The Return of Industrial Warfare
Comment of the Day

June 27 2022

Commentary by Eoin Treacy

The Return of Industrial Warfare

Thanks to a subscriber for this informative article by Alex Vershinin for RUSI (Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies). Here is a section:

Presently, the US is decreasing its artillery ammunition stockpiles. In 2020, artillery ammunition purchases decreased by 36% to $425 million. In 2022, the plan is to reduce expenditure on 155mm artillery rounds to $174 million. This is equivalent to 75,357 M795 basic ‘dumb’ rounds for regular artillery, 1,400 XM1113 rounds for the M777, and 1,046 XM1113 rounds for Extended Round Artillery Cannons. Finally, there are $75 million dedicated for Excalibur precision-guided munitions that costs $176K per round, thus totaling 426 rounds. In short, US annual artillery production would at best only last for 10 days to two weeks of combat in Ukraine. If the initial estimate of Russian shells fired is over by 50%, it would only extend the artillery supplied for three weeks.

And

The war in Ukraine demonstrates that war between peer or near-peer adversaries demands the existence of a technically advanced, mass scale, industrial-age production capability. The Russian onslaught consumes ammunition at rates that massively exceed US forecasts and ammunition production. For the US to act as the arsenal of democracy in defence of Ukraine, there must be a major look at the manner and the scale at which the US organises its industrial base. This situation is especially critical because behind the Russian invasion stands the world’s manufacturing capital – China. As the US begins to expend more and more of its stockpiles to keep Ukraine in the war, China has yet to provide any meaningful military assistance to Russia. The West must assume that China will not allow Russia to be defeated, especially due to a lack of ammunition. If competition between autocracies and democracies has really entered a military phase, then the arsenal of democracy must first radically improve its approach to the production of materiel in wartime.

Eoin Treacy's view

China’s stated aim is to “reunite” with Taiwan politically by whatever means are necessary. This article from Taiwan News, focusing on the Koumintang’s (pro-unity party) recent stated pro-US stance may be of interest. 

China’s ideal scenario would be a pro-unity government that voluntarily reunites. The extent to which China runs counter intelligence inside Taiwan cannot be underestimated so this can’t be ruled out as a potential outcome.

It certainly furthers China’s ambition for NATO to expend munitions in Ukraine now. That way, a future military operation in Taiwan is likely to receive less on the ground support. The ability to increase production of Javelin and Stinger missile must also form part of Russia’s military calculus.

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin is firming from the upper side of its underlying range.

Northrup Grumman is also holding within its range following its breakout in January.

Raytheon is firming from the region upper side of its range too.

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