The Department of Defense is planning to boost production of artillery ammunition by 500 percent over the next two years – not for the nation’s benefit, but for Ukraine.
Such a move would push conventional ammunition production to levels not seen since the Korean War, as the Pentagon hopes to invest billions of dollars more to make up for supply shortfalls caused by America’s massive military aid shipments to Kyiv.
Under the Defense Department’s proposal, the United States would raise production levels for 155mm artillery shells to 90,000 rounds every month.
This is a massive departure from last month’s announcement by Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth, who said that the goal was to manufacture “20,000 rounds a month” by the end of spring of 2023 and 40,000 rounds a month by 2025.
The Defense Department will spend roughly $1 billion a year over the next 15 years to fund new facilities to make artillery ammunition and to modernize current government-owned ordnance production facilities to increase automation, improve worker safety and make munitions much quicker. This is on top of the $1.9 billion Congress allocated to the Army for its current defense production efforts.
“We are really working closely with industry to both increase their capacity and also the speed at which they’re able to produce,” said Wormuth. She added that this effort includes identifying “particular components that are sort of choke points” and “sourcing those to try to be able to move things more quickly.”
US arms commitments to Ukraine to continue despite supply shortfalls
Before the beginning of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, the Army was producing 14,400 unguided artillery shells a month. This amount was regarded as sufficient for the military’s way of war, which has for the past few decades been focused almost exclusively on dealing with low-tech enemy combatants in militias or insurgencies.
The desire to massively increase artillery ammunition production comes after U.S. officials expressed concerns regarding how America’s military aid shipments to Ukraine may have depleted the country’s stockpile of artillery ammunition. Some defense officials pointed out how the country’s supply of 155-millimeter rounds was “uncomfortably low” and “not at the level we would like to go into combat.”
Despite the massive shortfalls in crucial military stockpiles, the U.S. is still committing more and more resources to Ukraine. As of Jan. 18, America had already sent or committed at least 160 M777 Howitzer artillery pieces and just under 1.1 million 155mm artillery rounds. Despite this already massive deployment, it still may not be enough – and Kyiv is burning through the 155mm rounds fast.
The 155mm unguided artillery shells for howitzers have become the cornerstone of the nearly year-long conflict, with both Ukrainian and Russian troops firing thousands of rounds at each other every day along a front that stretches over 700 miles long. U.S. officials estimate that these weapons are likely responsible for the greatest percentage of war casualties, which are now thought to be more than 200,000 total.
Last month, Ukraine used 14,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition every 48 hours on average – roughly the same number produced by the U.S. per month before the conflict.
The Army’s recent decision to expand its artillery ammunition product is, according to New York Times writers John Ismay and Eric Lipton, “the clearest sign yet that the United States plans to back Ukraine no matter how long the war continues.”
Learn more about other threats to America’s national security at NationalSecurity.news.
Watch this episode of “The New Atlas” as host Brian Berletic discusses how the U.S. has pledged to send over M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine, further depleting American military stockpiles.
This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- Think tank: America’s defense industry is not prepared for a war with China over Taiwan.
- Former top adviser to Ukrainian president says country will lose its war against Russia.
- German intelligence agency: Ukraine losing HUNDREDS of soldiers daily… the situation is not sustainable.
- NATO members are running out of weapons that they can send to Ukraine.
- Biden regime now tapping secret ammo supply depot in Israel to continue supplying Ukraine.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
I am sure there are enough abandoned auto and steel mill factories through out the Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and so that you would be able to set up shop in no time what so ever.
No offense but what’s wrong with the OLD factories?
Proves my theory of the proxy war & military industrial complex. Politicians & industrialist making bank.
MTG is going to make a lot of money on her investments.
Well if you don’t want MTG to make a lot of money, then convince your addled brain President to stop sending military supplies to Ukraine. Easy peasy.
The last wars we have fought were against ignorant peasants who had no aircraft, no submarines, no carriers, no tanks, just small arms and a dedication to the causes they were willing to die for. Our next war will likely be against China who has a bigger industrial machine with lower costs than we do, who has more ships in their navy than we do, who has 5X the number of cyber warriors than we have and the ruthlessness to use them, who as a population 5X our size and a massive totalitarian government that controls their press and will impose no limits on what they do.
The fact that we have not upgraded our ability to have ammunition for our troops, the fact that we have depleted our energy reserves and shut down domestic production for truly stupid political reasons, the fact that our military leadership is more focused on making the officer corps WOKE and exiting actual war-fighting patriots, the fact that we drove the Saudis and the Russians into the arms of the Russians, the fact that we are led by a clown car of idiots in the Depts of Defense, Homeland Security, and State among others and a President who is bought and paid for by the Chinese does not augur well for the future of America. Very dark times. Like the idiot, defeatist, divisive French government in the 1930s who argued over Marxist trivia while Germany armed for war. Very very dark times.
Glas they are updating the factories but a lot more needs to be done to put our economy back on a growth track (like Trumps 3.5%/y not Bidens <1%/y), rein in the bureaucracy, fix our intelligence apparatus, FBI and DOJ that seems more focused on fighting Trump than saving America, controlling our border and focusing our schools on teaching useful things like math, science, computers, reading, writing, and thinking rather than indoctrinating them into absurd trans fantasies.