Military

The Army Is Rebuilding its Ammunition Stores for the Next Fight

The head of Army Materiel Command said recently that he is putting a high priority on munitions readiness to make sure Army units are prepared for the next war.

"This means having the right munitions – small-caliber to precision munitions – where we need them at the right time and the right place," Gen. Gus Perna told an audience at a March 14 Association of the United States Army event. "That means we must first ensure that the capability we have here in [the U.S.] can receive, store and issue munitions in a timely, effective manner."

Perna's comments come at a time when the Army continues to replenish its ammunition stocks as it prepares to face an equally formidable foe such as Russia or China on the battlefield.

In the service's fiscal 2020 budget request, it is increasing its investment in every type of ammunition except artillery shells, a heavy investment area in the Army's fiscal 2019 budget.