Русский корабль - иди нахуй

[Bevo 13439]

4 hours ago, Schulz2.0 said:

They've hit Russia with Ukrainian made drones, not western supplied weapons. 

All of those drones were Ukranian made and the weapons that they carried were Ukranian made? That seems like a stretch but I guess that it is possible - maybe all the Western drones are used in Ukraine so the Ukranian ones can be purposed solely for hitting inside Russia.

 

And proving myself wrong:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/02/us/politics/ukraines-war-weapons-industry-russia.html

 

Ukraine’s Arms Industry Is Growing, but Is It Growing Fast Enough?

Kyiv is aiming to build its own weapons to bring the fight to Russia. But it will take time Ukraine might not have.

 

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine
April 2, 2024
 

Ukraine’s military had only one Bohdana artillery cannon in its arsenal when Russia invaded the country two years ago. Yet that single weapon, built in Ukraine in 2018 and able to shoot NATO-caliber rounds, proved so effective in the earliest days of the war that it was trucked to battlefields across the country, from the northeastern city of Kharkiv to the southwestern coast along the Black Sea and points in between.

Now, Ukraine’s arms industry is building eight of the self-propelled Bohdana artillery systems each month, and although officials will not say how many they’ve made in total, the increased output signals a potential boom in the country’s domestic weapons production.

The ramp-up comes at a pivotal moment. Russia’s war machine is already quadrupling weapons production in round-the-clock operations. Ukraine’s forces are losing territory in some key areas, including the strategic eastern town of Avdiivka, from which they withdrew in February. A U.S. aid package is still hung up in Congress. And while European defense firms are gingerly opening operations in Ukraine, major American weapons producers have yet to commit to setting up shop in the middle of a war.

It is widely agreed that Ukraine needs to rebuild its domestic defense industry so that its military will not have to rely for years to come on the West, which has at times hesitated to send sophisticated weapons systems — including air defenses, tanks and long-range missiles. Whether that can be done in time to alter the trajectory of a war that would be all the more tenuous without more U.S. military aid remains to be seen.

But Ukraine’s military engineers have already shown surprising skill in jury-rigging older weapons systems with more modern firepower. And over the last year alone, Ukraine’s defense companies have built three times as many armored vehicles as they were making before the war and have quadrupled production of anti-tank missiles, according to Ukrainian government documents reviewed by The New York Times.

Funding for research and development is forecast to increase by eight times this year — to $1.3 billion from $162 million — according to an analysis of Ukraine’s military budget through 2030 by Janes, a defense intelligence firm. Military procurement jumped to a projected 20-year high of nearly $10 billion in 2023, compared with a prewar figure of about $1 billion a year.
 

“We say that death to the enemy starts with us,” Alexander Kamyshin, Ukraine’s Strategic Industries minister, said in an interview last month in his office in a nondescript brick building in Kyiv tucked away among restaurants and apartment blocks.

“It’s about showing that we don’t sit and wait until you come help us,” Mr. Kamyshin said. “It’s about trying to make things ourselves.”

Some weapons are proving harder to produce in Ukraine than others. They include 155-millimeter artillery shells, which are in dire need on the battlefield but depend on imported raw materials and licensing rights from Western manufacturers or governments. Mr. Kamyshin said domestic production of 155-millimeter shells was “on the way,” but would not say when.

Once a main supplier of the Soviet Union, Ukraine’s defense industry shrank over three decades of budget cuts after the country declared independence in 1991. The government in Kyiv now plans to spend about $6 billion this year on weapons made in Ukraine, including one million drones, but, Mr. Kamyshin said, “we can produce more than we’ve got funds available.”

The long period of decline may be hard to overcome. To restart production of the 2S22 Bohdana artillery cannon, for example, officials had to track down the weapon’s original designers and engineers, some of whom had been assigned to menial military tasks across Ukraine.

By June 2022, Ukrainian forces were using the Bohdana’s 30-mile range to target and destroy Russian air defenses in the successful battle for Snake Island in the Black Sea.

“It was a very big surprise for the Russians,” said Maj. Myroslav Hai, a Ukrainian Army officer who helped liberate the island. “They couldn’t understand how somebody could use artillery for this distance.”
 

In Europe, political leaders who worry about eroding American support and business executives who see new market opportunities are promoting military production ventures in Ukraine, even if it may be several years before any of those weapons or materiel reach the battlefield.
 

The German arms giant Rheinmetall and the Turkish drone-maker Baykar are in the process of building manufacturing plants in Ukraine. France’s defense minister said in March that three French companies that produce drones and land warfare equipment were nearing similar agreements. Last month, Germany and France announced a joint venture through the defense conglomerate KNDS to build parts for tanks and howitzers in Ukraine and, eventually, whole weapons systems.

Experts said Ukraine’s military has positioned air defense systems around some of its most critical weapons factories. It’s likely that foreign-backed plants will largely be built in the country’s west, far from the front lines but also protected by air defenses.

Christian Seear, the Ukraine operations director for the Britain-based military contractor BAE Systems, said even the nascent moves by foreign producers send “a critical message — that you can go into Ukraine and set things up.”

While BAE Systems looks to manufacture weapons in Ukraine in the future, Mr. Seear said, the company is currently focused on a “fix it forward” approach, to repair battle-damaged weapons at factories in Ukraine to get them back to the front lines faster. Many of the weapons in Ukraine’s ground war — including M777 and Archer howitzers, Bradley and CV90 combat vehicles and Challenger 2 tanks — are manufactured by BAE Systems.

“We want to keep those things fighting, and it’s becoming quite clear that you can’t keep maintaining those assets in neighboring countries,” Mr. Seear said. “It’s not acceptable for a long-term war of attrition to have hundreds of high quality, reliable howitzers having to travel hundreds of miles.”

To date, Ukrainian and U.S. officials said, no major American weapons manufacturer has announced plans to open production lines in Ukraine. However, some senior executives have visited Kyiv in recent weeks to meet with Mr. Kamyshin and other officials, and the Biden administration hosted meetings in December to bring together Ukrainian leaders and U.S. military contractors.
 

Helping Ukraine rebuild its defense industry has become even more vital as Republicans in Congress have blocked $60 billion in military and financial aid to Ukraine. (However, Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, recently signaled that he is looking for politically palatable ways to bring the aid package to a vote.)

But a web of bureaucracy in Kyiv threatens to slow at least some investors as they seek to push proposals through three ministries, Defense, Digital Transformation and Mr. Kamyshin’s Strategic Industries.

“We’re trying to get a sense of how this all fit together, and how they work together,” said William B. Taylor, a former ambassador to Kyiv who is leading an effort by the U.S. Institute of Peace to help link up American and Ukrainian defense firms.

“American firms have got a lot of opportunities to invest in other places around the world,” Mr. Taylor said. “This is one where U.S. national interests are at stake, so it’s why we would take an extra step to help make these connections.”

Since 155-millimeter caliber artillery rounds are desperately needed, Mr. Taylor suggested that an initial joint venture between Ukrainian and American firms could focus on ramping up their production.

European producers are already venturing into that market.

“If the Europeans will be involved in its development in the volumes they promise, I think we will solve the problem of ‘shell hunger’ over time,” Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s armed forces commander, told Ukraine state media in an interview published on Friday.
 

Although Ukraine’s manufacturers are prohibited from exporting weapons until the war is over, Mr. Kamyshin sounds eager to compete with foreign arms producers.

A forceful speaker with a goatee and a topknot hair style traditionally worn by Ukrainian Cossacks, Mr. Kamyshin is one of what Mr. Taylor described as a new generation of leaders in Ukraine — at age 39, a young gun who has ascended rapidly through the government ranks.

After his appointment as minister, in March 2023, Mr. Kamyshin visited almost every weapons factory in Ukraine and said he found an industry badly in need of an overhaul. Workers were laboring in damaged factories in some places; in others, rockets were being built by hand.

Though he said production is moving more smoothly now, he still receives daily updates on critical assembly lines to rapidly identify breakdowns and get them fixed quickly.

“We are moving things faster and cheaper, and they work,” Mr. Kamyshin said in an interview that was as much a sales pitch for domestically built weapons as it was a discussion of foreign investments.

“We will join you and NATO one day,” he said confidently. “So if you procure from us, you’re building up abilities, and that will become part of the joint capabilities one day. So why not invest in your joint capabilities?”

 

[Sawbonz 26871]

3 hours ago, Schulz2.0 said:

 

Clearly they are not sending their best and brightest 

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

[Schulz2.0 28651]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/27/putin-patience-snapped-insiders-marvel-at-russia-military-purge

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

 

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

 

[B00M 6032]

6 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

It’s got to be weird planning stuff like that - Ukraine has been methodically whittling their air defenses down, and stuff has been moved from Crimea into Russia proper,  both to take it out of range, but also stop the Ukrainians from hitting Russian infrastructure.  There’s no way the Russians are able to rapidly replace what’s been lost, unless they rob Peter to pay Paul, so there’s gotta be some gaps in their coverage.

We have F-16s now that do the Wild Weasel job, and we have a shitload of anti-radar missiles that we’ve been giving Ukraine that can be mounted in F-16s..so something will have to give.

For reference, this was a more recent Wild Weasel and I’m going to show my kid because we have to do a scale model of this over the summer.

Good shit

 

[Deej 76197]

7 hours ago, Sawbonz said:

Clearly they are not sending their best and brightest 

Are we sure about that?

[Parliament 14010]

11 hours ago, Schulz2.0 said:

 

Quote

...was forced happy to kill the intruder.

1234

[B00M 6032]

2 hours ago, Deej said:

Are we sure about that?

brain drain like a mother fucker

[Schulz2.0 28651]

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

 

[Schulz2.0 28651]

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

 

[Schulz2.0 28651]

Fuck Hungary part 6884275

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/27/spain-to-give-ukraine-1bn-in-military-aid-in-decade-long-defence-deal

[atomheartbevo 89015]

I’m assuming some fuel tanks, or some aircraft.

 

[Dahobbs 17227]

On 5/27/2024 at 5:01 AM, Schulz2.0 said:

Can't be. I have it on good authority that HIMARS doesn't work anymore due to superior Russian technology. 

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

 

[Schulz2.0 28651]

[Armybrat 40544]

Someone oughta ‘shop a bullseye on that factory.

[Pescado_Rojo 19261]

4 hours ago, Schulz2.0 said:

 

 

Interesting that the JASSM picture they used was one being launched from an F16...

[TexasEd 8017]

On 5/26/2024 at 3:16 AM, Schulz2.0 said:

 

They will be putting that infrastructure inside their local Top Golf soon.

 

 

On 5/26/2024 at 1:04 PM, Schulz2.0 said:

 

 

 

Two observations:

1. This is terrorism

2. How could they have destroyed all those toilets?

 

Edited May 28 by TexasEd

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

 

[Schulz2.0 28651]

[Bevo 13439]

Quote

Ukraine will receive its first F-16 fighter jets very soon, while a new front in the north is expected.

 

 

Ukraine Expects to Fly F-16s in Combat This Winter
Kyiv’s timeline is far tighter than the Pentagon’s more conservative estimate

By Gordon Lubold and Nancy A. Youssef

Updated Sept. 10, 2023

 

WASHINGTON—Kyiv’s military leaders say they could have Ukrainian pilots flying F-16s in combat as early as this winter, a more optimistic timeline than previous estimates, and one that could give Ukrainian forces a significant new capability for next year’s fight.

Based on initial assessments, Ukrainian officials now believe that with American training expected to begin this month or next, a handful of Ukrainian fighter pilots could be ready to go as early as February, Ukrainian and U.S. officials said. The U.S. could train experienced, English-proficient Ukrainian pilots in as little as five months, a group of likely fewer than 10 pilots for now, according to Ukrainian assessment.

 

[SquishMitten 10370]

10 hours ago, Schulz2.0 said:

 

 

Wish shit like this got more publicity. Too many people fail to remember that the US does the whole military industrial complex thing pretty well. A huge amount of spending in Ukraine comes out of our advertising budget. See how good our old shit works? Imagine what the new stuff can do!

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

 

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

[Brisketexan 103602]

36 minutes ago, Schulz2.0 said:

 

I'm sure that Amnesty International will be along right soon.....to explain how this is no big deal, and really, she had it coming for daring to be a "journalist" on sovereign territory of Russia, which is what any inch of Ukraine that Russia simply decides to claim magically becomes.  Really, her fate is Ukraine's fault, for violently resisting Russia asserting its god-given rights.  Duh.  But Julian Assange...well....that's different.  He's a hero, victimized by the imperialists!

AI has revealed itself to be a pretty giant piece of shit.  Damned shame, as its PURPORTED mission is really important.

[Parliament 14010]

She’ll be dead soon.

[Bevo 13439]

10 minutes ago, Parliament said:

She’ll be dead soon.

[atomheartbevo 89015]

 

[atomheartbevo 89015]

 

 

[Braff Zacklin 13298]

On 5/28/2024 at 8:02 AM, TexasEd said:

Two observations:

1. This is terrorism

2. How could they have destroyed all those toilets?

You don't need bombs or missiles to destroy toilets, sir. Just a combo meal from Taco Bell and a couple hours of patience.

[Smax 3799]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/29/europe/ukraine-war-us-tanks-intl/index.html

Abraham's not doing so hot without without proper support

As for that drone factory in Africa, send in a spec ops team ..

[Zonahorn 7968]

 

Badass

[morehornsepower 855]

6 minutes ago, Smax said:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/29/europe/ukraine-war-us-tanks-intl/index.html

Abraham's not doing so hot without without proper support

As for that drone factory in Africa, send in a spec ops team ..

Thanks, CNN, for the insightful newsflash: decades-old MBTs, designed to destroy other MBTs in multi-domain conflicts, aren't the best at drone warfare.

 

Next, at 10: 80yr-old grandmother struggles to use chatGPT!!!

Edited May 29 by morehornsepower

[Schulz2.0 28651]

7 minutes ago, Smax said:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/29/europe/ukraine-war-us-tanks-intl/index.html

Abraham's not doing so hot without without proper support

That's why they've been adding the ERA armor and cope cages.

[Schulz2.0 28651]

3 minutes ago, morehornsepower said:

Thanks, CNN, for the insightful newsflash: decades-old MBTs, designed to destroy other MBTs in multi-domain conflicts, aren't the best at drone warfare.

We gave them the basic M1 Abrams that generally lacks upgrades.

[Parliament 14010]

18 minutes ago, Zonahorn said:

 

Soon

[qwertyu1234 496]

Can Ukraine win this war without troops from outside the country? Right now I don't know how they breakthrough with the numerical superiority of Russia, though of course I want to be wrong. Who knows what the future has in store but I think right now the front is going to remain static.

[Zonahorn 7968]

3 minutes ago, qwertyu1234 said:

Can Ukraine win this war without troops from outside the country? Right now I don't know how they breakthrough with the numerical superiority of Russia, though of course I want to be wrong. Who knows what the future has in store but I think right now the front is going to remain static.

As long as they are continuously supported with weapons and ammo they will win.

[Bevo 13439]

3 minutes ago, qwertyu1234 said:

Can Ukraine win this war without troops from outside the country? Right now I don't know how they breakthrough with the numerical superiority of Russia, though of course I want to be wrong. Who knows what the future has in store but I think right now the front is going to remain static.

Ukraine was starting to lose ground as munitions were running low. Now, I don't think it will lose ground but I'm not sure it can gain ground either. It will be interesting to see if F16s change things, but I would guess that things will remain static in the short-run. But, Ukraine has enough munitions now for an intense year of fighting and Russia isn't particularly stable. I think that means that both sides have all their chips on the table for the next 12 months.

[locodos 5247]

15 minutes ago, Zonahorn said:

As long as they are continuously supported with weapons and ammo they will win.

I don't know man...

 

[LCHorn 2559]

25 minutes ago, Bevo said:

Ukraine was starting to lose ground as munitions were running low. Now, I don't think it will lose ground but I'm not sure it can gain ground either. It will be interesting to see if F16s change things, but I would guess that things will remain static in the short-run. But, Ukraine has enough munitions now for an intense year of fighting and Russia isn't particularly stable. I think that means that both sides have all their chips on the table for the next 12 months.

Michael Kofman, who has been referenced many times on the thread and writes for The NY Times and War on the Rocks, predicts a 2024 stalemate with Ukraine attempting to build up for an offensive no earlier than spring 2025.

[Bevo 13439]

28 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

Michael Kofman, who has been referenced many times on the thread and writes for The NY Times and War on the Rocks, predicts a 2024 stalemate with Ukraine attempting to build up for an offensive no earlier than spring 2025.

 

Militarily MK's timeline makes sense, but I have a hard time seeing the US providing weapons in 2025.

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

[atomheartbevo 89015]

2 hours ago, morehornsepower said:

Next, at 10: 80yr-old grandmother struggles to use chatGPT!!!

It ain’t easy, but shes going to make a bunch of AI-generated sequels to the Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon Beach Party movies.

[Schulz2.0 28651]

 

[Bevo 13439]

1 minute ago, atomheartbevo said:

It ain’t easy, but shes going to make a bunch of AI-generated sequels to the Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon Beach Party movies.

I wasn't a big fan of Beach Blanket Bingo but it always seemed like those movies had a lot of potential. They needed more of The Summer of 69/Endless Summer vibe and I would still watch them. So, what I am saying is that a good beach movie could do fine in the box office today.