Posted on 06/21/2024 4:41:53 PM PDT by Mariner
The Biden administration’s decision to temporarily halt deliveries of Patriot and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS interceptors for all countries except Ukraine and Taiwan won’t just affect allied air defense capabilities.
Patriot interceptors can only be used on the Patriot system, at least for now. The primary weapon for NASAMS is the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), which is also the most widely used western beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, as we explained in our deep dive here.
As such, it is a critical component of many Foreign Military Sales (FMS) the U.S. has for combat aircraft and to arm existing fighter fleets, as well as countries with NASAMS. In response to Russia’s ongoing attacks on cities and civilian infrastructure, the White House opted to put Ukraine at the top of the list for hundreds of missiles for both the Patriot and NASAMS, a National Security Council spokesman told reporters, including from The War Zone, at a Thursday morning press conference. “We’re going to reprioritize the deliveries of these exports so that those missiles rolling off the production line will now be provided to Ukraine,” John Kirby said, adding that while the other countries will have to wait, it is only a temporary delay, through Fiscal Year 2025.
The missiles will begin arriving in Ukraine in the coming weeks and certainly by the end of the summer, Kirby said. That dovetails with the pending delivery of U.S.-made F-16s that can carry AMRAAMs. While the interceptor decision focuses on Ukraine, Kirby said Taiwan will not be affected. Taiwan, which is facing a quickly expanding cross-channel threat from China, is a major user of the AIM-120 and has ordered batches of the missiles. Last year, the State Department approved the possible sale of 200 AIM-120C-8 missiles to that island nation.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
The Pacific where we have multiple strategic and commercial interests that dwarf those in Europe...much less Ukraine...will be sacrificed on the Ukrainian alter.
The US is being run by people who hate America and Americans.
What the heck are they thinking about.
It’ll be over 700 AIM-120s.
About what would be expended defending Taiwan or Japan or So Korea from the Chinese.
In the first 60 days.
We probably do not have the munitions to accomplish that task now and the Chinese could roll...suffering heavy initial losses...but prevailing over the long term.
the DC deepstate CIA/State/MIC crony Congress neocon apparat will send US kids to die before backing down from their drugged proxy war
-fJRoberts-
The US needs way more missile production capacity for its confrontation with China. This is not a short term issue. The first step is to give Raytheon a large order book for these, to pay for increased capacity.
You are focusing on the short term, we should be looking at the medium term.
And don’t go on about defense industry political kickbacks from Raytheon. If you are serious about China then you have to deal with Raytheon.
Personally I would ask Musk run Raytheon, as a national emergency measure, but I suppose he has better things to do.
After screwing Uncle Sam, MICs use FMS as his bread and butter sustenance
You are far more likely to see US kids dying in a China war.
There isn’t really going to be a man in the middle there. The Taiwanese and the Filipinos will do what they can, but it will be the USN and the USAF bearing the load from day 1.
Biden can’t take another Afghanistan pullout fiasco. Look for him to whatever it takes to prop up Ukraine until after the election.
As above, you cannot be blasting the MIC (military-industrial complex) if you need missiles.
You have to learn to love Raytheon.
Anything else is incoherent.
As for FMS (foreign military sales), that’s how you get some other people shooting at your enemies, plus supporting your production capacity. The history is interesting. FMS in the late 1930’s primed US industry (particularly in aircraft production) to meet US needs. US military orders at the time would not have done this.
Which is why you are (at the moment) arguing over pennies when you need megabucks.
Agreed on Raytheon.
Send them the order for 10,000 units.
Exactly so. I’m glad we agree.
This is the primary reason I was opposed to giving Ukraine F-16s. Now they are able to loot and then squander our stocks of missiles and other high tech weapon systems for our tactical fighters.
Heck, we might as well give the Ukrainians F-22s because they are pretty worthless without weapons to hang on them - which is what they will be after Biden is through bowing through our inventory.
What are they thinking ?????
Well...they are not thinking, or they don’t know history. Ukraine needs to be wiped out because it exists only for the Nazi’s that have operated through Ukraine during and since WW2 It must be completely wiped out and turned over to Russia, you know, the country that the U.S.A. cooperated WITH during WW2. Let Russia send the Nazis down to Spain with the others.
Good. Then you have time to get missile production up.
I suggest ypu call your congressman to back Mariners idea to place a 10,000 unit order with Raytheon.
The next war is going to start when China declares a blockade of Taiwan. Or maybe sooner, if they start sinking Philippine Coast Guard vessels.
Ukraine isnt going to be it.
The better alternatives can include Raytheon upgrading their tech. But more likely it will be something other than Raytheon missiles.
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