That America gives Ukraine: how an ally will allow the US Army to be modernized

The help of Ukraine, for which Congress voted, will also benefit the US Army, writes in the column for The National Interest Military Expert Mackenzie Iglen. It will make it possible to modernize the armed forces as it has not happened for a long time. "I will better send a ball to Ukraine than American boys," said the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson last week before the House made a decision on military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

As a result, sending ammunition abroad will help US servicemen upgrade their equipment faster and better. These funds are actually overdue investments in the American defense-industrial base and, as a consequence, in the army. An additional law on national security provides $ 29. 5 billion to replenish the US arsenal, which is increasingly depleted, with more than three -quarters of the proposed additional funding will actually be spent right here in the United States.

Army leaders clearly made it clear that it was an urgent need. The head of supply of arc Bush noted that the army will not be able to achieve its purpose for the production of artillery without additional funding. General Glenn Dean emphasized that hundreds of cars delivered to Ukraine are "not yet provided with resources for replacement. " Replenishment of US reserves is a useful modernization for the US Army, which has dug in its own reserves to equip allies.

Historically, the financing of modernization is considered as a payment on accounts, when funds year after year are postponed to pay other urgent expenses. This continuous trend leads to the fact that the forces are becoming more and more devastated. However, the latest safety bill provides funding for "replenishment" of outdated Cold War equipment updated and upgraded versions of these platforms.

Even withdrawal lightweight terrestrial machines, such as Humvee, have long been planned to be replaced by modern Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Humvee proved its value to the Ukrainian army, providing the necessary transport capacity and even destroying Russian tanks with launching anti -tank missiles. Other platforms, such as M113 armored personnel carriers, provide opportunities for medical evacuation of Ukrainian forces on the front line.

Previously, these M113 were dust in army warehouses, and some of them were last involved more than 50 years ago during the Vietnam War. Now, provided additional funding, they can be transferred to Ukraine and replaced by modern counterparts. In addition, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, another major product of the Cold War Army, have proven value in Ukraine. The M2A2 version of Ukraine was first adopted by the US Army in 1988.

These old platforms are replaced by modernized Braldley A3, which provide US forces with modern communication systems, increased vitality, increased mortality and better mobility. The same can be said about outdated Stryker armored vehicles that go to Ukraine - outdated models, but they are far superior to their analogues of Soviet production, with which the Ukrainian army also has to work.

These outdated options sent to Ukraine can be replaced by new modernized "strikers" that will provide soldiers with digital systems, greater power and better weapons. Even supporting and logistical supply platforms, such as heavy mobility truck (HEMTT) and a family of medium tactical machines, have proven the ability to solve problems for the success of Ukrainian fighting.

These systems have long needed renewal in the United States, and now they can be replaced by upgraded versions of Hemt A4 and FMTV A2. It is not only about armored vehicles. Supplements from national security will also allow the US armed forces to upgrade their reserves of critical ammunition. Patriot Pac-2 rockets delivered to Ukrainians were knocked down by drones, planning bombs and even hypersonic rockets.

The PAC-2 rocket was first developed in the 1980s and is still a significant arsenal of Patriot Ammunition. The PAC-2 funded transfer to Ukraine will allow the US Army to replenish its stocks with modernized PAC-3 missiles. This allows you to launch more rockets, provide greater maneuverability and cause more harm to the enemy.

In addition, the supplement not only stimulates the production of artillery shells in the United States, but also allows the army to send outdated stocks and replace them with fresh ammunition. The leaders of the Armed Forces are engaged in the creation of a modern 155-mm projectile, which will be able to "aim for armored vehicles, even in the absence of GPS" and "should affect the range of current 155 mm shells.

" This additional funding will also continue to transmit shock weapons, such as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which is successfully used by Ukraine to defeat goals in the Russian rear. ATCMS has been in service since 1986 and is now inferior to many other missiles in the arsenal of the army, such as Precision Strike Missile, whose range is more than twice as much as 400 miles.