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Broader US military inventory challenges
The Ukraine war exposed long-standing weaknesses in the US defense industrial base, particularly its capacity for high-volume, rapid production.
Depleted stockpiles: Pentagon officials have acknowledged that US military stockpiles, especially for certain munitions like Patriot air defense missiles and artillery rounds, have dwindled as supplies are diverted to Ukraine.
Production delays: US arms manufacturers, which had been scaled for peacetime production rates, have been slow to ramp up output to meet the surging demand caused by the war.
Congressional intervention: Congress has allocated billions of dollars to replace equipment sent to Ukraine and invested in the defense industrial base to accelerate production of critical items like artillery rounds and GMLRS rockets.
Repercussions for US readiness: The inventory crunch has led to a reevaluation of US readiness and its capacity to sustain a major conflict with an adversary like China. Officials have noted that future weapons transfers may need to increasingly rely on alternatives like older or experimental systems.