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Biden to visit Javelin missile factory in Alabama



The White House announced on Wednesday that President Biden will visit a Javelin anti-tank missile factory in Alabama next week, the source of a weapon that plays a key role in Ukraine’s defense against a two-month Russian invasion.

Mr. Biden will visit the Lockheed Martin facility amid concerns that the United States is depleting its supply of long-range, guided Javelin missiles as it continues to send weapons to Kiev to fend off Russian tanks.

The White House did not provide further details about the trip.

The visit came as lawmakers voiced concerns over the supply of Javelin missiles, which has fallen by 33% since the US invasion of Ukraine.

Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing this week that the United States has given Ukraine about a third of its Javelin missile supply. He estimated that it would take 32 months for the US to replenish its weapons stockpile.

Mr Blumenthal said the US would face a Javelin weapons shortage in the near future if the Pentagon continued to supply Javelin missiles to Ukraine below the current domestic production rate.


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Lawmakers are urging Mr. Biden to introduce the Defense Production Act to accelerate the production of more missiles. The 1950 law gives the president emergency powers to oblige private businesses to prioritize goods deemed essential to the country’s security.

Ellen Lord, the former Undersecretary of Defense for Purchasing and Sustainment, who served under the Trump administration, told lawmakers this week that the Defense Production Act is critical for the United States to replenish the Javelin stockpile.





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