This article is part of a series on US-Gulf security cooperation. Read more here.
Global conflict is expanding faster than the United States’ capacity to manufacture weapons. But even if US industry can expedite production output, outdated defense sales processes are impeding efforts to get equipment to US allies and partners to protect shared interests and defend themselves.
The arms delivery crisis became evident after the outbreak of Russia’s war on Ukraine in 2022. It escalated to new levels this year as Iran fired barrages of missiles and drones on US partners in the Gulf, in response to US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Consumption of advanced munitions during Operation Epic Fury fully exposed the vulnerability in such an extreme burn rate. Further, the threat of conflict in the Indo-Pacific serves as a stark reminder that the worst has yet to occur. It is imperative that Washington take steps now to mitigate this arms crisis.
A full solution to replenishing the US arms supply, sustainment, and delivery crisis will take years. But there are immediate steps the US can take, under existing law and policy, to speed up defense sales. Defense articles are only made-to-order, regardless of whether they are for domestic or foreign sales. New orders from partner countries do not take away from US stocks and only help the efficacy of the domestic defense industrial base.
