US isn’t ready to face China on battlefield amid Ukraine arms deliveries: American media

An American media report says the Ukraine conflict has exposed deficiencies in America’s “defense industrial base” that could jeopardize US’s ability to fight a war with China.

Washington’s deadly arms deliveries to Ukraine has depleted US stocks of some weapons systems and munitions, such as Stinger surface-to-air missile systems, M777 howitzers, 155mm ammunition, and Javelin antitank missile systems, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The US “defense industrial base” is now inadequately prepared for the wartime environment that now exists as the White House is doubling down on its recognition of China as America’s main competitor.

A recently released US National Security Strategy has concluded that China poses the most significant threat to the US, and doubts have arisen over the US’s full readiness to fight a major war against China.

The report said in a major regional conflict—such as a war with China in the Taiwan Strait—US munitions needs, including critical joint air-to-surface standoff missiles and long-range precision-guided antiship missiles, likely would exceed Pentagon plans and stockpiles.

In a recent war game involving US, UK and French forces, the UK also exhausted national stockpiles of critical munitions in just over a week.

The Pentagon is now contending with US weapon manufacturers’ unwillingness to take financial risks without contracts in place, workforce and supply-chain constraints on increased demand for weapons systems required for one or more major wars, and shortage of sources for key weapons systems and munitions.

US failing to keep pace with Ukraine’s demand for advanced weaponry: American media

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin signals that the US and its Western allies are having trouble keeping pace with Ukraine’s demand for advanced weaponry.

The report said time is also a major constraint as it can take roughly two years to produce some types of missiles and systems, such as the Patriot Advanced Capability PAC-2/PAC-3 air- and missile-defense system, Tomahawk V, air-launched cruise missile, and long-range precision strike missile.

According to Fox News, Pentagon has signaled that the US and its Western allies are having trouble keeping pace with Ukraine’s demand for advanced weaponry, highlighting that the war on Ukraine has exacerbated critical deficiencies in America’s military industrial base.

Days ago, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin avoided providing a clear answer when he was asked whether the US and other nations can supply the weapons Ukraine needs.

The risk of reduced US stockpiles of high-end munitions has been reported almost since the US began contributing to Ukraine.

The United States has been by far the largest supplier of deadly weapons to Ukraine since Russia launched its military operation, furnishing over 800,000 155mm artillery rounds to Ukraine - three-quarters of the total amount delivered by all Western countries, according to official Pentagon statistics.

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