Is there a “stockpile” of these things, though? As in ready to go in the sort of numbers that would make a significant difference to the war?
Both sorts of missiles are heavily used already, and the ones we are talking about have a relatively limited range (at least in terms of the size of Russia). One has to assume that those targets that can be assessed as at risk are already identified by the Russians and measures taken to protect or move them, given the extensive telegraphing of this decision.
Our governments are risking a ridiculous amount and probably in order to make a token gesture, if this is what it is. Personally I very much hope this is decoy chat because it is moronic otherwise.
If we’re going to make decisions like this, then as I have said since this war started government needs to make preparations for the potential outcomes and there has to be a significant effect for what they want to do. There has to be clear evidence that we - NATO - are prepared to be capable of responding to them. I am not sure that we ever have shown anything like that, at any point in the crisis. How much has our defence budget increased again? How many more troops, tanks and aircraft do we have? How larger are our defence stockpiles and industrial base?
Let’s break this down into LR precision fires that are under discussion:
ATACMS
There’s a stockpile of M57’s that the US shipped as I believe the motors were in need of upgrade to meet US milspec. That along with the introduction of PrSM meant the M57’s were obsolete. They have a range of 300km (more than enough to hit Ru airfields, C2/C3, logistic hubs and troop concentrations in Russia. Ukraine initially got a load of M39’s (which they burnt through very quickly by knocking out sites in Crimea). And then they got the M57’s. (The US had a pile of about 400)
They are ground launched medium range ballistic missiles launched from either HIMARS or M270’s.
Stormshadow/SCALP-EG
Ukraine got an initial load of these from UK/France. They are air-launched (Su-24) cruise missiles with a range of ~300Km.
Both UK and France have shipped more batches (so much so that UK’s stock is significantly reduced and we’re talking to the Germans about buying Taurus from them to replenish).
JASSM (AGM-158)
This is the latest LR deep-strike weapon under discussion. It’s an air-launched cruise missile and USAF and UKAF are currently modifying their SU-24/34’s to carry this weapon. It has a range of 370km again it brings key Russian targets into range. The US has hundreds of these in stock ready to ship.
If Russia decides to move the targets out of range because of these weapon systems then that’s a win in my book. It means their supply and logs lines are stretched further, it’s more costly and it takes time, effort, resources to move these facilities about and they are vulnerable when they are open, exposed and in transit.
The entire defence manufacturing and procurement programs for NATO nations have gone supercharged over the last 18 months. If you had shares in MBDA, NG, Thales, Rheinmetal or Raytheon then you’d be happy bunny about now.
www.bbc.co.uk
Even a photo of them on the forum would be most impressive...
Even a photo of them on the forum would be most impressive...
