Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Does the Ukraine have the capacity to make their own shells? Would they even bother if it would constantly be targeted

You haven't been able to explain anything so far including how a respected military officer and historian is wrong.

Dictators have survived a lot longer than Putin in countries much poorer as well. We'd all love to see him fall but he's been there nigh on 20 years already and I wouldn't be surprised to see him cling on for quite a few years more

???

Some deliveries from Berlin

1x Skynex air defense system

- 10x Marder 1A3 IFV

- 2x Hensoldt TRML-4D air surveillance radar units

- Undisclosed number of IRIS-T SLM Missiles

- Undisclosed number of Leopard 2 ammunition

9000 artillery shells.

More trucks

305 Haenel MK 556 rifles aka H&K 416...

The skynex is probably the most interesting delivery it's an anti aircraft gun geared towards which can be ground or truck based depending what they delivered pretty new system I previously posted about on here

I've been in similar situations, and the level of planning tends to be very broad strokes. Anything pertaining to actual operations being handled on the lower level. Fires, logistical support, air coordination, all regulary the remit of enlisted or contractors. There's no special sauce involved that necessities an officer corps, it doesn't take OCS to send emails or populate trackers.

A system based on meritocracy, competence and experience would be far preferable to one that pushes individuals into positions of authority based on nothing more than a college degree. It's telling that the most capable sof units are NCO driven and largely free from officers.

If anyone's looking for the source of that, here it is:

What I find interesting is that Germany has also increased its commitment for IRIS-T SLM systems from five to nine, and also promised another Skynex system in addition to the one that was delivered. While there's certainly an argument to be made that the pace of deliveries is to slow, the fact that Germany keeps sending top-of-the-line equipment to Ukraine is something that I wasn't expecting from Berlin.

It's also worth pointing out that, according to Jane's, the Skynex system delivered to Ukraine apparently consists of four truck-mounted gun systems, a command post and a radar, so a pretty potent package:

The point is that there is nothing about the nature of the work, which is contingent on an entrenched hierarchical separation. Whatever skills are necessary to function in those roles are learnt. An officer starts off as a fairly useless addition to a unit and generally gets worse from there. All while being paid many times more than those actually doing the important work.

I don't think it particularly relevant looking to examples from decades past, in countries with wildly different social and educational situations. The point is that now, today, the idea that an officer corps is necessary for the functioning of a unit is an outdated idea. Any role filled by the position of an officer could and often is accomplished by an enlisted person or warrant officer. The meat and potatoes, as you put it, is to exist in a political environment that is created by and which serves the propagation of the officer corp. Most field grades will have very little operational experience, especially nowadays with combat pretty hard to come by. These are the people who make the decisions which impact those who actually have to carry out the tasks involved in conducting warfare. The yawning chasm between those who sit in S/G shops quibbling over PowerPoints formats and those who do work.

I don't think the US really wants to be the arsenal of democracy any more -

It seems to be entering a more isolationist phase , and not just trumpian republicans , hardly surprising considering the balls ups they made in iraq and Afghanistan,

In a way their response in Ukraine may be a blip

I wonder if this is capitalism at work rather than pure humanitarian support to a neighboring country? As @Gatling has pointed out, every time there is a package of X billion promised by the states, approx 80-90% of it remains in the nation as labour costs etc. War is big business and Rheinmetall is arguably best placed to establish itself as a new contender if military spending continues in this vein for the next few years. Even in Ireland, people are talking more about Defence budgets in the last few years, than they have in the last few decades prior. The Swiss industry has proven to have too many legal stipulations, so a strong available source in Europe could be a way for Germany to start pulling more power in the EU bloc back towards them, in a purely financial sense.

Either way, a welcome development and great to see additional systems being delivered

Just sayin...

If true, then holy crap

If you are implying Putin would attack a NATO country, I dont see it. Its really down to what is negotiated and agreed for "west Ukraine"