Top GOP lawmaker questions why Biden ‘dithered’ over tank approval

‘THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DITHERED’: It was always the case that Ukraine would need modern tanks to prevail on the battlefield over Russia, and it was always the case that providing those tanks would be a complex task requiring training for tank crews and maintainers and the establishment of logistics supply lines to keep the tanks running through the rigors of combat.

So while President Joe Biden’s announcement that the United States will send a Ukrainian battalion-size complement of 31 M1A2 main battle tanks to arrive sometime later this year was widely praised on Capitol Hill, some lawmakers questioned why it took so long.

“It should not be this hard to give the Ukrainians what they need to win,” said Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who called Biden’s decision “long overdue.”

“Over and over, the administration has dithered in response to repeated Ukrainian requests for equipment, including Western tanks, HIMARs, advanced conventional munitions, and air defenses,” Risch said in a statement. “The fact that the administration eventually provided these capabilities — under pressure from allies and members from both parties — does not diminish the strategic, materiel, and human cost that resulted from the delay.”

BIDEN ANNOUNCES TRANSFER OF TANKS TO UKRAINE, PRAISES GERMANY FOR DOING THE SAME

WHY SO LONG? Despite the fact the U.S. has hundreds of M1 tanks, including hundreds of older models mothballed after the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the Pentagon insists it has none to spare.

“The Pentagon assesses that they don’t have any excess Abrams in their inventory, that all of them are gainfully employed, if you will, for our own national security defense,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby at yesterday’s White House briefing.

Instead, the U.S. will procure new tanks from General Dynamics Land Systems using funds from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters via teleconference yesterday.

“If we do not have [it] readily within U.S. stocks, then we go the procurement route to make sure that we can procure the right capability for Ukraine,” said the official, who noted that along with the tanks, the U.S. would also be buying eight M88 Hercules recovery vehicles, made by BAE Systems, to provide recovery operations to keep the Abrams tanks “up and running.”

Kirby dismissed the suggestion that procuring new tanks would result in a longer delay. “Even if there were excess tanks, the process of getting them to Ukraine to prepare them for use by the Ukrainians, to train the Ukrainians, put all the parts and supplies in place, it would take many months anyway.”

BIDEN TEAM SAYS ‘CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND’ DROVE TANKS REVERSAL FROM LAST WEEK

SEND IN THE PLANES: No sooner does the U.S. announce a multibillion-dollar package of arms for Ukraine than Ukraine asks for more. Reports on social media quoting Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat suggest that Ukrainian pilots are already training presumably to fly U.S. F-16s. “The type of aircraft, which is likely to be provided to Ukraine, and the corresponding terms of training have already been determined,” Ignat is quoted as saying, according to press reports.

A bipartisan trio of senators just back from Ukraine and a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are urging the Biden administration to “give the Ukrainians everything they need to win — now.”

“While the tanks represent a tremendous upgrade in Ukraine’s military, we urge the Biden Administration and our allies to send more long range artillery, such as ATACMS, and fighter aircraft such as F-16s and MiG-29s,” said Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in a joint statement. “The combination of tanks, fighter aircraft, and ATACMS will help Ukraine confront the upcoming Russian offensive and go on offense in both the East and the South in an attempt to further erode Russia’s capability to continue fighting in Ukraine.”

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY WARNS SENDING TANKS ‘TAKES THE CONFLICT TO A NEW LEVEL’

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HAPPENING TODAY: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee meets at 10:30 a.m. to take testimony on “Countering Russian Aggression: Ukraine and Beyond.” The witnesses are Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland; Assistant Defense Secretary for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander; and Isobel Coleman, deputy administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Livestream at https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings

ALSO THIS MORNING: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomes Albanian Defense Minister Niko Peleshi to the Pentagon at 10:30 a.m. on the steps of the River Entrance.

ZELENSKY GETS HIS WISH: In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, dressed in a dark hoodie and speaking in front of a plain white background, called Wednesday “a day of extremely good news for Ukraine.”

“There is a tank coalition. There is a decision to launch the supply of tanks for our defense, modern tanks,” Zelensky said, thanking both President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “I am grateful to all our allies for their willingness to provide us with modern and much-needed tanks.”

“The key thing now is speed and volume. The speed of training of our military, the speed of supplying tanks to Ukraine, the volume of tank support,” he said. “We must form a tank fist, a fist of freedom whose hits will not let tyranny stand up again.”

‘FIST OF FREEDOM’: ZELENSKY SEEKS ‘LONG-RANGE MISSILES’ TO PAIR WITH NEW TANKS

RULES FOR KILLER ROBOTS: With little fanfare, the Pentagon has posted its policy on autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems, known more colloquially as “killer robots.” DOD Directive 3000.09 is intended to assure the public and the rest of the world that “appropriate levels of human judgment” will be used by commanders who use the robotic systems — in other words, that a human will remain in the loop when lethal force is employed in combat.

The department is committed “to developing and employing all weapon systems, including those with autonomous features and functions, in a responsible and lawful manner,” said Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks in a statement.

The new directive is an update to a 2012 policy on the use of autonomous weapons systems, which Hicks said “will help ensure we can remain on the cutting edge not only of developing and deploying new systems, but also safety.”

The directive “establishes guidelines designed to minimize the probability and consequences of failures in autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems that could lead to unintended engagements,” according to its preamble. The policy adds another level of senior review before developing or fielding lethal robotic weapons.

NEW HASC SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS: Now that Republicans have taken control of the House, Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) has announced the new subcommittee chairs for the 118th Congress. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) will serve as vice chairman of the full committee and as chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.

The other subcommittee chairs are:

• Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) — Strategic Forces
• Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS) — Seapower and Projection Forces
• Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) — Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems
• Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) — Military Personnel
• Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) — Intelligence and Special Operations
• Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) — Readiness

NEW GOP HASC MEMBERS: In addition, Rogers announced the new Republican members of his committee:

• Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL)
• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)
• Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN)
• Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL)
• Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX)
• Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA)
• Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY)
• Del. James Moylan (R-Guam)
• Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO)
• Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL)
• Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA)

The Democrats have not released a list of their new members.

INDUSTRY WATCH: Northrop Grumman has released its fourth quarter and full-year 2022 financial results, and the company reported a 16% increase in sales in the fourth quarter compared to 2021, from $8.6 billion to $10 billion. For the full year, sales increased 3% from $35.7 billion to $36.6 billion. Fourth quarter 2022 net earnings were $2.1 billion.

“Fourth quarter 2022 sales reflect strong demand, the timing of material receipts and continued improvement in labor availability trends,” the company said in a press release.

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The Rundown

Washington Examiner: Biden announces transfer of tanks to Ukraine, praises Germany for doing the same

Washington Examiner: ‘Game change’: Germany unveils decision to send modern tanks to Ukraine

Washington Examiner: ‘Fist of freedom’: Zelensky seeks ‘long-range missiles’ to pair with new tanks

Washington Examiner: Biden team says ‘conditions on the ground’ drove tanks reversal from last week

Washington Examiner: Russian ambassador to Germany warns sending tanks ‘takes the conflict to a new level’

Washington Examiner: 100 tanks will go a long way for Ukraine, figuratively and literally

Washington Examiner: Classified documents found at Pence residence included briefings for foreign trips: Report

Washington Examiner: Former presidents coy on classified documents as senator suggests ‘they’re all sitting on stuff’

Washington Examiner: Afghan soldier who sought asylum at US-Mexico border freed after months in detention

Reuters: Ukraine Sets Sights On Fighter Jets After Securing Tank Supplies

AP: Ukraine lauds Western move on tanks, while Russia attacks

Reuters: Russia Launches Wave Of Missiles At Ukraine After Kyiv Secures Tanks

Wall Street Journal: Ukraine Repels Russian Forces In The East

AP: Explainer: Why the US flipped on sending tanks to Ukraine

CNBC: Russia Says It Carried Out Hypersonic Missile Exercises Using A Frigate In The Atlantic

19fortyfive.com: M1 Abrams Tanks Are Coming to Ukraine: Too Hard to Use?

USNI News: Japan Issues Military Equipment Wishlist That Includes Hypersonic Weapons, Unmanned Systems

CNN: Iran’s Amassed Enough Material For ‘Several Nuclear Weapons,’ Says IAEA Chief

Yonhap: Yoon To Meet NATO Chief, U.S. Defense Secretary Next Week

19fortyfive.com: The U.S. Military Is In Decline. Cutting Defense Spending Would Be a Disaster

19fortyfive.com: Ukraine’s New M1 Abrams and Leopard 2 Tanks Are No Silver Bullet

USNI News: Marines Consulting Outside Experts for Fixes to Recruiting Challenge

Marine Corps Times: Will Alaska Be The Marine Corps’ Next Unit Training Location?

19fortyfive.com: How to Sink a $3 Billion Dollar Nuclear Submarine: Leave a Hatch Open

19fortyfive.com: Is Turkey Destined to get Kicked Out of NATO?

Air & Space Forces Magazine: US Arms Sales Shoot up Nearly 50 Percent in 2022, Driven in Part by Ukraine

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Boeing Touts Autonomy as the Future for Defense Business Turnaround

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Cheap UAVs Exact High Costs

Space News: NASA and DARPA to Partner on Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Demonstration

Military.com: GOP Revives Push to Reinstate Troops Discharged over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Military Times: National Guard Pushing for Health Insurance, Better Pay, More Training

Task & Purpose: What It Was Like for US Troops at Kabul Airport When the Chaotic Withdrawal Began: ‘I Thought I Was Going to Die’

Calendar

THURSDAY | JANUARY 26

8 a.m. 201 Waterfront St. National Harbor, Maryland — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech Forum: “Ignite the Future: Explore the Frontiers of Aerospace,” with Ellen Ebner, director of sustainable technologies, sustainability, and future mobility at Boeing; Jeff Shaknaitis, customer sustainability leader at GE Aviation; and Amanda Simpson, vice president of research and technology at Airbus Americas, participate in a discussion on “Sustainability Leadership: Addressing Industry Developments in Aviation” https://www.aiaa.org/SciTech/registration

9:30 a.m. 406 Dirksen — U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing: “China’s Military Diplomacy and Overseas Security Activities,” with Phillip Saunders, director of the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs at the National Defense University Institute for National Strategic Studies; Kristen Gunness, senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation; Richard Weitz, senior fellow and director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at the Hudson Institute; Jeffrey Becker, Research Program director of the Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Program at the Center for Naval Analyses; Melodie Ha, management analyst in the Defense Department; April Herlevi, senior research scientist at the Center for Naval Analyses; and Meia Nouwens, research fellow for Chinese defense policy and military modernization at the International Institute for Strategic Studies https://www.uscc.gov/hearings/chinas-military-diplomacy-and-overseas-security-activities

9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “North Korea in 2023,” with Sydney Seiler, national intelligence officer for North Korea at the National Intelligence Council https://www.csis.org/events/capital-cable-63-north-korea-2023

9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies book discussion: The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the Nuclear Age, with co-editor Scott Sagan, senior fellow at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation; Ankit Panda, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Nuclear Policy Program; and Nicholas Miller, associate professor of government at Dartmouth University https://www.csis.org/events/book-event-fragile-balance

10:30 a.m. — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meets with Albanian Defense Minister Niko Pelesh at the Pentagon

10:30 a.m. 419 Dirksen — Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing: “Countering Russian Aggression: Ukraine and Beyond,” with testimony from Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland; Assistant Defense Secretary for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander; and Isobel Coleman, deputy administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development http://foreign.senate.gov

11 a.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Wilson Center Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies and the Global Europe Program discussion: “Silicon Lifeline: Western Electronics at the Heart of Russia’s War Machine,” with James Byrne, director of open-source intelligence and analysis at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies; Gary Somerville, research fellow for open-source intelligence and analysis at the Royal United Services Institute; and Jack Watling, senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/silicon-lifeline

1:30 p.m. — Wilson Center Polar Institute virtual discussion: “Achieving Security in the Arctic: the Role of DHS and its Components,” with Deputy Homeland Security Secretary John Tien; Vice Adm. Peter Gautier, deputy commandant for operations at the Coast Guard; Willie Nunn, Region 10 administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Robert Hammer, special agent in charge of homeland security investigations at the Homeland Security Department; and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and Fisheries David Balton https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/achieving-security-arctic

MONDAY | JANUARY 30

7 p.m. — Stimson Center virtual discussion: “A South Korean Nuclear Program? Assessing the Risks,” with Siegfried Hecker, distinguished professor of practice, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies; Robert Gallucci, distinguished professor, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; Jamie Kwong, fellow, Nuclear Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Jenny Town, senior fellow, Stimson Center and Director, 38 North https://www.stimson.org/event/a-south-korean-nuclear-program

WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 1

9 a.m. — Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress in-person book discussion: No Limits: The Inside Story of China’s War with the West, with author Andrew Small. Register at sophie.williams@thepresidency.org

WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 8

6:30 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd., Virginia — Association of the U.S. Army Coffee Series in-person event featuring Gen. James Rainey, commanding general, U.S. Army Futures Command https://www.ausa.org/events/coffee-series/gen-rainey

MONDAY | FEBRUARY 13

TBA Brussels, Belgium — Press conference by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of a two-day meeting of defense ministers https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news

9:30 a.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW — Stimson Center virtual and in-person discussion: “The End of History? Global Implications of the War in Ukraine” https://www.stimson.org/event/the-end-of-history

TUESDAY | FEBRUARY 14

TBA Brussels, Belgium — Meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group followed by the beginning of a two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 17

TBA Munich, Germany — Munich Security Conference 2023 begins, running through Sunday, Feb. 19 https://securityconference.org

THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 23

1:30 p.m. — The Cipher Brief virtual briefing: “DIA’s Global Intelligence Picture,” with Trent Maul, director for analysis, Defense Intelligence Agency https://www.thecipherbrief.com