(10-11-2022, 05:45 PM)TrumpCard Wrote: Why could the US not use Patriots at Andrews and for “high value” targets in DC? If they could, that would free up the NASAMS to go to Ukraine where they are needed more urgently.They could. However, we don't exactly have any spare Patriot batteries lying around either. Norway actually has quite a few NASAMS batteries, but I think they are older versions that wouldn't work well against Kalibr missiles. That is actually a rather large problem in this attempt to supply NASAMS to Ukraine. There are many versions out there, but not very many of any given version. For all we know, the two at Andrews have significant obsolescence problems and/or maintenance problems. Since we don't have many, we can't cobble together a few working ones from the parts of non-working ones. Not a good situation to be in.
REVISION: There is one other issue to consider. I don't know who "owns" the NASAMS at Andrews Joint Base, but I think it is the Air Force. This is a bit unusual, as the Army generally is responsible for SAMs. However, this case may be an exception. I don't know this for sure, but I couldn't find an Army unit assigned to operate them.
The contract to deliver NASAMS to Ukraine went through the Army, but since it took so long it seems improbable there was a previous contract (or a BOA) that could be used as a model. This ownership issue, petty as it should be, may actually stand in the way of moving assets from Andrews to Ukraine. If it isn't an Army asset, they can't control it's use. If anybody has more insight, speak up please.