[Goose]

We are seeing quite a few press discussions of means to lift the Russian blockade of Ukraine ports. Here is an article alluding to what the Ukrainians are asking for. https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-u-a...46651.html. I think the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) fired from ground launchers is indeed a good way to ensure Russia makes no attempt at amphibious landings on the coast of the Ukraine. It would also be a good way to ensure Russian surface ships have to launch their cruise missiles fom "standoff" range, but they can do this easily. These missiles will do nothing to deter Russian submarines from continuing to mine Ukrainian ports (Odesa) or sink commercial shipping in Ukrainian waters with missiles/torpedos. It is unclear to me why the press thinks this is an enabler to opening said ports.

I do support providing the NSM and also the MLRS/HIMARS to the Ukrainian forces. They need to free up all the troops they can to fight on active combat fronts, not to sit and wait for an invasion by sea. They also need a way to reach Russian artillery / MLRS that are beyond convenient range of their conventional artillery. Firing M777s at maximum range targets only works if they are already positioned to do so. HIMARS can hit things that are further away and targets of opportunity even when not "optimally" located.

[Goose]

We are seeing quite a few press discussions of means to lift the Russian blockade of Ukraine ports. Here is an article alluding to what the Ukrainians are asking for. https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-u-a...46651.html. I think the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) fired from ground launchers is indeed a good way to ensure Russia makes no attempt at amphibious landings on the coast of the Ukraine. It would also be a good way to ensure Russian surface ships have to launch their cruise missiles fom "standoff" range, but they can do this easily. These missiles will do nothing to deter Russian submarines from continuing to mine Ukrainian ports (Odesa) or sink commercial shipping in Ukrainian waters with missiles/torpedos. It is unclear to me why the press thinks this is an enabler to opening said ports.

I do support providing the NSM and also the MLRS/HIMARS to the Ukrainian forces. They need to free up all the troops they can to fight on active combat fronts, not to sit and wait for an invasion by sea. They also need a way to reach Russian artillery / MLRS that are beyond convenient range of their conventional artillery. Firing M777s at maximum range targets only works if they are already positioned to do so. HIMARS can hit things that are further away and targets of opportunity even when not "optimally" located.