reality: While the Pentagon has focused on fighting wars with small numbers of more expensive precision-guided weapons, Ukraine is largely relying on howitzers firing unguided shells.
Before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, the U.S. Army’s production of 14,400 unguided shells a month had been sufficient for the American military’s way of war. But the need to supply Kyiv’s armed forces prompted Pentagon leaders to triple production goals in September, and then double them again in January so that they could eventually make 90,000 or more shells a month.
Unguided artillery shells have become the cornerstone of the 11-month-old conflict, with both Ukrainian and Russian troops firing thousands of howitzer rounds at each other every day, along a front line more than 600 miles long. These weapons are most likely responsible for the greatest percentage of war casualties, which U.S. officials have estimated at more than 100,000 on each side.
The Army’s decision to expand its artillery production is the clearest sign yet that the United States plans to back Ukraine no matter how long the war continues.
The ammunition the United States has sent to Ukraine includes not just the 155-millimeter shells for howitzers
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Ukraine ping
While 3,000 a day is the bare minimum necessary for Ukraine’s needs, other NATO countries are also expanding production. It’s instructive to compare this goal to the situation at the dawn of WWI, during which each major power was making at least 3,000 shells a day at the beginning. By its close, each of them was making in excess of 100,000 shells a day. Payroll for each of these efforts covered hundreds of thousands of workers. Using today’s manufacturing wages, labor costs alone would likely be tens of billions of dollars each, perhaps in excess of twenty. For 3,000 shells a day, the Pentagon is expecting to spend a billion a year on capital equipment.
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17011607
Shoulda become a defense contractor
Ukraine is America’s colony
Russia, using WW2 tactics all over again.
How many for the defense of Taiwan?
World War III has begun. And our leaders are living in denial
Taiwan will not be an artillery war. It'll be an air war similar to the Battle of Britain, only with missiles. It's over 100 miles from China to Taiwan and there is no way China can land an army without gaining air superiority first. The troop transports will be at see for hours making the crossing and they will be sitting ducks if Taiwan still has an air force.
I guess the good news is we or they don’t have enough arms left to have a real WW-III.
Replenishing is good. Continuing to supply Ukraine is insane: there is no path for Ukraine to win.
As Trump implied I am pretty sure this all ends with Nukes and very likely the war that ends all wars. The deep state is behind this.
Close, but not quite…. BRICS, et al will have to step up a bit for that.
US to Boost Aid to Micronesia in Exchange for More Military Access
The US and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are nearing a deal that would give more economic aid to the Pacific nation in exchange for more US military access to the islands, FSM President David Panuelo said on Friday.
The deal will be an extension of an agreement the US has with several Pacific island nations, known as the Compact of Free Association. Under these deals, the Pacific countries are treated similarly to US territories. They receive economic assistance from the US and fall under the protection of the US military in exchange for allowing US forces to operate in the countries.
The US is also allowed to deny other foreign militaries access to the Pacific Island nations. Extending the agreements and other US military expansion planned for the region is viewed in Washington as vital to US plans to confront China.
🔗Source: Antiwar.com
Good post. It’s time for production.
I am so sick of this crapfest. I pray for Biden, Putin and Zelensky, among others, to take a dirt nap and meet Jesus (briefyl), before their final destination.
There is only one direction it is heading. And that is full blown nuclear war. The Biden worshipers have joined the Neo Cons and Globalists in holy matrimony and they will accept nothing short of full scale nuclear war. And step by step they are moving to that. The only question remaining to be answered is, “How long will it take them to reach that point”?
Yep...unreal to see anyone okay with this....how much more funding -— with OUR tax dollars...while folks can barely buy food, pay rent, etc. -—
is enough, for Ukraine, EcoHealth, etc., with these people???
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