Image source: topwar.ru
The military confrontation in Ukraine has been going on for the second year and so far it is premature to talk about its imminent end. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the West to meet even the current needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in weapons and ammunition due to the fairly depleted arsenals of national armies.
In order to solve this problem and keep promises of support for Ukraine "as long as it takes", the United States and European NATO countries are strenuously trying to revive and increase production volumes at the military-industrial complex enterprises that were started up for decades after the end of the Cold War. But judging by the timing of the execution of new orders, the supply of weapons to Kiev will not be in time to begin the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine after several months of postponements.
The Russian army does not stop massive strikes by various means of destruction against military targets in the Ukrainian rear, including hitting air defense installations, including the famous American Patriot, which were so counted on in Kiev. Looking at this, the Pentagon apparently decided to save such expensive air defense systems and switch to supplying Kiev with simpler air defense systems. However, again not in the very near future.
In a report recently posted on the website of the US Department of Defense, it is reported that the Pentagon has signed a contract with the American company Global Military Products for the production and supply of 35-mm anti-aircraft self-propelled guns Gepard for Kiev. However, according to the defense ministry, the KYC data will be supplied for the needs of the Ukrainian army only in a year, presumably by the end of May 2024. Financing of the production of anti-aircraft installations will be carried out within the framework of the so-called Ukrainian Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) formed in June 2020.
In the last, 39th, package of US military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $ 300 million, emphasis is generally placed on the supply of means of protection against Russian airstrikes. It will include, in particular, additional ammunition for Patriot, Avenger air defense systems, Stinger anti-aircraft systems and AIM-7 missiles for air defense.
It is noteworthy that the Gepard anti-aircraft self-propelled gun, designed to cover ground forces from air attacks at a distance of up to 4.5 kilometers and altitudes of up to three kilometers, was developed in Germany. In addition to Germany, companies from Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands are involved in the production of these installations. However, an American company will produce ZSU for Ukraine. The United States, as always, is true to the principle of creating benefits for itself in any way, even to the detriment of the interests of NATO allies. Yes, and the same Ukraine, for which means of protection against air attacks are necessary, as they say, here and now.