U.S. Weapons Shipped to Ukraine Sold On Black Market, 3865

Good evening, I’m still reporting on the war in Ukraine.

According to Michael Savage, some of the recent surges of U.S. heavy armaments being given to Ukraine are being sold into the black market via Telegram channels.

Russia is being hit hard by advanced U.S. weapons, however, some of these weapons are being scooped up by international weapons brokers who have long-standing relationships with Ukrainian field commanders, then shipped out of the country and sold to whoever has the money to buy on the black market.

Perhaps the most important of these weapons is the FGM-148 Javelin – or Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System. The Javelin was initially put into service in 1996, but continuously updated since. It’s most potent attribute is it’s fire-and-forget feature which replaced the old wire-guided system. The user need only lock on and fire, then immediately seek cover while the Javelin climbs up to it max altitude of about 500 feet, before diving onto its target, up to 2.5 miles away.
The Javelin can defeat most modern tanks – by hitting them from above, where their armor is thinnest.

However, Javelins are effective against other difficult targets. A Javelin has even intercepted an oncoming suicide bomber’s vehicle or low-flying helicopters.

On March 18, 2022, the Pentagon reported that out of 112 Javelins fired by the Ukrainians since the start of that war, 100 missiles had hit their targets. However about 5,500 of our 21,000 Javelins – about one-third of the U.S. supply - have now been shipped to Ukrainian Army forces.

The U.S. buys about 1,000 new Javelins per year so it would take several years to replace those shipped out in the last few months.

The saying in the U.S. Army is that the Javelin costs more than the targets it hits. The entire targeting system costs $178,000 with each explosive round costing about $78,000 per shot. However, when you are being faced down by a Russian tank, and nothing else has a chance of destroying it, this little weapon is worth its weight in gold.

So deadly is the Javelin’s reputation that the sound of a Javelin firing has sometimes caused insurgents to disengage and run.

One telegram channel has offered Javelins for $30,000 U.S. Dollars, however, they have also been advertised for as little as $15,000 each. Fortunately, Javelins only have a maximum altitude of 500 feet.

I’m still reporting from just outside the citadel of world freedom. Good day.