Why the Biden administration is giving new, heavier weapons to Ukraine

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

For the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US is providing Kyiv with the types of high-power capabilities some Biden administration officials viewed as too much of an escalation risk a few short weeks ago.

The $800 million list is driven not only by direct requests from Ukraine, but also in preparation for a new type of fight on the open plains of southeast Ukraine right next to Russia, terrain that plays into Russia's natural military advantages.

The new weapons package represents the starkest sign to date that the war in Ukraine is shifting -- and with it the weapons Ukraine will need if it hopes to continue to stymie a Russian military that has regrouped and resupplied after its initial failures in the opening weeks of the war.

The Biden administration announced the new package included 11 Mi-17 helicopters that had initially been earmarked for Afghanistan, 18 155 mm Howitzer cannons and 300 more Switchblade drones, in addition to radar systems capable of tracking incoming fire and pinpointing its origin.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/why-the-biden-administration-is-giving-new-heavier-weapons-to-ukraine/ar-AAWczCo

[James48]

1. That helps

Understand.

If the Mi -17’s are ones we control- then it is likely that The helicopters are cargo helicopters, not attack helicopters, but I could be wrong. We (the US Government) bought something like 62 factory overhauled helicopters from Russia. It was in 2010-2011. Our Army used some to train Afghanistan and Iraq pilots and crews.

[TomSlick]

2. Does Ukraine have soldiers trained on aiming and firing 155 howitzers?

It's not just a matter of yanking the lanyard.

[bluedigger]

4. It would be a pretty simple transition if they are already trained artillerymen.

Everything from a 60mm mortar to an 8 inch howitzer uses a sight and aiming stakes, or fancy gps tech these days, I suppose, but ballistics don't change. You just have to substitute the correct values for the ammo in the formula, and go boom. Probably a lot easier than training three man tank crews up from T-72s to four man crews on M-1s or Leopards, like everybody wants. Those are a lot different.

[Igel]

3. "Stymie."

Wrong verb.

Stymie = stalemale.

Stymie =/= win.

2015 wants its foreign policy back.