Ukraine Invasion - Please do not post videos showing attacks/similar

Status
Not open for further replies.
Caporegime
Joined
19 May 2004
Posts
31,386
Location
Nordfriesland, Germany
We already spend more than required on our armed forces (the intent is everyone in NATO puts 2% of GDP into defence) but many do not and alongside that, what some countries spend money on is worthless for contributing to a foreign conflict.

There are definitely countries not contributing a fair share to NATO by a variety of standards and if everyone lived up to the spirit of the arrangement it would reduce pressure on the larger contributors.

2% was a commitment for 2024, a point in time not yet reached, but more fundamentally there's not a single country spending more because others are spending less. The US, UK, and France maintain militaries capable of projecting power overseas because they want to for domestic political reasons not because Germany, Belgium, or Luxembourg are spending less. In many ways the biggest contribution of the NATO nations is the hosting of airbases. America's ability to project military power against foreign targets is immensely higher because of the bases it has in allied nations across the globe.

Yes we spend a good amount of money, but vs our ambition the armed forces are underfunded.

Good way of putting it.
 
Man of Honour
Joined
21 Nov 2004
Posts
44,880
Sounds like US hardware is helping Ukraine push the Russians back. Along with Russian losses, a destroyed economy and new Nato spending and members it’s all gone spectacularly and hilariously wrong for Putin.
 
Caporegime
Joined
29 Jan 2008
Posts
58,899
The apparent story of the attack on the river crossing: https://twitter.com/kms_d4k/status/1524506104192974849

Was just popping in to post the same thing, dunno if he's hyped things up a bit there re: the losses and I think some of these guys need to be a bit more careful about general OPSEC rather than rushing to post on social media but still it certainly seems the Russians had a huge setback there.
 
Soldato
Joined
13 Jan 2003
Posts
23,628
Got to love Merica sometimes. Basically an unlimited ammo cheat :p

Amazing how much ‘unmanned’ equipment there is now.

It's like every US defence contractor is having a wet dream and being paid by the US gov... no.. it's exactly like every US defence contractor having a wet dream.

On a serious note, the US defence contractors see any conflict as an opportunity to further develop and enhance systems, so Putin's war is funding the US military contractors (ie funding NATO).
 
Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
16,281
Location
Manchester
Or sure if the U.S have officially adopted the new rifle, M5?
Got to love Merica sometimes. Basically an unlimited ammo cheat :p

Amazing how much ‘unmanned’ equipment there is now.

Aren't the Americans in the process of replacing the M4 for some of their service? Not sure if it is a done deal, but weren't they looking to go to a 6.8mm calibre in a new series of rifles? The XM5 and XM240? Perfect opportunity to offload a load of 5.56 rounds and rifles to make room/justify the next gen weapons :)
 
Don
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
22,697
Location
Wargrave, UK
Or sure if the U.S have officially adopted the new rifle, M5?


Aren't the Americans in the process of replacing the M4 for some of their service? Not sure if it is a done deal, but weren't they looking to go to a 6.8mm calibre in a new series of rifles? The XM5 and XM240? Perfect opportunity to offload a load of 5.56 rounds and rifles to make room/justify the next gen weapons :)
They have indeed just adopted the XM5 and XM250 from SIG in 6.8mm. I believe the initial order is for something like 20k rifles and once delivered they will be officially designated the M5 and the M250. Interestingly, they are still hanging on to the M240 but are investigating having them re-chambered in 6.8mm.
This makes me wonder what the deal will be for our small arms in the UK. One of the big benefits of NATO is having standardised cartridges (5.56x45 and 7.62x51) and magazines for small arms. With the US departing from that with 6.8mm I'm wondering whether we're going to be looking at a replacement for L85 series of weapons in the near future.
 
Soldato
Joined
30 Jan 2007
Posts
15,428
Location
PA, USA (Orig UK)
Was just popping in to post the same thing, dunno if he's hyped things up a bit there re: the losses and I think some of these guys need to be a bit more careful about general OPSEC rather than rushing to post on social media but still it certainly seems the Russians had a huge setback there.

Yeah, was very much thinking the same thing. Telling the enemy your tactics is not smart.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom