ChinaTalk WarTalk: Still Very Much Out of Ammo!
71 snips
Apr 30, 2026 
Justin Mc, military analyst on force posture and risk. Eric Robinson, defense commentator on operational and strategic posture. Becca Wasser, wargaming expert at Bloomberg Economics. They dig into ammo shortages and long-term readiness. CENTCOM’s push for hypersonics and misused exquisite weapons. Whether true air superiority exists over Iran and why the Strait of Hormuz resists a military fix.
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Using Hypersonics As Theater Showcases Harms Readiness
- CENTCOM is requesting cutting-edge hypersonics and other next-gen systems even though the theater offers little real testing value.
- Becca Wasser warns this 'theater of experimentation' depletes Indo-Pacific readiness by shifting scarce assets like Dark Eagle out of that region.
Exquisite Weapons Used For Mundane Targets
- The U.S. is expending high-end standoff munitions on targets that cheaper glide bombs or JDAMs could handle.
- Bryan Clark calls it 'cosplaying'—using JASMs and hypersonics where simpler GBU/JSAW would suffice wastes scarce exquisite weapons.
Air Supremacy Over Iran Is Local And Temporary
- Claims of U.S. air supremacy over Iran are overstated; control has been localized and temporal rather than absolute.
- Becca Wasser notes this partial air superiority explains reliance on high-end munitions and constrains target sets.
