After relying on aviation early in Russia’s offensive, the Pentagon has expanded the scope of delivering weapons to Ukraine via shipping, the Washington Post reported.
The Pentagon sent some weapons to Ukraine by sea in the weeks after the invasion, but expanded those efforts dramatically this spring as the United States began supplying Ukraine with howitzers and other heavy weapons, defense officials said. which requires a steady stream of large caliber ammunition. said: at the headquarters of the United States Transportation Command, which recently witnessed the visit of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Kathleen Hicks.
“As soon as we started getting them howitzers, we knew we needed more ammunition,” said Col. Stephen Potoff, deputy director of operations at the Transportation Command.
Therefore, we can plan in advance. We can then use additional shipping methods to provide that support and sometimes even get it there before the order is placed.”
The expansion of the arms shipments marks a new phase in the campaign to support Ukraine after Russia repelled an attack on Kyiv in the first weeks of the Russian invasion.
The Biden administration has approved $12.9 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the Feb. 24 invasion and promised an additional $2.98 billion on Wednesday for the country’s Independence Day.
U.S. military officials declined to detail the specific routes used to deliver weapons to Ukraine, but said some weapons coming from U.S. bases go directly to the battlefield, while others are used to supplement U.S. stockpiles elsewhere in Europe. because the American authorities are backing down. The procurement of these countries to arm Ukraine.
And while planes can get to Europe faster than the United States, ships can carry large amounts of cargo, allowing Ukraine to build a larger arsenal for future campaigns in the war.
The Pentagon relies heavily on chartered aircraft and ships to transport equipment to Ukraine, leaving the US military free to carry out other types of transport missions.
At Transportation Command, on August 18, Hicks met with military officials, including Air Force Gen. Jackie Van Avost, the command’s top officer.
Anticipating potential needs and identifying routes as quickly as possible is key to delivering weapons, Van Avost said.
Source: Lebanon Debate
