[Goose]

The US is set to announce a 1.1 billion dollar military aid package to Ukraine, which is rumored to include 18 HIMARS. That's a significant jump, I wonder what that means.

It could mean the US has finally realized that the Ukrainians need some "mass" to accomplish their goals. One possibility would be to develop a NATO style armored striking force, but that would take lots of time and cost lots of money. It may be that the US and Ukraine have decided on a "third way". If one looks at how 2 ACR was "reconstructed" for deployment to Europe, it is clear that at least part of the US army is not convinced the "classical"  armored striking force has a future. It is in fact quite jarring compared to it's composition when it left in 1990 . Alternatively, this may be the necessary counter-battery force to get Ukraine "over the top" in Kherson. OTOH, it might just be the realization that Ukraine has produced great results with this weapon and therefore "more is better". I really do hope that some day soon we have books published on the give-and-take discussions between the US and Ukrainian generals about the "way ahead".

Any chance this would hint at ATACMS being included?  Anti UAV systems are also include, among other things.

ATACMS is a different issue IMHO. It is easy to supply to armies that already operate HIMARS/M270. Unfortunately our behavior  on this subject has turned supplying HIMARS into a major escalation even if Russia didn't perceive it as such initially. If Ukraine can make a case that they really need ATACMS for specific, limited targets, maybe we will do so. I am pretty sure Biden will not sign any kind of what he sees as a "blank check".

I hope the anti UAV systems work.

[Goose]

The US is set to announce a 1.1 billion dollar military aid package to Ukraine, which is rumored to include 18 HIMARS. That's a significant jump, I wonder what that means.

It could mean the US has finally realized that the Ukrainians need some "mass" to accomplish their goals. One possibility would be to develop a NATO style armored striking force, but that would take lots of time and cost lots of money. It may be that the US and Ukraine have decided on a "third way". If one looks at how 2 ACR was "reconstructed" for deployment to Europe, it is clear that at least part of the US army is not convinced the "classical"  armored striking force has a future. It is in fact quite jarring compared to it's composition when it left in 1990 . Alternatively, this may be the necessary counter-battery force to get Ukraine "over the top" in Kherson. OTOH, it might just be the realization that Ukraine has produced great results with this weapon and therefore "more is better". I really do hope that some day soon we have books published on the give-and-take discussions between the US and Ukrainian generals about the "way ahead".

Any chance this would hint at ATACMS being included?  Anti UAV systems are also include, among other things.

ATACMS is a different issue IMHO. It is easy to supply to armies that already operate HIMARS/M270. Unfortunately our behavior  on this subject has turned supplying HIMARS into a major escalation even if Russia didn't perceive it as such initially. If Ukraine can make a case that they really need ATACMS for specific, limited targets, maybe we will do so. I am pretty sure Biden will not sign any kind of what he sees as a "blank check".

I hope the anti UAV systems work.