U.S. ramps up arms purchases and considers multi-year contracts for military supplies to Ukraine

The U.S. Army is analyzing weapons programs that are best suited for multi-year contracts for military supplies to Ukraine.

Here's What We Know

The new law, if passed, will allow the Pentagon to use multi-year contracts to acquire large quantities of high-precision ammunition for transfer to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and to resupply the U.S. Army. The key emphasis will be put on missiles for Patriot air defense systems and GMLRS missiles for M270 and M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers.

HIMARS artillery systems themselves may become another candidate for multi-year contract. Doug Bush, the official in charge of arms procurement for the US Army, announced about it. He also noted that the advantage of a multi-year contract is not only savings, but also the possibility of stabilizing both the production base and suppliers. The disadvantage, too, is a little flexibility.

The United States is now accelerating the pace of ammunition and weapons purchases for resupply, since a substantial portion of it has been shipped to Ukraine. For example, Lockheed Martin recently received a $521 million contract to produce GMLRS. In addition, the company wants to produce up to 96 M142 HIMARS annually. To do this, the manufacturer has invested in the expansion of the launcher plant. But even this is not the end of the company's success. Lockheed Martin managed to win a $179 million contract to replace the highly mobile artillery systems that were transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In October, Doug Bush told News that the U.S. military is trying to ramp up weapons purchases in various ways to replenish supplies. As of October, the U.S. military had earned about $3.4 billion from contracts related to the supply of equipment and weapons to Ukraine.

Source: Defense News

Image: Reuters