The Pentagon, the Arms Industry, and Ukraine

April 15th, 2022 - by Dave DeCamp / AntiWar.com

Pentagon Asks Top 8 US
Arms Makers to Meet on Ukraine

Dave DeCamp / AntiWar.com

(April 12, 2022) —Ukraine According to a report from Reuters, the Pentagon will host leaders from the top eight US weapons makers to discuss the industry’s capacity to produce arms for Ukraine if the war lasts years.

One source told Reuters that the Pentagon’s Office of Acquisition and Sustainment will host a 90-minute meeting that Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks will likely attend. Resupplying the weapons stockpiles of the US and its allies are expected to be discussed, as well as planning for a long-term conflict.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the US has pledged over $1.7 billion in new military aid for Ukraine. The weapons in highest demand are Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as the US is shipping them to Ukraine on a near-daily basis.

US weapons makers are expected to reap
long-term benefits from the war

Javelins are a joint venture between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The Stingers are solely made by Raytheon, which is the former employer of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Raytheon, Lockheed, and other US arms makers are expected to reap long-term benefits from the war in Ukraine.

Other top US arms makers that could attend the Pentagon meeting include Northrop Grumman, Boeing,  L3Harris Technologies, and General Dynamics.

Besides replenishing stockpiles sent to Ukraine, the companies stand to gain from European countries increasing military spending in the wake of Russia’s invasion.

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