[Goose]

Newest USA aid package to Ukraine includes:

2 NASAMS systems
More HIMARS ammo (no detail and quantity)
150k rounds of 155mm artillery ammo
4 more counter-artillery radars

Nice to see two NASAMS included, wonder if those go to Odessa and Kyiv?  Obviously there will be OPSEC involved, so we likely won't know, just like we don't know where their S-300 batteries are located.

It could be Ukraine intends to use these systems as anti-cruise missile assets. Hopefully, if they do that, it will lead to good results. Against many of the anti-ship missiles being used, it is IMHO improbable it will. These missiles spend almost all of their flight time well above the altitude this system can reach, and when they do come downhill, you have only 10 seconds or so to hit it. If you are close enough and get a solution soon enough, maybe. In most cases it will be too far away to reach before it hits, and best case it is a difficult intercept. Against Kalibr missiles, they have a chance. Another possible use for this highly mobile asset would be to cover Ukrainian air (and ground) assets attacking in Kherson Oblast. That is for sure something it can do very well. It will keep the Russian air force off the Ukrainians (and probably make them even more gun shy). These systems are much more capable than MANPADS and can deny the airspace above Ukrainian troops to Russian air.

150k rounds of 155mm ammo is a decent amount.  Assuming 5k rounds a day, that's over a months worth, but I'm guessing it lasts longer because they also use (or will use) 105mm and 152mm rounds.

For reference, each 155mm gun used at Khe Sanh fired about 200 rounds per day. This is the most recent example I can find of what could be called "high intensity" artillery usage. With 100 howitzers in action, that would be 7.5 days worth. Given the intensity of the fighting in the Donbas, I think this number of rounds per day would be conservative. Obviously, you have to be smart about how use use the ammunition you have. It will last as long as it has to last. However, if you have to prioritize and can't fire when you want to, it isn't good.

UPDATE: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/15...-offensive
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/...80507.aspx

Another thing to worry about. Firing 2500 or so rounds may burn out the barrels. I hope the Ukraine got the chrome updated ones.

[Goose]

Newest USA aid package to Ukraine includes:

2 NASAMS systems
More HIMARS ammo (no detail and quantity)
150k rounds of 155mm artillery ammo
4 more counter-artillery radars

Nice to see two NASAMS included, wonder if those go to Odessa and Kyiv?  Obviously there will be OPSEC involved, so we likely won't know, just like we don't know where their S-300 batteries are located.

It could be Ukraine intends to use these systems as anti-cruise missile assets. Hopefully, if they do that, it will lead to good results. Against many of the anti-ship missiles being used, it is IMHO improbable it will. These missiles spend almost all of their flight time well above the altitude this system can reach, and when they do come downhill, you have only 10 seconds or so to hit it. If you are close enough and get a solution soon enough, maybe. In most cases it will be too far away to reach before it hits, and best case it is a difficult intercept. Against Kalibr missiles, they have a chance. Another possible use for this highly mobile asset would be to cover Ukrainian air (and ground) assets attacking in Kherson Oblast. That is for sure something it can do very well. It will keep the Russian air force off the Ukrainians (and probably make them even more gun shy). These systems are much more capable than MANPADS and can deny the airspace above Ukrainian troops to Russian air.

150k rounds of 155mm ammo is a decent amount.  Assuming 5k rounds a day, that's over a months worth, but I'm guessing it lasts longer because they also use (or will use) 105mm and 152mm rounds.

For reference, each 155mm gun used at Khe Sanh fired about 200 rounds per day. This is the most recent example I can find of what could be called "high intensity" artillery usage. With 100 howitzers in action, that would be 7.5 days worth. Given the intensity of the fighting in the Donbas, I think this number of rounds per day would be conservative. Obviously, you have to be smart about how use use the ammunition you have. It will last as long as it has to last. However, if you have to prioritize and can't fire when you want to, it isn't good.

UPDATE: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/15...-offensive
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/...80507.aspx

Another thing to worry about. Firing 2500 or so rounds may burn out the barrels. I hope the Ukraine got the chrome updated ones.