THE GUNS OF APRIL: The latest arms package just announced by President Joe Biden — the eighth drawdown of weapons directly from the U.S. military inventory — is carefully tailored to deliver precisely the kind of firepower the Ukrainian military needs to counter the Russian offensive in the eastern Donbas region.
Front and center are 72 M777 55mm howitzers, made by BAE Systems, which have a longer range and lighter footprint than the 18 howitzers sent in the last batch of U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
“Highly portable by land, sea and air, the system features a minimal logistical footprint alongside maximum reliability,” says BAE Systems on its product page. “This means that it can be frequently moved and re-deployed, maximizing survivability, without encountering the IED risks faced by self-propelled systems. The M777 can strike over extended distances, regardless of terrain and obstacles.”
Included in the package are 144,000 artillery rounds and the 72 tactical military vehicles designed to tow the guns around the battlefield.
BIDEN TO SEND $800 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL AID TO UKRAINE, BANS RUSSIAN SHIPS
‘ENOUGH ARTILLERY TO EQUIP FIVE BATTALIONS’: “This commitment, together with the 18 Howitzers that were announced on the 13th of April, provide enough artillery now to equip five battalions for Ukraine for potential use in the Donbas,” said spokesman John Kirby at yesterday’s Pentagon briefing.
“What makes it important is the kind of fighting that we expect in the Donbas, because of the terrain, because it’s open, because it’s flat, because it’s not as urban, we can expect the Russians to rely on long-range fires, artillery in particular,” Kirby said. “But more critically, the Ukrainians believed that they needed additional artillery firepower, and that’s what these will offer.”
“Early feedback we’re getting from the Ukrainians who are undergoing training on the 777s is that they are very happy with the performance of the system, and they are learning it quickly,” he said. “The training is going very well, and they are excited about being able to use that system in the field.”
THE MYSTERIOUS GHOST DRONES: With each new arms shipment, we keep learning about new weapons we didn’t know were in the U.S. military arsenal, such as the Navy’s Unmanned Coastal Defense Vessels announced last week.
This time it’s the Phoenix Ghost unmanned aerial system built by AEVEX Aerospace, but not listed on its website. The Pentagon is sending 121 of the drones to Ukraine which can provide both reconnaissance and attack, with the emphasis on attack.
“I would just tell you this unmanned aerial system is designed for tactical operations, in other words, largely and but not exclusively to attack targets,” said Kirby. “Like almost all unmanned aerial systems, of course, has optics. So it can also be used to give you a sight picture of what it’s seeing, of course. But its principal focus is attack.”
Kirby said the drone, which is akin to the Switchblade made by AeroVironment, but has slightly different capabilities, was in development by the U.S. Air Force before the invasion and was already in its inventory.
“We believed that this particular system would very nicely suit their needs, particularly in eastern Ukraine,” Kirby said.
US ‘GHOST’ DRONES HEADED TO UKRAINE AS PART OF NEW MILITARY AID
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HAPPENING TODAY: Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal continues making the rounds in Washington, conferring this afternoon with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department at 2 p.m.
Yesterday, Shmyhal met with President Joe Biden ahead of Biden’s announcement of more military and economic aid for Ukraine, and then he went to the Pentagon, where he met with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
“We are so grateful for this support, for this supplying, everything what you’ve mentioned today,” Shmyhal said before sitting down with Austin. “There is no doubt that we will win this fight, but to end it sooner, we need more powerful and modern weapons to fight even more effectively.”
“We need continuous supply of firepower, long-range artillery, MLRS, and all size weapons which would give us strategic advantage,” he said, “and [we] count on continued U.S. leadership in this regard.”
YELLEN PLEDGES $500 MILLION MORE IN ECONOMIC AID FOR UKRAINE
‘SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A LARGE JAVELIN’: In his remarks yesterday, Biden, perhaps channeling FDR’s historic “arsenal of democracy” speech, said the U.S. is prepared to keep the weapons flowing.
“We have the capacity to do this for a long time. The question is, are we going to continue to maintain the support of the international community,” Biden said, after channeling another President Roosevelt.
“We won’t always be able to advertise everything we — that our partners are doing to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom,” he said, “but to modernize Teddy Roosevelt’s famous advice, sometimes we will speak softly and carry a large Javelin.”
Counting the thousands of Javelin shoulder-fired tank-busting missiles, Biden said the U.S. has provided 10 anti-armor systems for every Russian tank in Ukraine. “In the past two months, we’ve moved weapons and equipment to Ukraine at record speed. We’ve sent thousands of anti-armor and anti-missile helicopters, drones, grenade launchers, machine guns, rifles, radar systems. More than 50 million rounds of ammunition had already been sent.”
MAJORITY OF VOTERS SAY BIDEN RESPONSE TO RUSSIAN INVASION NOT TOUGH ENOUGH: POLL
AUSTIN TO GERMANY: The Pentagon announced yesterday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will be traveling to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to meet with his counterparts from other as-yet-unnamed nations to discuss both the current and future defense needs of Ukraine.
The goal of the Ukraine Defense Consultative Group meeting will be to “bring together stakeholders from all around the world for a series of meetings on the latest Ukraine defense needs,” said spokesman John Kirby, as well as “ensuring that Ukraine’s enduring security and sovereignty over the long term is respected.”
“Topics will range on the agenda from obviously the latest battlefield assessment of the renewed Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine, to energizing the defense industrial base in an effort to continue the steady flow of security assistance, and again, in taking a longer, larger view at Ukraine’s defense needs going forward, beyond the war that they’re facing right now.”
WILL AUSTIN GO TO KYIV? For obvious security reasons, the U.S. has been tight-lipped about whether and when the Biden administration will dispatch a high-level official for a symbolic visit to Ukraine’s capital. President Volodymyr Zelensky has been anxious for Biden himself to pay a visit, but the administration has been mulling over sending someone else, and Austin’s name has come up.
In his video address last night, Zelensky praised the decision by the prime ministers of Spain and Denmark for having the courage to make the trip yesterday. “The two leaders’ presence in Kyiv encourages other leaders of the democratic world to think about visits to Ukraine, about new gestures of support for our state, about concrete decisions that we need to win,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky also expressed thanks for what he called “further acceleration of the supply of weapons to Ukraine,” in particular, the latest commitments from the United States. “This package contains very powerful defense tools for our military. In particular, it is artillery, shells, drones. This is what we expected.”
SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS MASS GRAVE NEAR MARIUPOL: REPORT
MARIUPOL’S PRECARIOUS STATE: While Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in their face-to-face meeting yesterday for having “successfully completed the combat effort to liberate Mariupol,” the Pentagon says the strategic southern port city is still contested.
“It’s questionable how much control the Russians have over Mariupol,” said spokesman John Kirby on MSNBC. “Clearly, they have been bombarding the city and causing extensive damage. And they have forces, quite a lot of forces, in Mariupol, but our sense today is that it’s still contested, that the Ukrainians are still there, they are still offering a resistance. So, we’re not ready to accept Russia’s claims that they have Mariupol.”
“In the south and east of our country, the occupiers continue to do everything to have a reason to talk about at least some victories,” said Zelensky last night. “They can only delay the inevitable — the time when the invaders will have to leave our territory, in particular, Mariupol, a city that continues to resist Russia, despite everything the occupiers say.”
VIDEO OF PUTIN GRIPPING TABLE SPARKS HEALTH CONCERNS
‘A PRETTY FINE GROUP’: The Russian foreign ministry has retaliatory sanctions against more than two dozen Americans, including Vice President Kamala Harris, White House chief of staff Ronald Klain, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Holland Hicks, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, State Department spokesman Ned Price, and Doug Emhoff, Harris’s husband, who are now all barred from entering Russia.
Asked about it at yesterday’s briefing, Kirby quipped: “I looked at everybody else on the list, that’s a pretty fine group to belong to. So I’m OK with that.”
RECRUITING WHILE BOOTING: At the same time, the Army is having significant trouble filling its ranks. The service has discharged 255 soldiers for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and is on track to give another 2,500 to 3,000 the boot before the end of the year, a number roughly equivalent to two or three Army battalions.
When the Army announced last month it would be temporarily reducing the size of its force over the next two years by 12,000 soldiers, from 485,000 down to 473,000, it blamed the difficulty of recruiting in a red-hot job market coupled with the inability to reach high school seniors isolated by COVID-19 restrictions.
But Republican lawmakers see another big reason: the continued enforcement of a vaccine mandate at a time when COVID-19 cases are at a record low. “What’s changed over the last 24 months? It’s the department’s COVID vaccine mandate. And there’s just no way around it,” said Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana at a recent House Armed Services Committee hearing.
“It’s pretty plain, if we look at this, that DOD is having a recruiting and retention crisis because it has disqualified over half of the male population from serving in the military in its best-recruiting grounds,” Johnson said, citing CDC statistics on the vaccination rates for young adults.
READ MORE: ARMY SCRAMBLES TO FIND NEW RECRUITS AT THE SAME TIME IT BOOTS VACCINE REFUSERS
The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Biden to send $800 million in additional aid to Ukraine, bans Russian ships
Washington Examiner: Yellen pledges $500 million more in economic aid for Ukraine
Washington Examiner: US ‘Ghost’ drones headed to Ukraine as part of new military aid
Washington Examiner: Nearly 20% of Ukrainian population has been internally displaced, UN says
Washington Examiner: Satellite imagery shows mass grave near Mariupol: Report
Washington Examiner: Boris Johnson predicts peace talks with ‘crocodile’ Putin will fail
Washington Examiner: Majority of voters say Biden response to Russian invasion not tough enough: Poll
Washington Examiner: The bizarre hotel bar scene at the edge of the war in Ukraine
Washington Examiner: Russian chemical plant burns down hours after deadly fire at military facility
Washington Examiner: Maddow airs audio of McCarthy saying he would tell Trump to resign after Jan. 6
Washington Examiner: Video of Putin gripping table sparks health concerns
Washington Examiner: Hackers target US industrial control systems
Washington Examiner: Army scrambles to find new recruits at the same time it boots vaccine refusers
Washington Examiner: Opinion: Jacinda Ardern reminds us why New Zealand should be suspended from the Five Eyes alliance
New York Times: New Zealand Deal May Put Japan Closer To ‘Five Eyes’ Intelligence Alliance
Reuters: Analysis: N.Korea Could ‘Go Small’ With Tactical Nukes If It Resumes Testing
Defense News: Navy’s 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan Offers Three Options To Increase The Size Of The Fleet
USNI News: After A Decade Of Debate, Cruisers Set To Exit Fleet In 5 Years
Inside Defense: DOD Details $3B Proposal To Deal With Climate Change
Air Force Magazine: B-1 Bomber Catches Fire on Flight Line at Dyess
Air Force Magazine: Some B-21 Bomber Facilities at Ellsworth to be Ready for 2024
Air Force Magazine: Pentagon Reveals Secretive New Drone the Air Force is Giving to Ukraine: Phoenix Ghost
19fortyfive.com: History Shows the Russian Army Can Mount a Comeback in Ukraine
19fortyfive.com: Ukraine Will Give Russia Problems Thanks to U.S. 155mm Howitzers
19fortyfive.com: Puma: The Tiny Drone That Ukraine Could Use to Strike Russia
19fortyfive.com: Did Turkish-Made TB2 Drones Help Sink the Moskva?
Calendar
FRIDAY | APRIL 22
12:30 p.m. — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs virtual discussion: “South Korea’s Presidential Election and Expectations of the U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Alliance,” with Mark Tokola, vice president of the Korean Economic Institute of America; and Celeste Arrington, professor at GWU https://calendar.gwu.edu/south-koreas-presidential-election
2 p.m. — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs virtual discussion: “Implications of the Conflict in Ukraine on the Middle East Security,” with Alex Vatanka, director of the Middle East Institute’s Iran Program; Sina Azodi, visiting scholar at the GWU Institute for Middle East Studies; Nicole Grajewski, pre-doctoral research fellow at the Belfer Center’s International Security Program; and Negar Mortazavi, columnist at The Independent https://calendar.gwu.edu/implications-conflict-ukraine-middle-east-security
TUESDAY | APRIL 26
10 a.m. 106 Dirksen — Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing: “Review of the FY2023 State Department Budget Request,” with testimony from Secretary of State Antony Blinken http://foreign.senate.gov
2:30 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Committee Seapower Subcommittee hearing on Navy and Marine Corps investment programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2023 and the Future Years Defense Program. http://www.armed-services.senate.gov
WEDNESDAY | APRIL 27
10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee Hearing: “Department of the Air Force Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request,” with testimony from Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall; Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown; and Chief of Space Operations, Gen. John Raymond https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
10 a.m. 2359 Rayburn — House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing: “FY2023 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security,” with testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas http://appropriations.house.gov Livestream at https://youtu.be/rhq5zghMGXQ
10 a.m. 2167 Rayburn — House Transportation and Infrastructure Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hearing on “Review of FY2023 Budget Request for the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Programs. http://transportation.house.gov
10:30 a.m. 210 Cannon — House Budget Committee hearing: “Department of Defense FY2023 Budget,” with testimony from Defense Undersecretary/Comptroller and CFO Michael McCord testifies https://budget.house.gov Livestream at https://youtu.be/upbSrtAI_XI
2 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Landforce Hearing: “Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request of the Department of Defense for Fixed-Wing Tactical and Training Aircraft Programs,” with testimony from Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics; Air Force Lt. Gen. David Nahom, deputy chief of staff for plans and programs; Frederick “Jay” Stefany, acting assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition, and senior acquisition executive for the F-35 program; Rear Adm. Andrew Loiselle, director, Air Warfare Division; Lt. Gen. Mark Wise, deputy marine corps commandant for aviation; Air Force Lt. Gen. Eric Fick, program executive officer, F-35 Joint Program Office; Vice Adm. Ronald Boxall, director, force structure, resources, and assessment, Joint Staff; and Jon Ludwigson, director, contracting and national security acquisitions for the Government Accountability Office https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
3 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee hearing on military and civilian personnel programs in the Department of Defense in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2023 and the Future Years Defense Program. http://www.armed-services.senate.gov
4:30 p.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on the Energy Department’s atomic energy defense activities and Defense Department nuclear weapons programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2023 and the Future Years Defense Program. http://www.armed-services.senate.gov
4:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces: “Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request,” with testimony from Jay Stefany, performing duties of assistant secretary of the Navy, research, development, and acquisition; Vice Adm. Scott Conn, deputy chief of naval operations, warfighting requirements and capabilities; Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, Deputy Marine Corps Commandant, combat development and integration https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
THURSDAY | APRIL 28
10 a.m. — House Appropriations State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee hearing on “FY2023 Budget Request for the Department of State,” with testimony from Secretary of State Antony Blinken http://appropriations.house.gov
10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee “Member Day” hearing to receive testimony from members of Congress on their national defense priorities for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
10 a.m. 2141 Rayburn — House Judiciary Committee committee hearing on “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security.” http://judiciary.house.gov
10:30 a.m. 2358-A Rayburn — House Appropriations Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on “Air Force Installations and Quality of Life Update.” http://appropriations.house.gov
2 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness Hearing: “F-35 Sustainment,” with testimony from Steven Morani, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for sustainment / acting assistant secretary of defense for sustainment; Lt. Gen. Eric Fick, program executive officer, F-35 Joint Program Office; and Diana Maurer, director, Defense Capabilities and Management Team, Government Accountability Office https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
2:30 p.m. 2362-B Rayburn — House Appropriations Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on “FY2023 Budget Request for the Department of Energy,” with testimony from Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm http://appropriations.house.gov
4:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations Hearing: “Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request for U.S. Special Operations Forces and Command,” with testimony from Christopher Maier, assistant secretary of defense special operations and low intensity conflict; Army Gen. Richard Clarke, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
FRIDAY | APRIL 29
11 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems hearing: “Department of Defense Information Technology, Cybersecurity, and Information Assurance for Fiscal Year 2023,” with testimony from John Sherman, CIO and acting DOD chief digital and artificial intelligence officer; Kelly Fletcher, principal deputy CIO, Office of the Secretary of Defense; and Margaret Palmieri, principal deputy chief digital and artificial intelligence officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I looked at everybody else on the list, that’s a pretty fine group to belong to. So I’m OK with that.”
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, reacting to Moscow’s announcement that he was on a list of more than two dozen Americans sanctioned by Russia.
