10-17-2023, 12:47 PM
(10-17-2023, 11:57 AM)dabigv13 Wrote: I'm not sure if they will get longer range unitary warhead ATACMS. From the beginning the DOD side has not wanted to send them because of the limited US stocks of the weapon. These older ATACMS are not really in frontline US usage so DOD didn't have a problem with them being sent.The "older" ATACMS actually shouldn't even exist. The plan was to "upgrade" them to unitary warheads. The Army decided it didn't want those upgraded missiles anyway and used part of the the money elsewhere. Thank goodness they exist, because for destroying airfields or tank parks, they are the "drug of choice".
Quote:ATACMS is being replaced soon so maybe the US will be more willing to spare longer range ATACMS then. But that is probably a year or two away.IMO you are precisely correct. We shall see, but I think the "short range ATACMS" are not a threat to be used against Russia proper, so they are kind of "OK". The longer range ones are potentially more of a "threat", so that may also be a problem. However, the main "no" right now is that the US Army doesn't want to deplete it's already inadequate stocks.