It can, chemistry and some electronic components do have an expiration date especially in complicated weapons like this one, though it is more of a “we can’t guarantee that will work as advertised” than “it will not launch or it will blow up in your face” warning. The time also would fit, first serial production ATACMS were probably produced around 1990 so 25 years of guarantee seems plausible.
Also consistent with typical US modus operandi to get rid of old ammo by killing people rather than just scrapping them like most other countries do.
Sure but dow much of it is actually legit. Weapons manufacturers have ever incentive to keep those purchase orders flowing. Im not saying it’s all a scam, but it’s all a scam.
We never know since its all based on the producer specifications but i would be very greatly surprised if US MIC didn’t do planned obsolescence.
But even simple explosives like in artillery ammo or bombs do have expiration date, for example for TNT it’s 35 years. But it can be significantly prolonged by proper storage, for example Russia uses 50 year old bombs in Ukraine with no problem. And those ATACMS also worked 9 years after that expiration date.
One thing I know for sure “expires”, chemically, is solid rocket propellant. Over time with exposure to moisture and oxygen it burns slower and less evenly.
It can, chemistry and some electronic components do have an expiration date especially in complicated weapons like this one, though it is more of a “we can’t guarantee that will work as advertised” than “it will not launch or it will blow up in your face” warning. The time also would fit, first serial production ATACMS were probably produced around 1990 so 25 years of guarantee seems plausible.
Also consistent with typical US modus operandi to get rid of old ammo by killing people rather than just scrapping them like most other countries do.
Sure but dow much of it is actually legit. Weapons manufacturers have ever incentive to keep those purchase orders flowing. Im not saying it’s all a scam, but it’s all a scam.
We never know since its all based on the producer specifications but i would be very greatly surprised if US MIC didn’t do planned obsolescence.
But even simple explosives like in artillery ammo or bombs do have expiration date, for example for TNT it’s 35 years. But it can be significantly prolonged by proper storage, for example Russia uses 50 year old bombs in Ukraine with no problem. And those ATACMS also worked 9 years after that expiration date.
And then we have landmines that somehow last for fucking ever
Landmine insides sadly do count as “proper storage” for explosives, after all they have to lie in wet and cold earth.
One thing I know for sure “expires”, chemically, is solid rocket propellant. Over time with exposure to moisture and oxygen it burns slower and less evenly.
Part of the circuitry is made of blue cheese. Lasts for ages but it does go off eventually.