Posted on 04/04/2022 12:17:54 PM PDT by marktwain
WARSAW — An incoming shipment of U.S.-made "Switchblade" drones will not include the most effective version of that weapon, despite Ukrainian hopes to acquire the ones that can destroy armored Russian military targets, as President Joe Biden's team balances Ukrainian requests for aid against logistical challenges and the threat of additional Russian aggression.
The impending delivery of 100 so-called kamikaze drones will be drawn from U.S. government stocks of Switchblade 300s, a lightweight “loitering missile system” with a range of about 6 miles over 15 minutes of flight. The transfer will not include any of the heavier Switchblade 600s, which Ukraine is eager to acquire in advance of an expected Russian effort to destroy its military in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas, now that the Russians have broken off their attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
“This is the biggest issue,” a Ukrainian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The Russians will bring all their capabilities to the battlefield ... and we have those ridiculous tactical drones.”
That frustration is in tension with the perspective offered by a senior Pentagon official who informed Congress that 100 drones would be provided to Ukraine.
“We have ... received the message loud and clear from our Ukrainian colleagues that this is required,” Defense Department Assistant Secretary Celeste Wallander told the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. “We have committed 100 Switchblade tactical unmanned aerial systems to be delivered in the most recent package of [the] presidential drawdown. ... We've heard the Ukrainians, and we take that very seriously."
The Biden administration has not approved the transfer of the heavier-duty drones, according to a senior congressional aide. The number of available Switchblades is limited by supply chain issues, the aide acknowledged, but the limitations on the transfer are emblematic of a widespread perception that
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
It makes me wonder if there was an “agreement” between the Biden administration and Putin that it was OK for them to take the Donbas.
Or, they don't want the Russians seeing the technology, given that some will likely be captured. The main goal is to simply keep the war going as long as possible and the Ukes don't need cutting-edge gear for that - Hillary said so herself.
But, wait!
I thought the Ukes were winning. Why are they begging and begging and begging?
Meanwhile Putin is scraping the bottom of the manpower and equipment barrel. The Russians may mass enough forces to take Kharkov or drive south to cut off part of the Ukrainian army, but the Ukrainians have had a lot of time to prepare and nothing so far indicates Russian operations have gotten any better. Widespread news of the atrocities is also likely to stiffen Ukrainian resistance even further.
I seriously doubt that trend will ever travel one inch with this administration.
That explains all the losing.
They want the conflict to go on thru election day so Biden can appear presidential..................
not our war.
If Ukraine pushes back to far, Putin will use an NBC weapon.
Ukraine cannot tear it’s mouth away from the US Government nipple. God only knows what all of this costs as our own economy it spiraling into deep inflation and debt across the board.
It would be utterly stupid for the Ukraininan government not to attempt to gain every advantage they can, until the war is actually won.
Let us hope the red-hired thing will never reporduce. Then again, that is why it prefers to indoctrinate and seduce the innocent youth.
BiteMe doesn’t want to totally screw up his 10%.
“It would be utterly stupid for the Ukraininan government not to attempt to gain every advantage they can, until the war is actually won.”
No kidding.
That fits with the Biden administration pushing for the war to "wag the dog".
Don’t wonder. Biden said it. Bidumdum said he wouldn’t respond to a “minor incursion.” And of course the crooked SOB wants to drag out the whole clusterflock-—he thinks he’s distracting/burying his own double dealing. You know that from the lameaxx excuses his bunch comes upwith for not getting heavy weapons to help the Ukes PDQ.
Even the characters mean “white left”. But I am still trying to figure out the meaning of the flag in the upper right corner.
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