Is Ukraine about to have a war?
Not many of our leaders act with the dignity, courage, leadership that Zelenskyy exhibits every day. The Baltic countries seem to be bestowed with some fine leaders at present, but for our own, and the rest of the UN, what on earth did we all do to deserve such a lack of fortitude? Here is a true leader, and war fighters prepared to defend their country against blatant aggression by a brutal neighbour, and we continue to vacillate on giving them the tools to defend themselves. Ukrainians are dying because of our leaders lack of moral fortitude, and our concerns on the price of a gallon of gas. As a consequence of the half hearted response that has been given, more Russian cannon fodder will also be turned into fertiliser.
I'll correct myself a bit, as the question is more regards the Leo 1 which has been offered by Rheinmetall to Ukraine and of which there are existing stocks for sale waiting with Bundeswehr.
The Leo 1 has more to do with US manufactured parts as it had a Cadillac-Gage stabilization system for the main gun.
The Leo 2 is more or less European build except for eg the Trophy system which is of Israeli origin. But that wouldn't concern the US.
I believe our friends across the pond are saying it's quite ok to deliver the Leo 1's to Ukraine on their behalf.
The Leo 1 has more to do with US manufactured parts as it had a Cadillac-Gage stabilization system for the main gun.
The Leo 2 is more or less European build except for eg the Trophy system which is of Israeli origin. But that wouldn't concern the US.
I believe our friends across the pond are saying it's quite ok to deliver the Leo 1's to Ukraine on their behalf.
All I know about it is from the news: as Germans were reluctant to grant the permit the Spanish took a time out on the delivery. After a while they said that the Leos weren't in good enough condition anyway to be sent due to being in storage for so long and declined the deal.
what is the real truth behind that... I have no idea.
Anyway, this is pretty standard procedure: In January Estonia wanted to provide Ukraine with 122mm howitzers they earlier had bought from Finland, which had bought those from Germany in the 90s. Finland said "fine with us" but Germany vetoed that as well at that point in time (later on the germans gave up and allowed the delivery).
The first one is a Stugna that flew into the terrain. The second's a Javelin.
Germany is still under very strict post WW2 arms export regulations. They were not permitted to export anything into active war zones or let weapons be transferred later on. Only the recent government changed this with APCs, Gepard, Leopard and Panzerhaubitze 2000 and other such direct assistance deliveries right to Ukraine.
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Well the Gepards are built on a Leopard 1 chassis
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Putins wittering on about nukes again but appears to be indicating they would be only used in response to a strike if the subtitles are correct.
https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/...27737021730816
https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/...27737021730816
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Stunning photography of tragic scenes in Europe 2022.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
If that intake of breath at 5 seconds in, is Putin, he has something nasty inside.
The astounding, and somewhat discomforting, element of this war is the massive amount of near-real time, high resolution, photographic and video coverage, not from journalists and media outlets in the main, but from what are often called "citizen journalists". I salute them for what they are doing. Hopefully their actions may help to persuade the youngsters that glorify war in video games that war is always bloody, tragic and a needless and brutal waste of life. If they also get the message that it is the human ego that creates wars like this, and that being egotistical is not a positive character attribute, then so much the better.
Sadly I'm cynical enough to doubt that many will take heed of any of the above.
Sadly I'm cynical enough to doubt that many will take heed of any of the above.
US not screwing around, this is the proposed 2023 spending plan
Section 1244 (Temporary Authorizations Related To Ukraine and Other Matters) of the proposed 2023 NDAA released Tuesday calls for the procurement of:
Section 1244 (Temporary Authorizations Related To Ukraine and Other Matters) of the proposed 2023 NDAA released Tuesday calls for the procurement of:
- 864,000 155mm rounds, including XM1128, XM1113, M107, and M795 rounds;
- 2,050 155m Excalibur M982A1 rounds;
- 12,000 AGM–179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM);
- 700 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
- 1,700 MGM–140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS);
- 2,600 Harpoons;
- 1,250 Naval Strike Missiles;
- 106,000 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS);
- 3,850 PATRIOT Advanced Capability–3 (PAC–3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles;
- 5,600 FIM–92 Stingers;
- 28,300 FGM–148 Javelins;
- 5,100 AIM–120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM);
- 2,250,000 Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS);
- 950 Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM);
- 3,100 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM);
- 1,500 Standard Missle–6 Missiles (SM–6); and
- 5,100 Sidewinder Missiles (AIM–9X).
Last edited by rattman; 7th Dec 2022 at 21:56.
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Thanks, it makes sense now
