Rumors state that the M777 isn’t all it’s promised, and they’re telling Zelynkkskdkaks office not to ask for any more of them from biden. They’re finicky and non-functional.
Keep in mind, the M777 is the americans’ new whizbang magic artillery system, firing GPS guided EXCALIBUR shells that have cost anywhere from $120,000 to $500,000 since we started bying them like, 10 years ago. It’s supposed to be lighter and spiffier than the outgoing artillery pieces, uses a bunch of expensive materials like titanium in order to make it airdrop-capable. Like any fancy equipment, as anyone who’s had to use rough-use titanium, carbon fiber, and aluminum, the ukes probably won’t be able to keep them running for long. Should have given them the cold war era 105mm, those are much easier to opoerate, familiar, and they can weld them back together behind the barn when they hit a pothole towing it at 80 mph.
IDK about the structure, but the idea of sending an artillery piece, something that’s traditionally heavy and durable so it can undergo a lot of stresses while firing 10,000 rounds, being jostled around….who knows how it will hold up to Ukranian amateur use. Think about how overbuilt the stuff they use is. It’s meant to be throttled. The USA don’t do that, they prefer higher performing equipment with a very deep bench of parts, replacements, and kit to keep it going.
Even if this is hostile propaganda, given the USA track record on battle untested, LRIP stupidity, and simultaneous production/development for their weapons projects make me think “yes!” whenever the question arises: “Is this new magic weapon system bullshit?”