The supply of advanced U.S. air defense and air-to-air missiles to Ukraine is depleting stockpiles needed for deterring China, the commander of the Indo-Pacific Command said this week.
Adm. Sam Paparo said that until recently, deliveries of less valuable arms, such as artillery pieces and short-range weapons, had no impact on the readiness of his forces, which are confronting an increasingly aggressive Chinese military across East Asia.
“But now with some of the Patriots that have been employed, some of the air-to-air missiles that have been employed, it’s now eating into stocks,” Adm. Paparo said in remarks Tuesday at the Brookings Institution. “And to say otherwise would be dishonest.”
The Pentagon has sent two Army Patriot anti-missile and anti-aircraft interceptor systems to Ukraine, one in December 2022 and a second in June. The Army has only 15 of the high-demand systems in the United States and worldwide.
Each battery includes five to eight launchers that contain a mix of as many as 68 total interceptor missiles for PAC-3 and older PAC-2 systems.
A Patriot anti-missile system reportedly shot down a Russian hypersonic missile in the conflict, highlighting its advanced defense capabilities.
The Pentagon also sent Ukraine advanced AIM-9X air-to-air missiles for Kyiv’s F-16 fighters, along with more advanced Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs. The AIM-9X can be used against both cruise missiles and drones.
The four-star admiral said the higher-end weapons are mutually interchangeable across all geographical regions and can be applied equally for any military conflict, but that getting the weapons where they are needed can present logistical problems.
“None are preserved for any particular theater, but none can move with alacrity to any theater,” Adm. Paper said. “Inherently, it imposes costs on the readiness of America to respond in the Indo-Pacific region, which is the most stressing theater for the quantity and quality of munitions because the [China] is the most capable potential adversary in the world.”
U.S. stockpiles of the advanced arms must be replenished “and then some,” he said.
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.