Officials: US to send rocket systems, other aid to Ukraine

[blue-wave]

Source: Associated Press via MSN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will send another $450 million in military aid to Ukraine, including some additional medium-range rocket systems, U.S. officials said Thursday.

The latest package will include a number of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and is expected to be anounced later Thursday. The initial four HIMARS that the U.S. sent have already gone into Ukraine and are in the hand of troops there. The package will also include ammunition and other supplies.

The new aid comes just a week after the U.S. announced it will send $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, and as the Russian military continues to slowly expand its control in the eastern Donbas region. Ukrainian leaders have persistently asked for the more advanced, precision rocket systems in order to better fight back against Russia. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details ahead of an announcement.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/world/officials-us-to-send-rocket-systems-other-aid-to-ukraine/ar-AAYN1Kz

[speak easy]

1. Why wasn't Ukraine, getting HIMARS, in numbers, two months ago?

Why isn't Ukraine getting Patriot systems to put around Kiev, Kharkiv and Odesa? Yes, it takes time to train the operators, but so do HIMARS.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

2. I remember seeing a few years ago...

...that there were a few AC-47s somewhere. What about sending those along with 100 million rounds of 6.72?

While we're at it, maybe a few dozen M-107s with a variety of purpose ammo including the 12.7×99 NATO HEIAP.

Bring a long gun, bring all your friends with long guns, bring your friends on crew served weapons and borrow money from them, they'll have an added incentive to protect you.

[James48]

4. 7.62, not 6.72.

EOM

[James48]

5. The only AC-47's still airworthy

Are owned by the Colombian government.

There are, however, some AD4 Skyraiders , and some A4D Skyhawks up for sale at the moment.

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?make=DOUGLAS&s-type=aircraft

[sl8]

8. Well, there's the AC-130 gunship

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_AC-130

[James48]

9. Except for two things.

Last edited Thu Jun 23, 2022, 10:58 PM - Edit history (1)

The AC-130 is very very expensive at about $200 million per plane, AND they are very vulnerable to modern Russian air defenses.

You could actually buy dozens of much less expensive airplanes for the cost and risk of an AC-130.

[sl8]

10. Absolutely

I don't think it would be particularly useful there, just pointing out that there is a successor to the AC-47 gunship.

[mitch96]

3. The HIMARS just got there. Denys in Ukraine just reported they have arrived...

He is a UKR commercial airline pilot that shows what's going and translates British intelligence updates on maps of the battle area.. Good stuff.
m

[blue-wave]

7. Yes, that is the first shipment of

HIMARS. This article is about another shipment. Hopefully with many, many more to come.

[oldsoftie]

6. SEND MORE FOR GODS SAKE. UKR needs to be FLOODED with arms.

And I'll say again; I think a lot of them should be armed drones.