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Navy Secretary Carlos del Toro has admitted there are “concerns” about the US arms cache as the government continues to arm Ukraine.
The secretary was asked at a Surface Navy Association Conference on Wednesday if he agreed with an admiral’s statement that “the Navy might get to the point where it has to make the decision of whether it needs to arm or arm to Ukraine”.
He was very careful not to comment on the choice between which country to arm, according to defense onebut noted that “if the conflict continues for another six months, for another year, it certainly continues to stress the supply chain in ways that are challenging.”
Del Toro ultimately blamed military contractors, saying they need to ramp up production to meet demand.
His admission comes just days after the Biden administration announced it would send its biggest aid package to Ukraine yet, despite the Kremlin’s earlier warning of the “consequences” of escalating the war.
Navy Secretary Carlos del Toro has admitted there are “concerns” about the US arms cache as the government continues to arm Ukraine.
He said that if the conflict in Ukraine continues for another six months to a year, it will stress the supply chain “in ways that are challenging.”
Del Toro responded to the reporter on Wednesday asking about Adm. Daryl Caudle’s comments by saying: ‘Regarding deliveries of weapons systems for the fight in the Ukraine, yes, that’s always a concern for us. And we monitor it very closely.
He went on to say: “I wouldn’t say we’re at that point yet, but if the conflict continues for another six months, for another year, it will certainly continue to stress the supply chain in ways that are challenging.”
But, del Toro noted, Assistant Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks has been working “very closely with [the defense] industry to motivate them to know what their challenges or obstacles are in order to increase their own production.
‘It’s obvious that, you know, these companies have a significant portfolio going forward.
“Now they need to invest in their workforce, as well as the capital investments they have to make within their own companies to increase their production.”
Later, the Secretary of the Navy reiterated his comments in a series of tweets, once again urging military defense contractors to increase their production, but this time acknowledging that military defense contractors have made progress.
He said Hicks’ has been very focused on this. Together with Bill LaPlante, the deputy secretary, they’re starting to make some headway now.
And once military defense companies invest in ‘their people, their workforce and their capital investments… we’ll be in a better place.’
‘The time it takes often varies from weapon system to weapon system.’ he agreed.
Del Toro noted that Assistant Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks and Assistant Secretary of Defense Bill DePlante are working with military contractors to boost production.
The war in Ukraine has been raging since February, and the United States continues to arm the country in its fight against Russia. Members of the Ukrainian military are seen here Wednesday using a rocket launcher to prevent the Russians from falling back.
Among the weapons that the United States has provided to Ukraine are several Bradley tanks, like the one seen here.
But Gaudle was not so lenient with defense contractors, noting that the timeliness of arms deliveries could have a real impact on both the US and Ukrainian defenses.
Admiral Daryl Caudle criticized defense contractors for using the pandemic as an excuse to miss weapons delivery deadlines.
“I’m not talking about what it’s doing to me, I’m talking about, of course, we’re going to help a country, deliver what we need, so they can win that conflict against Russia and it’s not going to destroy and establish [us] back to the Middle Ages.
Still, he continued, ‘I’m not so willing to forgive the fact that you’re not delivering the ordinance we need.
“All this stuff about COVID this, parts this, supply chain this, I just don’t care,” he told the conference. We all have work.
“We’re talking about fighting war and national security and against a competitor here and a potential adversary that’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen before and we’re still playing with these installments.
Caudle concluded: “I don’t see good accountability and I can’t see good return on government investment, I really don’t see it.”
On Friday, the Department of Defense announced that it would send its largest aid package yet to Ukraine. US President Joe Biden is seen here speaking with Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelensky last month.
On Friday, the Department of Defense announced that it would send its largest aid package yet to Ukraine.
The package, valued at more than $3 billion, includes 50 combat vehicles, 100 armored personnel carriers, 18 self-propelled howitzers and other munitions.
It was in defiance of Putin’s warning last month that there would be ‘consequences; if the United States continues to supply Ukraine with advanced military technology.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the United States had “effectively become a party to the war.”
The transfer of such sophisticated weapons, he added, “would mean an even broader involvement of military personnel in hostilities and could have potential consequences.”
He did not specify what those consequences might be.