https://www.airforcemag.com/dod-air-defe...-to-years/
In typical US fashion, when asked about NASAMS the answer given was that it was "several months away". Then you find out they are talking about FINALIZING THE CONTRACT, i.e paperwork, not when Ukraine will get the units!!
I guess one can be optimistic and say that the Ukrainians probably need more extensive training on this system than on previous systems (which is undoubtedly true). One could also hope that the systems are already built and the contract is the long pole in the tent. Nobody said that, which is very concerning. If construction starts after the contract is done, it will be a year before it is delivered, even assuming they can get/already have the parts. In that case, this whole NASAMS thing is bogus. Ukrainian cities will have to endure bombardment by all kinds of missiles for that time.
The NASAMS works pretty well against low speed, low altitude missiles. It isn't very effective against thing like the KH-22, but it is much, much better than nothing. Yesterday Russia fired 7 Kalibr missiles at Odesa. None were intercepted. One NASAMS may not have shot down all 7 of them (depending on geometry and spacing), but certainly "many" of them would have been intercepted. Why wait a year? There are two NASAMS at Andrews. Send them! You don't need a contract, only a bill if lading.
In typical US fashion, when asked about NASAMS the answer given was that it was "several months away". Then you find out they are talking about FINALIZING THE CONTRACT, i.e paperwork, not when Ukraine will get the units!!
I guess one can be optimistic and say that the Ukrainians probably need more extensive training on this system than on previous systems (which is undoubtedly true). One could also hope that the systems are already built and the contract is the long pole in the tent. Nobody said that, which is very concerning. If construction starts after the contract is done, it will be a year before it is delivered, even assuming they can get/already have the parts. In that case, this whole NASAMS thing is bogus. Ukrainian cities will have to endure bombardment by all kinds of missiles for that time.
The NASAMS works pretty well against low speed, low altitude missiles. It isn't very effective against thing like the KH-22, but it is much, much better than nothing. Yesterday Russia fired 7 Kalibr missiles at Odesa. None were intercepted. One NASAMS may not have shot down all 7 of them (depending on geometry and spacing), but certainly "many" of them would have been intercepted. Why wait a year? There are two NASAMS at Andrews. Send them! You don't need a contract, only a bill if lading.