How Removing a Handful of Screws Allowed the Pentagon to Deliver Stingers to Ukraine

WSJ ^ | 08-MAR-2022 | Michael R. Gordon

[SpeedyInTexas]

In the late fall of 2021, as Russian forces massed at the border of Ukraine, U.S. lawmakers pressed the Pentagon on why the Biden administration wasn’t sending Stinger antiaircraft missiles to help Kyiv. The option wasn’t available, they were told, because the weapons in the U.S. inventory contained classified equipment.

Months later, the Pentagon came up with a solution to the problem. By removing several screws, the military was able to withdraw a sensitive item from the missile’s hand-held launcher, opening the way to sending the weapons from U.S. stocks.

[shotgun]

You missed the sarcasm tag

[AFreeBird]

Not at cruise, no. But the bird has to climb to and descend from cruise alt.

[crazy scenario]

"the weapons in the U.S. inventory contained classified equipment. "

it was just a little sticker that said "let's go Brandon!"

[moehoward]

“The Biden Regime was hoping Poling would be on the hook for retaliation and not America. “

Possibly. Or they wanted Poland to be the one that caused America to get officially involved.

[JimRed]

So, removing this particular piece of equipment does not affect the missile’s utility. You can still shoot down Russkies with it. Then why is it installed?

[JimRed]

...my guess is that it was some form of IFF module that containes classified U.S. IFF codes or other IFF information.

Prevents friendly fire accidents? Makes sense.

[JimRed]

This stuff may get out of control and we will be lucky to live through it.

As Long John Silver said in Treasure Island, "Them that die will be the lucky ones".