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The U.S. Department of Defense is currently reviewing 1,300 proposals from 800 companies for innovative new weapons and commercial capabilities they might develop and produce for Ukraine to counter Russian aggression, according to Defense Department officials.
The Pentagon expects to decide in the coming weeks on which ideas it will pursue, leading to possible eventual production for Ukraine as well as for the US military.
Proposals requested by the department focus on key areas — including anti-aircraft weapons capabilities, anti-tank defense, anti-personnel defense, coastal defense, anti-tank defense, unmanned aerial systems, anti-battery, and secure communications — identified by Ukraine as critical military need.
They are seen as part of a broader DoD initiative to "meet Ukraine's priority requirements for security assistance," according to the original call for recommendations to industry. The goal is to get ideas and information to speed up production and build more capabilities across the industrial base, as it is now believed that the United States and its allies may need to support Ukraine long after Ukraine's own weapons stockpiles are depleted.
This is happening as the Pentagon continues its multibillion-dollar arms transfers. On Thursday, President Joe Biden said the U.S. would soon announce an additional $800 million in new aid, including air defenses and offensive weapons. The U.S. has so far pledged $6.1 billion in security aid to Ukraine since the February 24 invasion of Russia. The United States has been working with more than 50 other countries to see what weapons they can offer.
Priority is given to Russian weapons, as the Ukrainian armed forces are familiar with these systems and require no training. But as the war progressed, more advanced weapons were deployed and Ukrainian troops were trained in nearby countries.
The division's timeline for potential new production contracts reflects a level of urgency, with potential delivery times ranging from less than 30 days to more than 180 days. It also requires companies to detail what type of air, land or sea platforms their weapons can be used on, and whether they have produced any.
"Specifically, the Department of Defense is reviewing options to expedite production and build capabilities across the industrial base for additional weapons and equipment that can be exported quickly and deployed with minimal training," the Defense Department said in the call. And proven effective on the battlefield." Turn to industry for ideas.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon held a meeting with eight of the world's largest defense contractors, and Congress approved funding for arms sales contracts, as well as continued purchases and transfers of systems from U.S. military depots.
It said the Pentagon had created a detailed bureaucratic structure to assess Ukrainian demand and try to expedite supply. A new "high-level integration team" of senior officials is reviewing Ukraine's recent operational needs.
Funding may come from the Ukraine Security Assistance Program, which provides Ukraine with nearly $1 billion in arms contracts. Nearly $240 million has been awarded for everything from switching blade drones to secure communications equipment.
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