[M T]

Given the level of destruction in Ukraine I would have hoped for a more rapid response all along the line to the delivery of the NASAMS. No idea why it will take a month to get it there. IMHO this seems excessive, especially given the need.

From the Pentagon brief this morning, the US will let Ukraine announce when it is there.  (My read is that it could already be there but it is up to Ukraine to decide when/how to, uh, announce it to the Russians (leaving them to think maybe it is already there.)  If I heard correctly, the briefer didn't answer the question about whether (Raytheon?) technicians would go into Ukraine to help set it up and maybe train how to use it.  Or whether training would be outside Ukraine.  My bet is they would be very hands-off about actually operating it.

There was a lot in the brief about inspectors (composed of embassy staff) that assure the items sent to Ukraine arrive there and are used for the war effort.  It sounded as though they were doing little more than validating the equipment exists at logistics warehouses before being sent to the front lines.

Ukraine reports "today [October 31] the enemy used 55 Kh-101 cruise missiles, a Kh-59 guided air missile, 22 S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, four Shahed-136 UAVs and a Lancet-3 UAV on civilian targets in Ukraine,"  Elsewhere, (Nov 1?) "Over the past day, Russian troops have launched four missile strikes and 26 air strikes, and opened fire with MLRS over 27 times."  On the other hand, "Over the past day, Ukrainian air forces have launched 22 strikes, hitting 19 enemy ammunition and military equipment clusters, and three air defense missile system positions. The Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units shot down two Orlan-10 UAVs and six Shahed-136 UCAVs across different directions."  (All those reports are from Ukrainian sources. Note the discrepancy on the number of Shahed-136 UAVs.)

[M T]

Given the level of destruction in Ukraine I would have hoped for a more rapid response all along the line to the delivery of the NASAMS. No idea why it will take a month to get it there. IMHO this seems excessive, especially given the need.

From the Pentagon brief this morning, the US will let Ukraine announce when it is there.  (My read is that it could already be there but it is up to Ukraine to decide when/how to, uh, announce it to the Russians (leaving them to think maybe it is already there.)  If I heard correctly, the briefer didn't answer the question about whether (Raytheon?) technicians would go into Ukraine to help set it up and maybe train how to use it.  Or whether training would be outside Ukraine.  My bet is they would be very hands-off about actually operating it.

There was a lot in the brief about inspectors (composed of embassy staff) that assure the items sent to Ukraine arrive there and are used for the war effort.  It sounded as though they were doing little more than validating the equipment exists at logistics warehouses before being sent to the front lines.

Ukraine reports "today [October 31] the enemy used 55 Kh-101 cruise missiles, a Kh-59 guided air missile, 22 S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, four Shahed-136 UAVs and a Lancet-3 UAV on civilian targets in Ukraine,"  Elsewhere, (Nov 1?) "Over the past day, Russian troops have launched four missile strikes and 26 air strikes, and opened fire with MLRS over 27 times."  On the other hand, "Over the past day, Ukrainian air forces have launched 22 strikes, hitting 19 enemy ammunition and military equipment clusters, and three air defense missile system positions. The Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units shot down two Orlan-10 UAVs and six Shahed-136 UCAVs across different directions."  (All those reports are from Ukrainian sources. Note the discrepancy on the number of Shahed-136 UAVs.)