Article

2023-01-12 -Short Attention Span Theater-

Navy Secretary Carlos del Toro is 'concerned' that within the next six months the US Navy won't be able to arm both itself AND Ukraine – urging contractors to boost production to meet the demand

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Posted by Skidmark 2023-01-12 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [8 views ] Top

#1 That explains the sudden rush to reemploy CNC machinists.

Posted by badanov 2023-01-12 00:37|| 2023-01-12 00:37|| Front Page Top

#2 "In 4-to-6 months we will run out of ...pronouns!"

Posted by magpie 2023-01-12 01:31|| 2023-01-12 01:31|| Front Page Top

#3 More profit for the military-industrial complex. The plan is working!

Posted by Herman Hapsburg8987 2023-01-12 03:39|| 2023-01-12 03:39|| Front Page Top

#4 Munition production is like a fire department. It's expensive just sitting around not being kept busy. However, when you need it, it's a little too late to start ramping up capacity when you suddenly need it. This is a warning you are not prepared for a serious 'come as you are' war.

As far as the MIC, the best way to cut back is to purge the mentality in the Swamp that the US is the world's peacekeeper/sheriff. No more commitments. Cut back on commitments that do not serve practical national (not international) interests.

Posted by Procopius2k 2023-01-12 06:47|| 2023-01-12 06:47|| Front Page Top

#5 Learn to CNC.

Posted by Besoeker 2023-01-12 07:33|| 2023-01-12 07:33|| Front Page Top

#6 Well, this is quite a comedown from the 600 ship Navy plan...

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-01-12 07:41|| 2023-01-12 07:41|| Front Page Top

#7 Question: what is it armament wise the US Navy and Ukraine have in common? Especially which Ukraine would go through in such an amount the US Navy would run so short to compromise effectiveness?

Or is the US Navy just the best spokesxer of the branches for such a statement?

Adm. Daryl Caudle also accused military contractors of using the pandemic as an excuse not to supply weapons on time

Har har har. Dear Adm. Caudle hasn't tried to buy an appliance or a mattress recently.

So Admiral, did or did not the government response to Covid disrupt supply chains?

Posted by swksvolFF 2023-01-12 11:26|| 2023-01-12 11:26|| Front Page Top

#8 The Navy Secretary had to step forward because the Army Secretary was still busy removing 'CoVid Deniers' and PTUWP (People That Use Wrong Pronouns) from the Army to comment.

Posted by magpie 2023-01-12 12:01|| 2023-01-12 12:01|| Front Page Top

#9 AMRAAM and Sidewinder and missiles for the NASAMS air defense and HARM missiles for MiG-29s flying SEAD missions are the only munitions actively in use by the USN. Retired Sea Sparrow (RIM-7) missiles are being sent to reload BUK SAM launchers. Even the patrol boats sent to the Ukraine navy are surplus. Of these, I would be concerned about HARM stocks. It's a land war and Army weapons and munitions are in demand.

I think Sec del Toro is speaking in the general sense that there is not a lot of surge capability that a major war will require.

By sending cheap JDAMs, which the US stocks hundreds of thousands, demand is reduced for other smart munitions as well as dumb artillery shells and give the Ukrainians a way to devastate front line fortifications.

Posted by Waldemar the Limber5043 2023-01-12 12:13|| 2023-01-12 12:13|| Front Page Top

#10 Didn't think those weapons and platforms were compatible, or is this a shitload of duct tape?

Posted by swksvolFF 2023-01-12 13:02|| 2023-01-12 13:02|| Front Page Top

#11 cheap JDAMs

$24,000 each on average.

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-01-12 13:10|| 2023-01-12 13:10|| Front Page Top

#12 Adapter pylons were built for Mig-29s to launch HARMS w/ limited seeker modes. Other air launched weapons could use the same or similar.

BUK SAMs using Sea Sparrow was another triumph of jury rigging weapons. If the Ukrainians can also use regular Sparrow (AIM-7) then there are tens of thousands of retired rounds. Same for HAWK SAM missiles.

Posted by Waldemar the Limber5043 2023-01-12 13:11|| 2023-01-12 13:11|| Front Page Top

#13 We are in an "interesting" (in the Chinese meaning) situation. Putin and Bidet are both backed into corners.

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-01-12 13:12|| 2023-01-12 13:12|| Front Page Top

#14 GMLRS are $100K on average w/ 1/10th the explosive blast of a 1000 lb JDAM. $150K for the new extended range ones. $1 million for ATACMS.

Posted by Waldemar the Limber5043 2023-01-12 13:14|| 2023-01-12 13:14|| Front Page Top

#15 ^ Are you saying that is "cheap?"

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-01-12 13:15|| 2023-01-12 13:15|| Front Page Top

#16 Cheap is relative. JDAMs are even cheaper than firing dumb artillery, considering one may have to fire dozens to achieve the effect of one JDAM.

Posted by Waldemar the Limber5043 2023-01-12 13:19|| 2023-01-12 13:19|| Front Page Top

#17 Well, that's certainly what the contractors want to hear.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2023-01-12 13:33|| 2023-01-12 13:33|| Front Page Top

#18 Learn to CNC.

Nah. Just outsource it to China.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2023-01-12 13:35|| 2023-01-12 13:35|| Front Page Top

#19 Well, that's certainly what the contractors want to hear.

Ding. Ding. DING. That's certainly what the MIC wants to hear...

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-01-12 13:39|| 2023-01-12 13:39|| Front Page Top

#20 They wanted to hear it so bad, they made it happen.

Posted by Rex Mundi 2023-01-12 13:43|| 2023-01-12 13:43|| Front Page Top

#21 Getting the systems to talk to each other would be the interesting part.

Sounds like The Modern Admiral is making the case to send more money to supply the conflict for another 12 months, which it would if production meets requirements to stay above minimums at 6 months, and that spigot won't just shut off.

He makes the case for ceasing supplying as well. Say they keep tempo, whatever it is, and a small fraction of what was planned for actually gets delivered, for whatever reasons. Then they are still assed in and dipping on emergency supplies or outright cut.

Or, qualified employees from other manufacturing sectors are out-bid or even forced into weapons manufacturing, then all that other industry gets boned.

Posted by swksvolFF 2023-01-12 13:48|| 2023-01-12 13:48|| Front Page Top

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