Due to large-scale military aid to Ukraine, US stocks of some types of ammunition have decreased, and there are fears among officials that at this rate of stockpile recovery, it potentially endangers the combat capability of the United States.
This is stated in the material of The Wall Street Journal. The publication did not specify the names and number of sources that provided comments.
One of the interlocutors told reporters that in recent weeks stocks of shells for 155-mm howitzers have become "uncomfortably low." According to him, it is not critical now, since the US is not involved in large-scale hostilities anywhere, but this is "not the level at which we would like to start conducting them."
However, the Chief of the Joint Staff of the US Army, General Mark Milley, conducts a monthly review of US arsenals in order to maintain a balance in how much ammunition can be given to Ukraine.
The defense structures are already calculating how to increase production in order to provide aid to Ukraine and maintain its own reserves. Currently, according to the interlocutors, old contracts are still valid, new ones for a larger volume have not yet been signed.
Interlocutors knowledgeable in the matter say that the problematic situation with replenishment of warehouses did not arise due to a lack of funds and purely organizational solutions are needed.
Defense Department and congressional officials contacted for comment attribute the potential threat of ammunition shortages to multiple factors, primarily slow bureaucratic processes at the Pentagon for defense procurement and a lack of coordination between those officials and those responsible for military aid to Ukraine.
In a comment to the publication, a defense industry representative said that usually in the US, 13-18 months pass from the contract to the order execution, and for more complex systems, such as missiles and drones, this period can be longer.
We will remind, on the Independence Day of Ukraine, the White House announced the largest military aid package of almost 3 billion dollars. In addition, it became unofficially known that the Biden administration plans to announce a long-term military mission in support of Ukraine in the coming weeks and to appoint a general responsible for the delivery of aid and training of the Ukrainian military.