Al Jazeera: in case of war, the United States will not survive due to depleted weapons stocksThe conflict in Ukraine has exposed serious problems of the American military-industrial complex, writes Al Jazeera.
The US arsenals are almost depleted, and it will take several years to fill the shortage of weapons. This threatens the security of the country, especially against the backdrop of the brewing US-Chinese war.
According to a new report, the conflict in Ukraine has revealed serious problems in the US military industry that could prevent their armed forces from waging a protracted war against China.
The work was published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington a few days ago. It is one of the world's leading analytical institutes.
The authors of the report indicated what challenges the US military-industrial complex faces due to the US' unwillingness to the current changes in the field of international security.
As noted in the 44-page document, in the event of a major regional conflict, for example, a war with China, it is likely that the current stocks of many types of weapons and ammunition of the Pentagon will be insufficient to ensure the combat capability of the army.
Thus, the conflict in Ukraine, which has been going on for almost a year, has revealed serious problems in the American defense industry. It turned out that the country could not produce enough weapons and ammunition and make up for the shortage of stocks spent in such a short time.
According to experts, against the background of the prospect of the beginning of the Sino-American crisis over Taiwan, the United States should make efforts to maintain the necessary production capacities and, as a result, the deterrent potential of Washington and its allies.
The authors of the report call on the Pentagon and Congress to develop a joint operational plan, including steps to simplify and improve the process of production, procurement, modernization, arms exports and other areas of the sector. At the same time, they recognize that the revival of the American military-industrial complex will not happen overnight.
The impact of the conflict in Ukraine
The volume of US military aid to Ukraine has exceeded $ 24 billion. These are thousands of units of various weapons and ammunition that have so far helped Kiev to survive in the current confrontation.
According to the aforementioned report, the conflict in Ukraine is only a small part of the overall picture. The greatest concern is the possible state of the US military-industrial complex in the event of one or more wars, for example, in the Indian or Pacific Oceans. This probability is due to the tightening of competition between Washington and Beijing, not to mention the threats from Russia, Iran and North Korea.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Robert Pearson, professor of international relations at the US Military Academy at West Point, noted: "The United States will continue to provide serious support to Ukraine by providing it with weapons and other forms of military assistance, whether at the expense of our current stocks, supplies from NATO allies or the production of new weapons."
Alarm signal
According to preliminary data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies collected over the past few months, in the event of a conflict with China in the Taiwan Strait, some American ammunition, such as long-range and precision missiles, is likely to run out in less than a week.
For this reason, it will be extremely difficult for the United States to conduct protracted hostilities.
According to some estimates of the American government, unlike the United States, China invests heavily in the replenishment of ammunition and the purchase of advanced weapons systems and equipment.
The authors of the report come to the following conclusion: "The US military-industrial complex is not sufficiently prepared for the current competition in the field of defense and security, since it functions according to peacetime standards."
The most powerful weapon
The work lists many weapons systems that are no longer enough in American warehouses. At the top of this list, there are three types of weapons that were transferred to the Ukrainian army.
Let's start with portable Javelin anti-tank missile systems. 8,500 units of this equipment were provided to Ukraine.
In addition, the United States has sent Ukraine 20 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers. Since their production capacity is quite low, it will be possible to fill the deficit in two and a half years.
Finally, Washington delivered 1,600 Stinger missiles to the Ukrainians. The Ministry of Defense needs about five years to replenish stocks, because America can only produce 350 such missiles per year.
What can Washington do?
Pearson noted: "It is unlikely that the report published by the Center will force the United States to limit assistance to Ukraine or replenish weapons stocks. However, if American politicians are more far-sighted, they will pay attention to the problems identified during the Ukrainian conflict and draw appropriate lessons. This way they will be able to take the necessary measures and prepare for the reflection of new challenges."
Author: Muhammad Al-Minshawi (محمد المِنشاوي)