I find it amazing that we can send $52B [1] to Ukraine but can't invest in our own nation, strengthening its manufacturing sector and employing some 10k employees in Ohio. I am usually against Gov intervention in private corporations but there are projects that require the might that only federal Gov can propel. Semiconductor industry is critical and impossible to ignore.
Dollars send to UA directly translate into destroyed Russian assets. Its not even new dollars, but military equipment build specifically for the purpose of shooting at RU. Its immensely more productive to donate this gear and watch it work from the comfort of your own country. $ Multiple billion $ does sound like a lot until you realize its magical military contractor accounting:
$170-250K Javelin missile versus Stugna-P at $20K. This one is kinda apples to oranges until you realize you can buy Stugna-P launcher with box of missiles and Side-by-Side/ATV/UTV for less than empty Javelin launch unit.
700x Switchblade "The cost of AeroVironment Switchblade is estimated around $ 70,000 apiece" https://defence24.com/technology/loitering-ammunition-in-spe... with US politicians getting angry UA doesnt want more of useless 0.5 pound remote hand grenades and instead keeps using cheap homegrown Aerorozvidka R18 octocopters capable of dropping 10 pounds of explosive load in one go.
Its a win win win situation:
US is finally able to use all the weapons it build over the years on its intended target without losing a single drop of US blood.
US is able to deplete stock of obsolete/old weapons and expense it at full brand new value.
US military contractors get the sell a ton of experimental highly situational weapons (switchblade 300 is made for special operations assassination missions against singular human targets, useless in war).
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/05/20/upshot/ukrain...
This bill is now stagnant. If I were Intel, I'd make a hissy fit about it too.