Latest news with #M109
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Eye-Watering Bill for Trump Birthday Parade Includes Paint Job for Tanks
Amry tanks got a paint job before being moved to Washington D.C. for a parade on Donald Trump's birthday, a retired general has revealed. Armor including M1A2 tanks, Stryker armored fighting vehicles and M109 self-propelled howitzers have been arriving the capital for the parade—ostensibly to celebrate 250 years of the Army. But the total cost was already disclosed to have hit $45 million, which will include repairing roads not designed to take heavy armor. Now, the bill has been revealed to include sprucing up the materiel before it rolls in front of the president on his 79th birthday. Retired Army Lt. General Mark Hertling, speaking Tuesday on MSNBC's Morning Joe, expressed reservations about the parade's scale and cost. To pull off the spectacle, the armor was brought by rail from bases across the country, while helicopters and planes will fly overhead during the parade. Hertling commanded the 1st Armored Division in combat in Iraq in 2007 and 2008, has a Purple Heart and multiple Bronze Stars and Distinguished Service Medals. 'I'm personally, truth be told, not a parade kind of guy,' Hertling said. 'Even when I was a cadet at West Point, I hated parades.' Initially conceived as a small event, the parade's scope expanded significantly, now involving nearly 8,000 soldiers marching alongside armored vehicles transported from various military bases across the country. The birthday celebration could cost as much as $45 million in taxpayer dollars, with an extra $16 million reportedly set aside for road repairs. Hertling described the parade as 'mission creep foisted upon the Army by politicians,' reflecting concerns that the military is being tasked with an expensive political spectacle. The logistical challenges are significant, too. According to Hertling, the vehicles have been freshly painted to present a polished image—because of a previous, rushed deployment of military hardware that Hertling says 'looked bad' and 'were not a good reflection of the Army.' 'How much is this going to cost? It's going to cost a lot,' he said. 'Not only [do] those vehicles use a lot [of fuel], they have been transported from different military bases, [and] as you can see, looking at those tanks and Bradleys that you're showing right now, they've all been freshly painted,' he said. 'The last time a bunch of tanks were brought to Washington, D.C. it was at a last-minute time frame and they looked bad. I mean, they were not a good reflection of the army. So obviously the commanders and the soldiers who take a great deal of pride in their vehicles, want them to be looking well.' He said all of this has contributed to the spiraling cost of the event. 'And, you know, that's created more cost other than the train load and the railhead and the helicopters [that] are going to be flying overhead and the and the fuel that's going to be used and the support for the almost 8,000 soldiers that are going to be marching inside of that column with the other vehicles to represent wars that the nation has fought in different period dress and uniforms. 'It was a good idea by the army to celebrate this and use it as a recruiting tool. It's just generated a lot more interest because of the connection with the president's birthday, that's for sure.' While the Army has defended the event as a recruiting tool and a celebration of the nation's military heritage, the timing—coinciding with the president's birthday—has raised questions about the parade's true purpose. Meanwhile, as much as $16 million has been earmarked for filling in the damage left by tanks rumbling down civilian streets, according to U.S. military officials. Steel plates at least an inch thick will be laid across sections of the route where M1A1 Abrams tanks, each weighing around 140,000 pounds, and other treaded vehicles will make turns. Similar protection will not be laid out along straight sections of the roadway. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has previously voiced her concerns about damage to city streets. 'Military tanks on our streets would not be good,' she said at an April 7 news conference. 'If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied by many millions of dollars to repair the roads.'
India.com
04-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Can Pakistan Afford War With India? Shortage Of Artillery Ammunition Reveals Its Military Capacity
India-Pakistan Tension: The tensions between India and Pakistan, which soared after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, are not likely to die down soon, as New Delhi is making big diplomatic moves now and then to keep the jittery Pakistan, which is fearing a heavy retaliation from India, on the edge in anticipation. As the LoC remains on the boil due to Pakistan's continuous unprovoked firing, India has taken a slew of measures, from halting all sorts of imports from the neighbouring country to banning social media accounts of its cricketers, celebrities and leaders. Amid the unrest at the border following the heinous act, Pakistan's military is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition, which has severely dented its warfighting capabilities, limiting it to just four days. The shortage is attributed to the country's recent arms deals with Ukraine, which have drained its war reserves. The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), which supplies the military, has struggled to replenish supplies amid surging global demand and outdated production facilities, news agency ANI reported, citing sources. As a result, Pakistan's ammunition reserves can sustain only 96 hours of high-intensity conflict, leaving its military vulnerable. Pakistan's military doctrine, centred on rapid mobilisation to counter India's numerical superiority, hinges on artillery and armoured units. Without sufficient 155mm shells for its M109 howitzers or 122mm rockets for its BM-21 systems, the army's ability to blunt an Indian offensive is severely compromised. The social media posts on X in April 2025 claimed that critical 155mm artillery shells, vital for Pakistan's artillery-heavy doctrine, were diverted to Ukraine, leaving stockpiles dangerously low. The POF, designed to first meet domestic needs, struggled to replenish supplies amid surging global demand and outdated production facilities. However, with the sale of 155 mm ammunition to Ukraine, all 155 mm gun systems, including their self-propelled and MGS artillery, are without adequate ammunition stocks. The shortage of artillery ammunition has severe implications for Pakistan's military doctrine, which relies heavily on artillery and armoured units. Without sufficient ammunition, the Pakistan army's ability to blunt an Indian offensive is severely compromised. A source told ANI that due to a lack of critical ammunition, the Pakistani Military hierarchy is deeply concerned up to some limits about panic. The same was discussed in the Special Corps Commanders Conference on 02 May 2025, among many other things. Earlier, former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa acknowledged these limitations, stating that Pakistan lacks the ammunition and economic strength to engage in a prolonged conflict with India. Intelligence reports suggested that Pakistan has constructed ammunition depots near the India-Pakistan border in anticipation of potential conflict, a source told ANI. Pakistan sent its ammunition to distant wars, only to find itself stranded, its arsenals empty, and its defences teetering on the edge. The pursuit of short-term gain has left a long-term wound, one that could prove fatal in the next crisis. Pakistan's economic crisis, characterised by high inflation, mounting debt, and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, has further impacted the military's operational capabilities. The army has been forced to cut back on rations, suspend military exercises, and halt scheduled war games due to fuel shortages.
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First Post
04-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Pakistan military has 4 days' worth of warfighting capabilities amid artillery shortage: Report
While Pakistani politicians are flexing their muscles, the country's military is facing a major artillery ammunition shortage, limiting its warfighting capabilities to just 4 days amid tensions with India read more As Pakistan flexes its muscles, reports are emerging that the country's military is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition. Sources close to the matter told ANI that this shortage could severely limit Pakistan's warfighting capabilities to just four days. As per the report, Pakistan is facing a shortage because it was involved in an arms deal with Ukraine, which has drained its war reserves. Sources told ANI that the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), which is tasked with supplying the military, has been struggling to replenish ammunition. The factories are struggling to fulfil the global surge in demand as they work with outdated production facilities. Because of the deplorable state of these factories, Pakistan's ammunition reserve can sustain only 96 hours' worth of high-intensity combat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This can be concerning for the Pakistani military amid tensions with India following the Pahalgam attack. In the past few days, the personnel from the cash-strapped nations have frequently violated the ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC). The country's leaders often boast about Pakistan's military capabilities by indulging in war-mongering. Why does it matter? It is pertinent to note that for time immemorial, Pakistan's military strategy has centred around rapid mobilisation to counter Indian forces, which are already superior in numbers. Without sufficient 155mm shells for its M109 howitzer or 122 mm rockets, the country's prospective offence against India would be compromised, ANI reported. As per the report, the artillery shell, crucial for the country's military, was diverted to Ukraine, leaving its own stockpiles low. Since then, POF has been struggling to replenish the demands. Sources told ANI that this shortage is deeply concerning to Pakistan's leadership, with some expressing a bit of panic. In the past, former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa acknowledged these limitations, emphasising that Pakistan lacks the ammunition and economic strength to engage in any sort of prolonged conflict with India. Meanwhile, sources have also told ANI that Islamabad is setting up ammunition depots near the India-Pakistan border in anticipation of a potential conflict. With inputs from ANI.
New Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Pakistan's artillery shortage limits nation's warfighting capacity to just 4 days: Reports
Pakistan is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition due to recent arms deals with Ukraine, limiting its warfighting capabilities to just four days, according to reports. Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), which supply ammunition to the military, are struggling to keep up with surging global demand and outdated production facilities, reported ANI. As a result, ammunition reserves have not been replenished and can sustain only 96 hours of high-intensity conflict. Pakistan's military relies on artillery and armoured units for rapid mobilisation against the numerically superior Indian Army. However, without sufficient 155mm shells for M109 howitzers or 122mm rockets for BM-21 systems, this artillery-heavy doctrine is severely compromised. Reports suggest that the POF have struggled to replenish the domestic stockpile following the sale of 155mm ammunition to Ukraine. IANS reported that Pakistan's decision to meet international arms demands at the expense of the country's security was an attempt to balance "economic desperation against strategic survival." Pakistan's economic crisis, characterised by high inflation, mounting debt, and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, has further impacted the military's operational capabilities. The army has been forced to cut back on rations, suspend military exercises, and halt scheduled war games due to fuel shortages.
New Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Pakistan's artillery shortage jeopardises military doctrine, limits warfighting to 96 hours
NEW DELHI: Pakistan is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition due to recent arms deals with Ukraine, limiting its warfighting capabilities to just four days, recent reports say. ANI reported that the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), which supplies the military, is struggling to keep up with surging global demand and outdated production facilities. As a result, ammunition reserves have not been replenished and can sustain only 96 hours of high-intensity conflict. Pakistani military relies on artillery and armoured units for rapid mobilisation against the numerically superior Indian military. However, without sufficient 155mm shells for M109 howitzers or 122mm rockets for BM-21 systems, this artillery-heavy doctrine is severely compromised. The POF struggled to replenish domestic stockpile following the sale of 155mm ammunition to Ukraine. IANS reported that Pakistan's decision to meet international arms demands at the expense of the country's security was an attempt to balance "economic desperation against strategic survival." Pakistan's economic crisis, characterised by high inflation, mounting debt, and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, has further impacted the military's operational capabilities. The army has been forced to cut back on rations, suspend military exercises, and halt scheduled war games due to fuel shortages.
