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The Commons Defense Committee has called for a plan to rebuild supplies from depletion. Replenishing Britain's dwindling ammunition stocks after the war in Ukraine could take at least a decade, putting Britain's national security at risk, lawmakers have warned. The Commons Defense Committee said Britain and other NATO allies had reduced ammunition stockpiles to "dangerously low levels" as they sought to supply Kiev in its fight against the Russian invader.
He said the way Western governments procure weapons is "not fit for purpose" and urged the Defense Ministry to draw up an action plan to reduce the time it takes to replenish its stockpiles.
This inability to replenish UK stocks therefore jeopardizes not only our ability to resupply Ukraine, but also to counter any threat to our own security.
“It is clear that the UK and its NATO allies have allowed ammunition stocks to drop to dangerously low levels,” he said.
“While Russia is also facing declining reserves, other adversaries are in a position to hold and potentially increase theirs.
"This failure to replenish UK stocks therefore jeopardizes not only our ability to resupply Ukraine, but also to counter any threats to our own security."
The committee's warning echoes concerns expressed by Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, who said militaries across Europe have been paying the price for years of "hollowing out."
Last month, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged the allies to urgently ramp up production as the Ukrainians were burning through munitions faster than the West could supply it.
The committee said it was essential for the UK's defense industrial capacity to be "resilient and scalable" in order to increase production.
We remain fully engaged with the industry, allies and partners to ensure both continued supply to Ukraine and replenishment of UK stocks as quickly as possible.
“The Department of Defense developed a strategy to improve how it interacts with industry and its allies nearly two years ago, and yet we were told it would take at least a decade to replenish (and then increase to a sustainable level) stocks. of British ammunition. " He said.
"We therefore recommend that the department draw up an action plan on how it intends to build defense industrial capacity and reduce the time required to replenish UK stocks."
Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood said: “Russia's invasion of Ukraine should be a wake-up call to the West. Security, safety and democracy are hard won and easily lost.
"Powerful and resilient militaries, together with our allies abroad, are the best deterrent against aggression."
A Defense Ministry spokesman said it was "continuing to place orders to replace ammunition donated to Ukraine and (we have) an additional £560m to increase stocks."
“We remain fully engaged with the industry, allies and partners to ensure both continued supply to Ukraine and replenishment of UK stocks as quickly as possible,” a statement added.
Shadow Defense Secretary for the Labor Party John Healey said: "Our military reserves are depleted and the government is moving too slowly to replenish them."
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