Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area

Chief weapons-buyer nominee says US needs more weapon factories

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Mar 2022 09:01
3 Min Read

The weapons-driven nominee expresses how he believes deliveries of arms and lethal equipment to Ukraine should be sped up.

  • x
  • Chief Weapons-Buyer Nominee says US needs more weapon factories
    Chief weapons-buyer nominee Bill Laplante

President Biden's candidate to be the Pentagon's top weapons buyer told Congress Tuesday that the US needs more production lines that can churn out missiles, bombs, and drones.

The Senate confirmation hearing for Bill LaPlante happened as the US military exhausts its stocks of Javelin anti-tank and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to arm Ukraine.

On February 28, Biden nominated LaPlante, CEO of the non-profit Draper Labs in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to be the military undersecretary for procurement and sustainment. Since President Biden took office on January 20, 2021, the position has been without a Senate-confirmed leader.

LaPlante said he believed the US needs "multiple hot production lines," adding that they alone are a "deterrent", and much of that focus needs to be implemented "across the board."

The top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. James Inhofe, asked LaPlante if the US should make one-time investments in 2022 to expand production of key munitions, to which the nominee responded, "Yes, we do."

Related News

Global arms sales hit $632Bln in 2023, US firms dominate with $317Bln

UK depletes weapon stockpiles after supplying Ukraine

According to Inhofe, “We're sending thousands of Stingers to Ukraine and we don't even have a hot production line." 

LaPlante revealed, “If confirmed, one of my first things to do on day one would be [to] accelerate all equipment and capabilities to both the Ukrainians … and also helping our NATO partners and replenish our stockpiles."

Thousands of the simple-to-use Javelins and Stingers have been delivered to Ukraine by the US military. However, only the Javelin is in serial production in the US, through a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies.

The US has already sent $1 billion of military aid to Ukraine. 

The US has been a main contributor of lethal arms to Ukraine, arming the country as early as December.

According to a declassified accounting of transfers and sales examined by The Washington Post, the United States significantly increased its supply of lethal military aid to Ukraine as the potential of an escalation with Russia drew closer.

When there are orders or expected orders, companies often keep manufacturing lines operating. It's unusual for a business to continue manufacturing a weapon in the absence of pre-booked orders. A significant example was when Boeing produced C-17 freight aircraft without orders in the hope of eventually selling them.

  • Weapons
  • Russia
  • US weapons
  • lockheed martin
  • Ukraine
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS