• PolandIsAStateOfMind
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      22 days ago

      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.

      • lemmyseizethemeans
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        22 days ago

        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.

        • PolandIsAStateOfMind
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          22 days ago

          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.

            • PolandIsAStateOfMind
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              22 days ago

              Landmine insides sadly do count as “proper storage” for explosives, after all they have to lie in wet and cold earth.

        • senseamidmadness
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          22 days ago

          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.

        • redtea
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          22 days ago

          Part of the circuitry is made of blue cheese. Lasts for ages but it does go off eventually.

    • Shinhoshi
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      22 days ago

      Of course it can, how else would they sell more missiles?

    • Grapho@lemmy.ml
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      22 days ago

      They’re even doing planned obsolescence in the MIC lmao the west is so cooked (fingers crossed)