Ekaterina Girnyk11:07, 02/17/24
The US can supply Ukraine with artillery shells, HIMARS missiles, air defense capabilities and other military equipment through existing contracts under the USAI program.
Despite the absence of a Congressional decision on additional funding for Ukraine, the production and supply of certain military equipment and ammunition in Ukraine continues – thanks to existing contracts under the USAI (Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative) program, funding for which was allocated even earlier. According to Voice of America , citing a Pentagon statement, this includes artillery shells, missiles for HIMARS, air defense capabilities and other military equipment.
It is noted that, unlike the Presidential Authorization Program (PDA), which allows the United States to quickly supply weapons to Ukraine directly from its own warehouses, USAI provides for ordering equipment from manufacturers. This program was used to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the long term. However, now all funding for it has been exhausted, and the Pentagon has no funds left for new purchases until Congress approves them.
As explained by US Department of Defense spokesman Jeff Jurgensen, each USAI contract has a certain execution period, production and delivery dates.
“In many cases – for example, with 155 mm ammunition, NASAMs air defense systems, Javelins, Stingers, GMLRS (missiles for HIMARS – ed.), a number of UAVs and counter-UAVs – the production and supply of this to Ukraine, as well as resupply of the US continues according to the terms of these contracts,” he said.
At the same time, for security reasons, the Pentagon did not provide more accurate information about the amount of equipment or the specific timing of their delivery to Ukraine.
One of the most pressing needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in recent months has been artillery shells.
Currently, the United States produces approximately 28 thousand 155-mm shells per month, and by the end of 2024 they plan to increase production to 70-80 thousand per month, Pentagon spokesman Jeff Jurgensen told Voice of America. USAI funding also supports the production of such projectiles, he said.
At the same time, Jurgensen noted that without accepting additional funding, the US Department of Defense will not be able to provide assistance to Ukraine and other US allies and partners.
“For example, without additional funding, we cannot achieve our goal of producing 100,000 155mm rounds per month. This also limits the US Department of Defense’s ability to fulfill planned multi-year procurement contracts, including missiles for Stingers, Javelins and PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems.” , said Jeff Jurgensen.
(C)UNIAN 2024
To me, this seems to be sugarcoating of the impact of the blockage of new funding in Congress, trying to shield the US from inevitable and quite correct accusations of being responsible for the fall of Avdiivka. Yes, many contracts may be ongoing, but apparently these stocks are piling up in army warehouses because there’s no money to fund the transports. How else to explain the dire shortage at the front, where shell usage is down to a mere 2000 rounds a day, despite increasing production in the US? The conclusion is obvious.
Even the increase in production by ALL allies is not enough for Ukrainian needs. The foot dragging and obstruction is definitely exacerbating short falls. This is war and should be treated with the seriousness and urgency the situation demands, not playing pat-a- cake with dictators or hop scotch with obstructionist kleptocrats.