Pentagon Stockpiles “Uncomfortably Low” Amid Ukraine Transfers, Officials Admit
“It is not at the level we would like to go into combat,” a US defense official told The Wall Street Journal of the Pentagon’s fast depleting stockpiles due to unprecedented defense aid to Ukraine, and stressed in particular that artillery ammunition is now “uncomfortably low”.
What’s more is that the shortfall will likely last into the future, given the norm is for new purchases and then manufacturers supplying the weapons to take a process of years.
“The U.S. has during the past six months supplied Ukraine with 16 U.S. rocket launchers, known as Himars, thousands of guns, drones, missiles and other equipment. Much of that, including ammunition, has come directly from U.S. inventory, depleting stockpiles intended for unexpected threats, defense officials say,” the report spells out.
The Wall Street Journal report indicated further that the US Army has requested of Congress another $500 million per year to enhance its own ammo factories. It remains that the biggest winner in all of this is the big defense contractors and manufacturers.
Now we are going to send weapons to Taiwan.....
Chad Pergram
@ChadPergram
1) Fox confirms that the Biden Administration intends to send a formal request to Capitol Hill, asking lawmakers to approve $1.1 billion in arms to Taiwan.
Fox confirms this involves air-to-air-missiles and weapons to be used at sea.
8:12 AM · Aug 30, 2022
2) Fox is told there is a chance the formal request could come as early as today. But the actual ask likely won’t come for a few days.