The United States is taking steps to bolster its military production capacity after depleting its stockpiles of 155mm artillery shells due to its support for Ukraine. However, a report highlighted by The Financial Times on Tuesday suggests that it may take until 2025 for the US to fully meet Ukraine’s current ammunition requirements.
According to defense expert Stacie Pettyjohn, who is the director of the defense program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), the US is currently supplying Ukraine with as much ammunition as it can while also ensuring it maintains reserves for any unforeseen crisis. Pettyjohn explains that the US has reached a point where it cannot provide additional support to Ukraine beyond what it is currently giving.
Pettyjohn co-authored a report on whether the US’s guided weapons stockpiles and procurement could support a conflict with China. As part of the report, the shortage of 155mm artillery shells was examined as a case study. The report concludes that even if all goes according to plan, the US will only be able to meet Ukraine’s ammo requirements by 2025.
Last month, US President Joe Biden acknowledged that the Pentagon had run out of the crucial munitions, which led to the decision to provide alternative cluster variants to Ukraine. However, these alternative weapons are considered prohibited by Washington’s European allies.
As of May, the US had already shipped more than two million 155mm rounds to Ukraine, compared to the 790,000 ordered by the Pentagon over the past decade. US defense officials estimate that Ukraine is expending over 90,000 shells per month in its fight against Russia. In March, the US had the ability to produce 20,000 shells per month and aims to increase monthly production to 50,000 by 2024 and 90,000 by 2025.
The manufacturing of artillery shells is currently conducted at four government-owned, contractor-operated plants. However, there are multiple bottlenecks in the lean production process, which limits the ability to significantly ramp up production. Despite the current shortages, the report suggests that the US’s purchases for its own army’s stocks are relatively modest.
The US’s efforts to supply Ukraine with ammunition are not solely reliant on its own production capacity. European allies have also been boosting their own production to assist in delivering shells to Ukraine. South Korea, for example, has agreed to provide munitions to the US, filling the gaps created by its depleted stockpiles.
Kiev has accused its Western backers of failing to provide enough weapons for its summer counteroffensive against Russia. While people in Washington are reportedly aware of the issue, there is still hope that Ukrainian courage and resourcefulness will prevail.
Russian officials have denounced the Ukrainian counteroffensive as a disaster, claiming that Kiev has suffered significant battlefield losses, including thousands of troops and heavy weaponry. They have also accused Ukrainian forces of escalating terrorist attacks on Crimea, Moscow, and other locations in Russia following their failures on the battlefield.
In conclusion, while the US is taking steps to bolster its military production capacity, it may take until 2025 for it to fully meet Ukraine’s ammunition requirements. The shortage of 155mm artillery shells has led to concerns about Ukraine’s ability to sustain its fight against Russia. However, efforts are being made by the US and its European allies to deliver the necessary ammunition to support Ukraine’s defense.
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