Late Roman Army during the 5th century

[Flavivs Aetivs]

The East was only sending ships, not troops. Aetius was supplying the Army.

Again, you must remember that the army does not offcially belong to "the west." It is most likely the army was serving under the payrolls of the Possesores, not the Government. In that case they are called "Bucellarii" (private retainers). The army served on Aetius' payroll and out of loyalty to him. There was still a professional army - it just couldn't be paid by the government anymore. (Also Marcellinus said in a letter to Ricimerus that he had enough troops to conquer italy, and Marcellinus was one of Aetius' benefactors. It's also listed he was the one with the western half of the army invading Africa, and the west supplied like 300 various civilian vessels to carry troops for the invasion of 468. Marcellinus was killed in Sicily by Ricimerus, presumably.)

And what was taking so long was restoring the field armies. Look how long it took after Adrianople - 2/3 of the Army of the East was destroyed (about 80,000-100,000 men if you believe Heather and Goldsworthy's estimates)

@Robert - correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the Notitia incomplete?

Also, I can't remember but I belive the sources list a number of the ships that were being sent in the 440 invasion (The vandals attacked panormus but were repelled that year, and then Aetius arrived in Panormus with his army.)