1 00:00:01,640 --> 00:00:05,280 Good afternoon , everyone just a few 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:07,447 things and then I'll get right to your 3 00:00:07,447 --> 00:00:09,613 questions . Uh First I am aware of the 4 00:00:09,613 --> 00:00:11,891 press reporting stating that the U . S . 5 00:00:11,891 --> 00:00:14,002 Is considering providing Abrams tanks 6 00:00:14,002 --> 00:00:16,224 to Ukraine . I have no announcements to 7 00:00:16,224 --> 00:00:18,447 make at this time and when and if we do 8 00:00:18,447 --> 00:00:20,669 we'll be sure to let you know as always 9 00:00:20,669 --> 00:00:22,836 we continue to remain in close contact 10 00:00:22,836 --> 00:00:24,391 with the Ukrainians and our 11 00:00:24,391 --> 00:00:26,447 international allies and partners on 12 00:00:26,447 --> 00:00:28,280 Ukraine's most pressing security 13 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:30,224 assistance requirements to include 14 00:00:30,224 --> 00:00:32,336 their near medium and long term needs 15 00:00:32,336 --> 00:00:34,336 separately . The U . S . And Israel 16 00:00:34,336 --> 00:00:36,058 began the juniper oak exercise 17 00:00:36,058 --> 00:00:38,070 yesterday which is a bilateral live 18 00:00:38,070 --> 00:00:40,720 fire exercise in Israel and the Eastern 19 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,400 Mediterranean sea . It's the largest 20 00:00:43,410 --> 00:00:45,521 and most significant exercise we have 21 00:00:45,521 --> 00:00:47,688 engaged in together and is intended to 22 00:00:47,688 --> 00:00:49,910 demonstrate that the U . S . Commitment 23 00:00:49,910 --> 00:00:51,966 to Israel's security is ironclad and 24 00:00:51,966 --> 00:00:53,854 enduring Throughout the week long 25 00:00:53,854 --> 00:00:56,640 engagement more than 140 aircraft , 12 26 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,130 naval vessels , high mobility artillery , 27 00:00:59,130 --> 00:01:01,860 rocket systems and multiple launch 28 00:01:01,860 --> 00:01:04,082 rocket systems will be used during this 29 00:01:04,082 --> 00:01:06,200 combined joint all domain exercise , 30 00:01:06,410 --> 00:01:08,632 increasing our ability to inter operate 31 00:01:08,632 --> 00:01:10,810 on land in the air , at sea , in space 32 00:01:10,810 --> 00:01:13,050 and in cyberspace which ultimately 33 00:01:13,050 --> 00:01:14,994 enhances our ability to respond to 34 00:01:14,994 --> 00:01:17,210 contingencies and underscores the US 35 00:01:17,210 --> 00:01:19,377 commitment to the Middle East region . 36 00:01:20,130 --> 00:01:23,030 In other exercise news exercise . Obeng 37 00:01:23,030 --> 00:01:26,200 Gami expressed 2023 the largest 38 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,180 multinational maritime exercise in 39 00:01:28,180 --> 00:01:30,340 western and Central Africa also began 40 00:01:30,340 --> 00:01:33,200 yesterday in Lagos Nigeria with 29 41 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,980 participating nations conducted by U . 42 00:01:35,980 --> 00:01:38,091 S . Naval Forces Africa and sponsored 43 00:01:38,091 --> 00:01:40,900 by U . S . Africa command O . E . 23 is 44 00:01:40,900 --> 00:01:42,800 the exercises 12th iteration and 45 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:44,411 designed to improve regional 46 00:01:44,411 --> 00:01:46,400 cooperation , information sharing 47 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:48,800 practices and tactical interdiction 48 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:50,856 expertise to support a more secure , 49 00:01:50,856 --> 00:01:52,689 safe and economically prosperous 50 00:01:52,689 --> 00:01:55,020 maritime environment . The exercise 51 00:01:55,020 --> 00:01:57,640 will run through february three . Also 52 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,473 yesterday , Secretary Austin and 53 00:01:59,473 --> 00:02:01,418 secretary of the Air Force Kendall 54 00:02:01,418 --> 00:02:03,084 spoke at a ceremony at Howard 55 00:02:03,084 --> 00:02:05,196 University during which the Air Force 56 00:02:05,196 --> 00:02:07,362 announced that is selected . Howard is 57 00:02:07,362 --> 00:02:09,584 the first historically black college or 58 00:02:09,584 --> 00:02:11,640 university to lead the Department of 59 00:02:11,640 --> 00:02:13,862 Defense sponsored university affiliated 60 00:02:13,862 --> 00:02:16,084 research center . The center will focus 61 00:02:16,084 --> 00:02:17,973 on tactical autonomy for military 62 00:02:17,973 --> 00:02:19,973 systems and Howard will receive $12 63 00:02:19,973 --> 00:02:22,196 million per year for five years to fund 64 00:02:22,196 --> 00:02:24,820 research . D . O . D . Currently has 14 65 00:02:24,820 --> 00:02:26,987 university affiliated research centers 66 00:02:26,987 --> 00:02:29,190 with Howard now being the 15th , such 67 00:02:29,190 --> 00:02:31,301 centers are responsible for providing 68 00:02:31,301 --> 00:02:33,468 dedicated facilities and sharing space 69 00:02:33,468 --> 00:02:35,134 with department officials and 70 00:02:35,134 --> 00:02:37,079 industrial participants to conduct 71 00:02:37,079 --> 00:02:38,690 basic applied and technology 72 00:02:38,690 --> 00:02:41,270 demonstration research . Finally , the 73 00:02:41,270 --> 00:02:43,159 senate confirmed Mr Brendan Owens 74 00:02:43,159 --> 00:02:45,159 yesterday as Assistant Secretary of 75 00:02:45,159 --> 00:02:47,214 Defense for energy installations and 76 00:02:47,214 --> 00:02:49,437 environment . And this role , Assistant 77 00:02:49,437 --> 00:02:51,270 Secretary Owens is the principal 78 00:02:51,270 --> 00:02:53,103 advisor to the undersecretary of 79 00:02:53,103 --> 00:02:55,326 Defense for acquisition and sustainment 80 00:02:55,326 --> 00:02:56,992 for all matters pertaining to 81 00:02:56,992 --> 00:02:58,992 environment and energy resilience , 82 00:02:58,992 --> 00:03:00,826 construction , housing and local 83 00:03:00,826 --> 00:03:03,048 defense community cooperation . He also 84 00:03:03,048 --> 00:03:04,714 provides budgetary policy and 85 00:03:04,714 --> 00:03:06,881 management oversight of the Department 86 00:03:06,881 --> 00:03:08,937 of Defense's real property portfolio 87 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,182 which encompasses millions of acres and 88 00:03:11,182 --> 00:03:13,650 over 500,000 buildings and structures 89 00:03:13,690 --> 00:03:16,480 at more than 500 installations and with 90 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,702 that I will take your questions . We'll 91 00:03:18,702 --> 00:03:20,810 start with a P . Tara . Thanks for 92 00:03:20,810 --> 00:03:22,970 doing this now , multiple news 93 00:03:22,970 --> 00:03:25,081 organizations have been able to match 94 00:03:25,081 --> 00:03:27,240 the journal's reporting that the 95 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,462 administration will be approving Abrams 96 00:03:29,462 --> 00:03:32,680 for Ukraine and it seems like this has 97 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,690 been in the works for a while . What 98 00:03:35,690 --> 00:03:38,620 was the Pentagon's thinking behind the 99 00:03:38,620 --> 00:03:41,070 last week's worth of saying that Abrams 100 00:03:41,070 --> 00:03:43,400 won't work . They're not the right tool 101 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,567 for the battle . They're too costly to 102 00:03:45,567 --> 00:03:48,200 maintain . Um is this not going to be a 103 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,900 useful tool for Ukraine ? Again , I 104 00:03:50,900 --> 00:03:53,122 have nothing to announce today in terms 105 00:03:53,122 --> 00:03:55,220 of the M one's I think as we've said 106 00:03:55,220 --> 00:03:57,480 all along , we continue to have a very 107 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,536 robust dialogue with Ukraine and our 108 00:03:59,536 --> 00:04:01,591 international allies and partners to 109 00:04:01,591 --> 00:04:03,950 focus on what their immediate battle 110 00:04:03,950 --> 00:04:06,061 term battlefield needs are now in the 111 00:04:06,061 --> 00:04:08,100 near term , but we also have 112 00:04:08,100 --> 00:04:10,322 discussions about what they may need in 113 00:04:10,322 --> 00:04:12,156 the medium to long term and will 114 00:04:12,156 --> 00:04:14,322 continue to have those discussions and 115 00:04:14,322 --> 00:04:16,433 again , as I said at the top when and 116 00:04:16,433 --> 00:04:18,544 if we have something to announce , we 117 00:04:18,544 --> 00:04:22,490 will , where could this training 118 00:04:22,490 --> 00:04:24,580 take place ? If it does take place , 119 00:04:24,590 --> 00:04:26,812 would this be something that happens in 120 00:04:26,812 --> 00:04:28,646 Germany ? Is this something that 121 00:04:28,646 --> 00:04:30,812 happens in Poland presumably like with 122 00:04:30,812 --> 00:04:32,868 the Bradleys and the other systems ? 123 00:04:32,868 --> 00:04:35,201 Some extensive training would be needed . 124 00:04:35,201 --> 00:04:34,980 Sure . Again , I don't have any 125 00:04:34,980 --> 00:04:36,924 announcements . So I don't want to 126 00:04:36,924 --> 00:04:39,147 speculate or talk about hypotheticals , 127 00:04:39,147 --> 00:04:40,758 but when and if we have more 128 00:04:40,758 --> 00:04:43,036 information that we're able to provide . 129 00:04:43,036 --> 00:04:45,202 We certainly will . Thank you . Taking 130 00:04:45,202 --> 00:04:47,369 aside whether Ukraine will or will not 131 00:04:47,369 --> 00:04:49,424 get the Abrams , you and others have 132 00:04:49,424 --> 00:04:51,424 spoken publicly about the logistics 133 00:04:51,424 --> 00:04:54,070 issues right again aside , take aside 134 00:04:54,070 --> 00:04:56,181 whether they're getting them or not , 135 00:04:56,181 --> 00:04:58,410 How do you overcome giving tanks to a 136 00:04:58,410 --> 00:05:00,490 country when they don't have the 137 00:05:00,490 --> 00:05:02,657 logistics train when they don't have a 138 00:05:02,657 --> 00:05:04,900 few with it ? Yeah . Again , without 139 00:05:04,910 --> 00:05:07,730 trying to preview an announcement again , 140 00:05:07,730 --> 00:05:10,040 which I'm not sure if I was clear , but 141 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,096 I don't have an announcement to make 142 00:05:12,096 --> 00:05:15,760 today . Um You know , the the M1 is a 143 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,620 complex weapons system that is 144 00:05:18,630 --> 00:05:20,852 challenging to maintain as we've talked 145 00:05:20,852 --> 00:05:23,430 about . That was true yesterday . It's 146 00:05:23,430 --> 00:05:25,319 true today , it'll be true in the 147 00:05:25,319 --> 00:05:27,510 future . Um again , without getting in 148 00:05:27,510 --> 00:05:29,990 hypotheticals , uh any time that we've 149 00:05:29,990 --> 00:05:31,879 provided Ukraine with any type of 150 00:05:31,879 --> 00:05:35,500 system , uh we provided the training uh 151 00:05:35,510 --> 00:05:37,788 and sustainment capabilities with that . 152 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:39,900 So again , when and if we have 153 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:41,900 something to announce about any new 154 00:05:41,900 --> 00:05:43,956 weapons system , we'll be sure to do 155 00:05:43,956 --> 00:05:46,289 that once again , putting aside Ukraine , 156 00:05:46,289 --> 00:05:48,233 is it beneficial to give a country 157 00:05:48,233 --> 00:05:50,567 weapons that it cannot maintain ? Again , 158 00:05:50,567 --> 00:05:52,789 I'm not gonna get into hypotheticals or 159 00:05:52,789 --> 00:05:54,900 speculate at this point in time , our 160 00:05:54,900 --> 00:05:57,122 focus has been , as you know , that the 161 00:05:57,122 --> 00:05:59,344 Ukraine Ukraine contact group this last 162 00:05:59,344 --> 00:06:01,344 week has been focused on what is it 163 00:06:01,344 --> 00:06:03,640 that Ukraine needs right now to have 164 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:05,751 immediate effect on the battlefield , 165 00:06:05,751 --> 00:06:07,973 given the situation there . But again , 166 00:06:07,973 --> 00:06:09,862 we've also been very clear , more 167 00:06:09,862 --> 00:06:11,973 broadly speaking from a strategic and 168 00:06:11,973 --> 00:06:14,196 operational standpoint that we continue 169 00:06:14,196 --> 00:06:16,418 to have discussions with the Ukrainians 170 00:06:16,418 --> 00:06:18,584 and our allies and partners about what 171 00:06:18,584 --> 00:06:20,640 are the medium and long term defense 172 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:22,529 requirements for Ukraine and will 173 00:06:22,529 --> 00:06:24,696 continue to have those conversations . 174 00:06:24,696 --> 00:06:26,940 I have two occasions , one in North 175 00:06:26,940 --> 00:06:29,730 Korea , one in Taiwan first occasion , 176 00:06:29,730 --> 00:06:32,480 North Korea is preparing for the 177 00:06:32,490 --> 00:06:35,740 largest scale military parade . You 178 00:06:35,740 --> 00:06:38,240 know that at the same time , what kind 179 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,460 of readiness does the United States 180 00:06:41,470 --> 00:06:44,620 have in preparations for 181 00:06:44,630 --> 00:06:47,490 contingents in which North Korea 182 00:06:47,490 --> 00:06:51,080 conducted beside and seventh nuclear 183 00:06:51,090 --> 00:06:53,210 test ? Well , you know , you've heard 184 00:06:53,210 --> 00:06:55,240 us say before that we do remain 185 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,010 concerned that North Korea is prepared 186 00:06:58,010 --> 00:07:01,070 to conduct 1/7 nuclear test . It would 187 00:07:01,070 --> 00:07:04,510 certainly be a destabilizing action in 188 00:07:04,510 --> 00:07:06,732 the region . And so it's something that 189 00:07:06,732 --> 00:07:09,220 we continue to keep a close eye on um 190 00:07:09,230 --> 00:07:11,341 and and we will work closely with our 191 00:07:11,341 --> 00:07:13,452 partners and our allies in the region 192 00:07:13,452 --> 00:07:16,080 to be prepared in that eventuality . 193 00:07:16,090 --> 00:07:19,990 Yes and another one . If China invaded 194 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,920 Taiwan , us support is in Korea 195 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,790 will move to Taiwan and the United 196 00:07:27,790 --> 00:07:31,790 States will intervene . Does the U . S . 197 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,780 Expected South Korea to be involved in 198 00:07:35,790 --> 00:07:39,340 this military action ? Yeah , thanks , 199 00:07:39,340 --> 00:07:41,562 thanks for the question . I'm not going 200 00:07:41,562 --> 00:07:43,950 to get into hypotheticals regarding a 201 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,170 potential chinese invasion of Taiwan . 202 00:07:47,170 --> 00:07:49,520 I as you know , we maintain a variety 203 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,520 of capabilities throughout the indo 204 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:53,687 pacific region , a variety of forces , 205 00:07:53,740 --> 00:07:55,407 uh not the least of which are 206 00:07:55,407 --> 00:07:57,407 approximately 30,000 U . S . Forces 207 00:07:57,407 --> 00:07:59,670 stationed in South Korea which are 208 00:07:59,670 --> 00:08:02,600 there to work alongside our Rok allies 209 00:08:02,610 --> 00:08:05,110 to protect and defend South Korea . So 210 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,370 we'll continue to work closely with 211 00:08:07,380 --> 00:08:10,230 South Korea and Japan and other allies 212 00:08:10,230 --> 00:08:12,397 and partners in the region to preserve 213 00:08:12,397 --> 00:08:14,452 a free and open indo pacific . Thank 214 00:08:14,452 --> 00:08:17,740 you , Laura , I'm sure Dr call last 215 00:08:17,740 --> 00:08:19,684 week , spent a good amount of time 216 00:08:19,684 --> 00:08:21,796 talking about how tank now is not the 217 00:08:21,796 --> 00:08:25,580 right time to send Abrams and Abrams is 218 00:08:25,590 --> 00:08:27,757 not the right tool for the battlefield 219 00:08:27,757 --> 00:08:29,980 in the immediate future . So is that 220 00:08:29,980 --> 00:08:33,430 still D O . D . S position ? So as we 221 00:08:33,430 --> 00:08:35,597 talked about and as dr cole has talked 222 00:08:35,597 --> 00:08:37,819 about , our focus has been on providing 223 00:08:37,819 --> 00:08:39,930 Ukraine with capabilities that it can 224 00:08:39,930 --> 00:08:42,152 employ right now on the battlefield . I 225 00:08:42,152 --> 00:08:44,208 think we're all following along very 226 00:08:44,208 --> 00:08:46,486 closely the current situation there is , 227 00:08:46,486 --> 00:08:48,430 Ukraine tries to recruit refit and 228 00:08:48,430 --> 00:08:50,319 prepare for a continued offensive 229 00:08:50,319 --> 00:08:52,374 operations along the lines . So that 230 00:08:52,374 --> 00:08:54,597 that is not changed as evidenced by the 231 00:08:54,597 --> 00:08:56,708 recent P . D . A . Announcements that 232 00:08:56,708 --> 00:08:58,819 we've made um and as evidenced by the 233 00:08:58,819 --> 00:09:01,041 capabilities that you saw coming out of 234 00:09:01,041 --> 00:09:03,210 the contact group announced by uh many 235 00:09:03,210 --> 00:09:06,200 of our partners . And so again , as we 236 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,840 look at our security assistance 237 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,062 relationship with Ukraine , we're going 238 00:09:11,062 --> 00:09:13,007 to continue to talk not only about 239 00:09:13,007 --> 00:09:15,173 their near term needs , but also about 240 00:09:15,173 --> 00:09:17,340 their medium and long term needs . And 241 00:09:17,340 --> 00:09:19,507 that has always been the case and will 242 00:09:19,507 --> 00:09:21,562 continue to be the case . Do we have 243 00:09:21,562 --> 00:09:24,100 Abrams tanks , an exportable version 244 00:09:24,110 --> 00:09:26,221 that would be readily available right 245 00:09:26,221 --> 00:09:28,388 now . I don't have anything to provide 246 00:09:28,388 --> 00:09:30,721 on that . Thank you . Thank you general . 247 00:09:30,721 --> 00:09:32,900 So um Der Spiegel is reporting that 248 00:09:32,910 --> 00:09:35,200 Germany will allow Poland and other 249 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:38,580 nations to re export leopard two thanks 250 00:09:38,580 --> 00:09:40,358 to to Ukraine . Has the general 251 00:09:40,358 --> 00:09:42,840 leadership communicated its decision 252 00:09:42,850 --> 00:09:45,080 with the with the department and the 253 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:46,747 department played any role in 254 00:09:46,747 --> 00:09:48,858 convincing Germany to make this shift 255 00:09:48,858 --> 00:09:51,140 and on the technical uh not technical . 256 00:09:51,150 --> 00:09:54,970 Um as part of your discussion 257 00:09:54,970 --> 00:09:56,748 with with Ukraine , you have an 258 00:09:56,748 --> 00:09:58,637 understanding how many thanks the 259 00:09:58,637 --> 00:10:01,860 Ukrainians think they need um for this 260 00:10:01,870 --> 00:10:05,810 uh maybe um offensive coming 261 00:10:05,820 --> 00:10:09,230 uh after the winter season . Yeah , I 262 00:10:09,230 --> 00:10:11,063 won't speak for the Ukrainians . 263 00:10:11,070 --> 00:10:13,980 They've certainly voiced to the 264 00:10:13,980 --> 00:10:15,758 Department of Defense and other 265 00:10:15,758 --> 00:10:17,869 international leaders in terms of the 266 00:10:17,869 --> 00:10:19,980 security assistance requirements that 267 00:10:19,980 --> 00:10:21,980 they have in order to support their 268 00:10:21,980 --> 00:10:24,202 armed forces . And and as I mentioned , 269 00:10:24,202 --> 00:10:26,536 we continue to have those conversations . 270 00:10:26,536 --> 00:10:28,702 In terms of Germany , Secretary Austin 271 00:10:28,702 --> 00:10:30,869 did have very productive conversations 272 00:10:30,869 --> 00:10:33,091 with his german counterpart when he was 273 00:10:33,091 --> 00:10:35,369 in Germany we issued a readout of that , 274 00:10:35,369 --> 00:10:37,369 which I would refer you to . But in 275 00:10:37,369 --> 00:10:39,591 terms of decision making on the side of 276 00:10:39,591 --> 00:10:41,930 Germany as to Whether or not they will 277 00:10:41,930 --> 00:10:44,180 provide tanks or allow 3rd Party 278 00:10:44,180 --> 00:10:46,291 countries to provide those tanks said 279 00:10:46,291 --> 00:10:48,520 referring to them . You understand at 280 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:50,576 this point . But my my question is , 281 00:10:50,576 --> 00:10:53,110 has the German leadership . Defense 282 00:10:53,110 --> 00:10:55,332 leadership communicated any decision to 283 00:10:55,332 --> 00:10:58,660 the department . Again , I refer you to 284 00:10:58,660 --> 00:11:00,827 the Germans . I don't have anything to 285 00:11:00,827 --> 00:11:02,604 provide today . Again we've had 286 00:11:02,604 --> 00:11:04,604 productive conversations , we value 287 00:11:04,604 --> 00:11:06,549 Germany very much as an ally . You 288 00:11:06,549 --> 00:11:08,549 heard Secretary Austin talked about 289 00:11:08,549 --> 00:11:10,438 this in his press conference . Uh 290 00:11:10,438 --> 00:11:12,604 Germany has committed a a large amount 291 00:11:12,604 --> 00:11:15,300 of resources to Ukraine to assist in 292 00:11:15,300 --> 00:11:17,300 their fight . Uh and we continue to 293 00:11:17,300 --> 00:11:19,356 value their the relationship that we 294 00:11:19,356 --> 00:11:21,411 have as Germany and will continue to 295 00:11:21,411 --> 00:11:23,633 communicate with them very regularly as 296 00:11:23,633 --> 00:11:25,633 one of our staunchest and strongest 297 00:11:25,633 --> 00:11:28,000 allies joseph , just to go back on the 298 00:11:28,010 --> 00:11:29,900 joint exercise with the Israeli 299 00:11:29,900 --> 00:11:33,730 military . Um I understand there's sort 300 00:11:33,730 --> 00:11:35,841 of there's a dynamic force employment 301 00:11:35,841 --> 00:11:38,790 there . So what message is this sending 302 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,480 to allies in the region that the U . S . 303 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,591 Is gonna get in ? It has troops to be 304 00:11:43,591 --> 00:11:45,647 able to get in uh and get out , show 305 00:11:45,647 --> 00:11:47,591 that's still committed not only to 306 00:11:47,591 --> 00:11:49,591 Israel but it's other allies in the 307 00:11:49,591 --> 00:11:51,758 region . And also is there any message 308 00:11:51,758 --> 00:11:53,702 that's being sent to Iran in these 309 00:11:53,702 --> 00:11:55,702 exercise ? Yeah , so to answer your 310 00:11:55,702 --> 00:11:57,869 your last question upfront ? No , this 311 00:11:57,869 --> 00:12:01,280 is not meant to be oriented around any 312 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,110 single adversary or threat . Um as you 313 00:12:04,110 --> 00:12:06,332 know , the United States maintains many 314 00:12:06,332 --> 00:12:08,554 relationships in the Middle East region 315 00:12:08,554 --> 00:12:10,780 with many countries . Uh Israel is one 316 00:12:10,780 --> 00:12:13,002 of our closest partners in the region . 317 00:12:13,002 --> 00:12:15,113 Um And as I mentioned , this gives us 318 00:12:15,113 --> 00:12:17,113 the opportunity to work together to 319 00:12:17,113 --> 00:12:19,336 increase interoperability to be able to 320 00:12:19,336 --> 00:12:21,860 respond to a variety of contingencies 321 00:12:21,860 --> 00:12:24,300 and threats . Uh So that should we need 322 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:26,244 to operate together , we can do so 323 00:12:26,244 --> 00:12:29,950 seamlessly in terms of messages 324 00:12:29,950 --> 00:12:32,760 to to other allies in the region . Well , 325 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:34,704 well again , I mean , just broadly 326 00:12:34,704 --> 00:12:37,230 speaking , um it demonstrates the fact 327 00:12:37,230 --> 00:12:39,286 that the United States is a reliable 328 00:12:39,286 --> 00:12:41,508 partner that we're going to continue to 329 00:12:41,508 --> 00:12:43,563 work together to ensure the security 330 00:12:43,563 --> 00:12:45,619 and the stability of the region . As 331 00:12:45,619 --> 00:12:45,540 you know , we also conduct bilateral 332 00:12:45,540 --> 00:12:47,707 exercises with many other countries in 333 00:12:47,707 --> 00:12:50,040 the region . Uh and so um this one in 334 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,500 particular is obviously the largest of 335 00:12:52,500 --> 00:12:54,389 its kind . And we look forward to 336 00:12:54,389 --> 00:12:56,660 working with Israel as we further uh 337 00:12:56,670 --> 00:12:58,837 increase our security relationship and 338 00:12:58,837 --> 00:13:01,059 our interoperability , Sir , if I could 339 00:13:01,059 --> 00:13:03,880 just follow up on that on juniper oak , 340 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:05,658 The exercises to include midair 341 00:13:05,658 --> 00:13:08,160 refueling and I believe the live fire 342 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,049 drill encompassing quote the full 343 00:13:10,049 --> 00:13:12,271 target engagement cycle , including the 344 00:13:12,271 --> 00:13:14,382 suppression of enemy air defenses , a 345 00:13:14,382 --> 00:13:13,980 strategic air interdiction and 346 00:13:13,980 --> 00:13:15,869 electronic attacks , according to 347 00:13:15,869 --> 00:13:17,758 senior defense official , is this 348 00:13:17,758 --> 00:13:20,310 indicative of a shift to a to a 349 00:13:20,310 --> 00:13:22,143 deterrent posture by the US with 350 00:13:22,143 --> 00:13:24,143 regards to Iran's nuclear program . 351 00:13:24,143 --> 00:13:26,200 Again , this exercise is focused on 352 00:13:26,210 --> 00:13:28,850 interoperability uh and strengthening 353 00:13:28,860 --> 00:13:31,660 our uh security relationship in terms 354 00:13:31,660 --> 00:13:34,180 of working together . And as evidenced 355 00:13:34,180 --> 00:13:36,880 by uh you know , most recently the 356 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:39,047 counter ISIS campaign , the ability to 357 00:13:39,047 --> 00:13:41,640 pull air forces together seamlessly and 358 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:43,800 operate in a way that is going to be 359 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,022 effective is vital . And so this is one 360 00:13:46,022 --> 00:13:48,189 aspect of that . Although the exercise 361 00:13:48,189 --> 00:13:50,460 is obviously more than just about Air 362 00:13:50,460 --> 00:13:52,790 power . And so again , it's not 363 00:13:52,790 --> 00:13:55,320 intended to be focused on any one 364 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:57,431 single adversary or threat . It's all 365 00:13:57,431 --> 00:13:59,487 about working together . Thank you . 366 00:13:59,487 --> 00:14:01,709 Let me go to or I just was wondering if 367 00:14:01,709 --> 00:14:03,820 I could follow up in an update on the 368 00:14:03,820 --> 00:14:06,042 combined arms training ? Cause that was 369 00:14:06,042 --> 00:14:05,870 I think planned for about a month for 370 00:14:05,870 --> 00:14:08,460 each group of 500 is the first group 371 00:14:08,460 --> 00:14:10,682 nearing the completion of that training 372 00:14:10,682 --> 00:14:12,516 is they're planning for a second 373 00:14:12,516 --> 00:14:14,516 tranche of Ukrainian troops just to 374 00:14:14,516 --> 00:14:16,738 begin that . Yeah , so the training has 375 00:14:16,738 --> 00:14:19,480 begun . It started mid january uh as we 376 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,970 talked about . And so uh again , um 377 00:14:22,980 --> 00:14:25,036 estimate that the training will last 378 00:14:25,036 --> 00:14:27,400 about six weeks . So once the , once 379 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,511 that training is complete , obviously 380 00:14:29,511 --> 00:14:31,789 those forces will go back into Ukraine . 381 00:14:31,789 --> 00:14:33,800 We do maintain the capability to 382 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:35,911 continue that program . So it's not a 383 00:14:35,911 --> 00:14:38,022 one and done type of program . And so 384 00:14:38,022 --> 00:14:40,030 uh that'll be Ukraine's decision in 385 00:14:40,030 --> 00:14:42,630 terms of providing additional forces to 386 00:14:42,630 --> 00:14:44,686 go through that cycle . We certainly 387 00:14:44,686 --> 00:14:46,908 expect them to do that . But at the end 388 00:14:46,908 --> 00:14:46,810 of the day , that's their decision , 389 00:14:46,810 --> 00:14:49,530 Given the situation on the ground . Let 390 00:14:49,530 --> 00:14:51,586 me go to the phone here real quick . 391 00:14:51,586 --> 00:14:53,697 Howard Altman . Thanks Pat , I've got 392 00:14:53,697 --> 00:14:56,110 two questions . One return to the tanks 393 00:14:56,110 --> 00:14:58,221 and one of the Ukrainian Air Force on 394 00:14:58,221 --> 00:15:00,388 the tanks . This is not a hypothetical 395 00:15:00,388 --> 00:15:03,420 question . As you discussed , providing 396 00:15:03,420 --> 00:15:05,900 Abrams to Ukraine . How much did the 397 00:15:05,900 --> 00:15:08,160 issue of the optics of seeing these 398 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,460 things blown up in the battlefield play 399 00:15:11,460 --> 00:15:13,516 into any of the decision making that 400 00:15:13,516 --> 00:15:15,682 the pentagon has gone through . That's 401 00:15:15,682 --> 00:15:17,627 my question on the tanks . Um Well 402 00:15:17,627 --> 00:15:19,627 actually on the Air Force , the Air 403 00:15:19,627 --> 00:15:21,738 Force spokesman for Ukraine said this 404 00:15:21,738 --> 00:15:23,904 morning that that the type of aircraft 405 00:15:23,904 --> 00:15:25,738 that the U . S . Will provide to 406 00:15:25,738 --> 00:15:27,849 Ukraine has been determined . Can you 407 00:15:27,849 --> 00:15:29,571 talk about that ? Is that been 408 00:15:29,571 --> 00:15:31,849 determined ? And and if so , what kind ? 409 00:15:31,849 --> 00:15:33,849 Yeah . Thanks . Howard . So on your 410 00:15:33,849 --> 00:15:35,960 first question again , um I know it's 411 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:37,960 not a hypothetical but I don't have 412 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,293 anything to announce in terms of M ones . 413 00:15:40,293 --> 00:15:42,480 Um you know , the capabilities that we 414 00:15:42,490 --> 00:15:45,100 have provided to Ukraine and the 415 00:15:45,100 --> 00:15:47,100 capabilities , capabilities that we 416 00:15:47,100 --> 00:15:49,211 will provide to Ukraine in the future 417 00:15:49,211 --> 00:15:51,580 are not about optics , they're about 418 00:15:51,580 --> 00:15:54,570 combat capability and enabling them to 419 00:15:54,570 --> 00:15:56,570 have the best chance possible to be 420 00:15:56,570 --> 00:15:58,792 successful on the battlefield , whether 421 00:15:58,792 --> 00:16:01,014 it's defending territory or taking back 422 00:16:01,014 --> 00:16:03,237 sovereign territory . And then in terms 423 00:16:03,237 --> 00:16:06,130 of the press reporting on the US 424 00:16:06,130 --> 00:16:08,750 providing aircraft . Again , I don't 425 00:16:08,750 --> 00:16:11,083 have anything to announce on that front . 426 00:16:11,083 --> 00:16:13,194 I'm not aware of any Ukrainian pilots 427 00:16:13,194 --> 00:16:15,528 currently training in the United States . 428 00:16:15,528 --> 00:16:18,090 To my knowledge , despite what those uh 429 00:16:18,100 --> 00:16:20,540 foreign press reports were saying . Um 430 00:16:20,540 --> 00:16:22,600 nor again do I have anything to 431 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,620 announce when it comes to aircraft as 432 00:16:25,620 --> 00:16:27,731 we've said all along , we're going to 433 00:16:27,731 --> 00:16:29,787 continue to have a robust discussion 434 00:16:29,787 --> 00:16:31,676 with the Ukrainians on what their 435 00:16:31,676 --> 00:16:33,898 defense needs that includes uh the near 436 00:16:33,898 --> 00:16:35,898 term , the medium term and the long 437 00:16:35,898 --> 00:16:38,064 term ? Thank you . Alright , let me go 438 00:16:38,064 --> 00:16:41,880 to Patrick Tucker Defense one . How do 439 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,102 you wanna you wanna finish real quick ? 440 00:16:44,102 --> 00:16:46,102 Yeah , just one . Thanks Pat . Just 441 00:16:46,102 --> 00:16:47,880 quick . Can you say whether the 442 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,102 Ukrainian Air Force spokesman was wrong 443 00:16:50,102 --> 00:16:52,324 about that ? I'd refer to the Ukrainian 444 00:16:52,324 --> 00:16:51,910 spokesperson . I'm not going to speak 445 00:16:51,910 --> 00:16:55,910 on his behalf . Thank you . Thanks . 446 00:16:55,910 --> 00:16:57,740 Thanks Pat . So the question of 447 00:16:57,740 --> 00:17:00,060 maintenance has come up a lot in 448 00:17:00,060 --> 00:17:01,949 discussions about what the United 449 00:17:01,949 --> 00:17:04,050 States will send or won't send . And 450 00:17:04,050 --> 00:17:06,217 maintenance obviously goes better when 451 00:17:06,217 --> 00:17:08,272 you have contracted maintainers from 452 00:17:08,272 --> 00:17:10,650 actual manufacturers . So right now in 453 00:17:10,650 --> 00:17:12,706 Ukraine , the Ministry of Defense is 454 00:17:12,706 --> 00:17:14,317 using Starlink for satellite 455 00:17:14,317 --> 00:17:16,372 communications and SpaceX has actual 456 00:17:16,372 --> 00:17:18,372 contractors on the ground . We know 457 00:17:18,372 --> 00:17:20,483 that they're using data visualization 458 00:17:20,483 --> 00:17:22,483 tools from volunteer . We know that 459 00:17:22,483 --> 00:17:24,817 volunteer has contractors on the ground . 460 00:17:24,817 --> 00:17:26,872 To my knowledge , a lot of the great 461 00:17:26,872 --> 00:17:26,410 big defense contractors that are 462 00:17:26,410 --> 00:17:28,590 providing kinetic or tactical things 463 00:17:28,590 --> 00:17:31,640 don't have contractors on the ground . 464 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:33,640 So understanding that every company 465 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:35,973 makes their own decision on this does D . 466 00:17:35,973 --> 00:17:38,830 O . D . Have a policy to encourage or 467 00:17:38,830 --> 00:17:42,260 discourage companies from sending just 468 00:17:42,270 --> 00:17:44,520 contracted employees for the purposes 469 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,740 of maintaining equipment . And the 470 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:48,704 second part is that something that 471 00:17:48,704 --> 00:17:50,980 you're talking to defense contractors 472 00:17:50,980 --> 00:17:52,980 about , especially as the number of 473 00:17:52,980 --> 00:17:54,813 things you're sending grows more 474 00:17:54,813 --> 00:17:57,036 diverse . Thanks Pat . So I'm not aware 475 00:17:57,036 --> 00:17:59,510 of any uh D . O . D . Policy per se in 476 00:17:59,510 --> 00:18:03,360 terms of private companies and making 477 00:18:03,360 --> 00:18:05,550 decisions on whether or not to send 478 00:18:05,550 --> 00:18:08,530 contractors into Ukraine . I'd refer 479 00:18:08,530 --> 00:18:10,530 you to the State Department because 480 00:18:10,530 --> 00:18:12,752 certainly any time U . S . Citizens are 481 00:18:12,752 --> 00:18:14,919 going to travel into a foreign country 482 00:18:14,919 --> 00:18:14,510 particularly one that's an active 483 00:18:14,510 --> 00:18:17,010 combat zone . I have no doubt that they 484 00:18:17,010 --> 00:18:20,070 would reach out to uh state to get any 485 00:18:20,070 --> 00:18:22,720 type of guidance . Um As you know , our 486 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,070 focus has been on providing the remote 487 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,600 uh consultations in terms of 488 00:18:28,610 --> 00:18:30,930 maintenance considerations with the 489 00:18:30,930 --> 00:18:33,152 Ukrainians doing the actual maintenance 490 00:18:33,152 --> 00:18:36,000 themselves . Do you think it would help 491 00:18:36,010 --> 00:18:38,300 to have some of these companies if they 492 00:18:38,300 --> 00:18:40,356 could figure out how to do it , send 493 00:18:40,356 --> 00:18:42,578 maintenance contractors in to help some 494 00:18:42,578 --> 00:18:44,633 of these issues , might that aid the 495 00:18:44,633 --> 00:18:46,744 discussions about what to send or how 496 00:18:46,744 --> 00:18:48,967 to even maintain this stuff ? I'm sorry 497 00:18:48,967 --> 00:18:48,940 that you kind of broke up there at the 498 00:18:48,940 --> 00:18:51,051 beginning . Can can you re ask that ? 499 00:18:51,051 --> 00:18:53,273 Yeah . Do do you think it would help if 500 00:18:53,273 --> 00:18:55,162 some of these contractors , these 501 00:18:55,162 --> 00:18:57,218 defense companies could figure out a 502 00:18:57,218 --> 00:18:59,273 way to send maintenance personnel or 503 00:18:59,273 --> 00:19:01,107 other technical experts into the 504 00:19:01,107 --> 00:19:00,940 country ? Do you think it would help 505 00:19:00,940 --> 00:19:03,500 the the overall effort ? Well , that's 506 00:19:03,510 --> 00:19:06,340 that's really a decision for individual 507 00:19:06,350 --> 00:19:08,430 companies to make . In terms of the 508 00:19:08,430 --> 00:19:11,850 systems that Ukraine has purchased . Uh 509 00:19:11,860 --> 00:19:14,027 and how how they maintain them . Again 510 00:19:14,027 --> 00:19:15,749 from the Department of Defense 511 00:19:15,749 --> 00:19:18,670 standpoint , our focus is on 512 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:22,210 assisting with providing the 513 00:19:22,210 --> 00:19:24,950 equipment and then again providing 514 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,660 remote tele support or support outside 515 00:19:28,660 --> 00:19:30,882 of the country . Where it makes sense ? 516 00:19:30,882 --> 00:19:33,216 Let me go ahead and go to Liz go Travis . 517 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:35,416 So we've spent a lot of time talking 518 00:19:35,416 --> 00:19:37,527 about the maintenance that the Abrams 519 00:19:37,527 --> 00:19:39,960 tanks would need . So I want to ask you 520 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:41,793 about what would they add to the 521 00:19:41,793 --> 00:19:43,960 battlefield ? What's good about them ? 522 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:46,016 Why would the Ukrainians want them ? 523 00:19:46,016 --> 00:19:48,660 Why would the US send them um again 524 00:19:48,660 --> 00:19:52,110 without getting into hypotheticals ? Um 525 00:19:52,120 --> 00:19:54,370 you know the the M . One is a very 526 00:19:54,370 --> 00:19:57,150 capable um battlefield platform . It's 527 00:19:57,150 --> 00:20:00,960 also very complex um capability . And 528 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,650 so uh like anything that we're 529 00:20:03,650 --> 00:20:05,539 providing to Ukraine , we want to 530 00:20:05,539 --> 00:20:08,260 ensure that uh they have the ability to 531 00:20:08,260 --> 00:20:10,990 maintain it , sustain it uh to train on 532 00:20:10,990 --> 00:20:13,420 it . Uh And again I'm not making any 533 00:20:13,420 --> 00:20:16,670 announcements um on on any M . Ones or 534 00:20:16,670 --> 00:20:19,480 any other new capabilities today . Just 535 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:21,610 one follow up on that . At the after 536 00:20:21,610 --> 00:20:23,499 the Ukraine Defense Contact group 537 00:20:23,499 --> 00:20:26,070 Secretary Austin said that um the U . S . 538 00:20:26,090 --> 00:20:28,410 If the U . S . Sends tanks that's not 539 00:20:28,410 --> 00:20:30,521 related to if Germany chooses to send 540 00:20:30,521 --> 00:20:32,632 tanks , does that still remain true ? 541 00:20:32,790 --> 00:20:34,790 Well , I think you heard the german 542 00:20:34,790 --> 00:20:37,012 defense minister , I want to say it was 543 00:20:37,012 --> 00:20:39,012 thursday night in an interview said 544 00:20:39,012 --> 00:20:40,846 that there is no linkage between 545 00:20:40,846 --> 00:20:43,068 leopard tanks and M one tanks . There's 546 00:20:43,068 --> 00:20:45,401 certainly not from a U . S . Or a D . O . 547 00:20:45,401 --> 00:20:47,410 D . Standpoint Germany's decision 548 00:20:47,420 --> 00:20:49,476 whether or not to send leopards as a 549 00:20:49,476 --> 00:20:51,753 sovereign decision and we respect that . 550 00:20:51,753 --> 00:20:53,920 Thank you Travis . Thanks Pat . Um Two 551 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:55,920 questions . First one is relatively 552 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:57,976 simple , how many M one Abrams tanks 553 00:20:57,976 --> 00:21:00,590 are in the US inventory ? And the 554 00:21:00,590 --> 00:21:02,479 second question is , is there any 555 00:21:02,479 --> 00:21:04,860 update on the Patriot training at Fort 556 00:21:04,860 --> 00:21:06,760 sill ? Um , I think the original 557 00:21:06,770 --> 00:21:08,770 estimate was it would take three or 558 00:21:08,770 --> 00:21:10,826 four months to complete that . But I 559 00:21:10,826 --> 00:21:12,881 think there was a desire to compress 560 00:21:12,881 --> 00:21:15,214 that training and to do it more quickly , 561 00:21:15,214 --> 00:21:17,437 especially since Russia may be planning 562 00:21:17,437 --> 00:21:19,603 an offensive in Ukraine . Is there any 563 00:21:19,603 --> 00:21:21,380 update on whether it could be 564 00:21:21,380 --> 00:21:23,650 accomplished more quickly ? Yeah . So 565 00:21:23,650 --> 00:21:25,730 on your latter question first , um , 566 00:21:25,730 --> 00:21:27,786 we've said that it will take several 567 00:21:27,786 --> 00:21:30,008 months , which is an expedited training 568 00:21:30,008 --> 00:21:32,008 program . Right ? So given the fact 569 00:21:32,008 --> 00:21:34,300 that these are air defenders already 570 00:21:34,310 --> 00:21:36,477 with real world experience , given the 571 00:21:36,477 --> 00:21:38,670 fact that there not going into the U . 572 00:21:38,670 --> 00:21:40,920 S Army per se . So there's certain 573 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,310 aspects that can be tailored since 574 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:45,570 they're not going into our formations . 575 00:21:45,580 --> 00:21:48,330 So that already is an expedited 576 00:21:48,340 --> 00:21:50,562 approach . Um , again , we're not going 577 00:21:50,562 --> 00:21:52,562 to talk about the specifics on when 578 00:21:52,562 --> 00:21:54,562 that patriot system will appear and 579 00:21:54,562 --> 00:21:56,890 Ukraine other than to say again several 580 00:21:56,890 --> 00:21:59,057 months and that's about as specific as 581 00:21:59,057 --> 00:22:01,112 I can be . And then I'm sorry , your 582 00:22:01,112 --> 00:22:03,334 first question first question was , how 583 00:22:03,334 --> 00:22:05,446 many are in the US inventory ? So I'd 584 00:22:05,446 --> 00:22:07,668 have to refer you to the army on that . 585 00:22:07,668 --> 00:22:09,890 I don't have any numbers right in front 586 00:22:09,890 --> 00:22:11,779 of me . Thank you Tony . I have a 587 00:22:11,779 --> 00:22:11,540 couple questions in that tank related 588 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:13,991 when you're talking about discussions 589 00:22:13,991 --> 00:22:16,158 with the Ukrainians about capabilities 590 00:22:16,158 --> 00:22:18,490 they can use right now about two months 591 00:22:18,490 --> 00:22:20,434 ago . And it's part of the Ukraine 592 00:22:20,434 --> 00:22:22,490 security and the Security initiative 593 00:22:22,490 --> 00:22:24,323 security package . You mentioned 594 00:22:24,323 --> 00:22:26,657 satellite community sat . Com terminals . 595 00:22:26,740 --> 00:22:29,018 Weeks later , there's been no contract . 596 00:22:29,018 --> 00:22:31,073 Where does that stand since that's a 597 00:22:31,073 --> 00:22:33,073 capability that can use right now ? 598 00:22:33,073 --> 00:22:35,240 Sure . Well , and and to be clear they 599 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,462 have satellite communication capability 600 00:22:37,462 --> 00:22:39,250 right now . Right . So that was 601 00:22:39,250 --> 00:22:41,306 announced as the USA I package which 602 00:22:41,306 --> 00:22:43,306 traditionally is going to be have a 603 00:22:43,306 --> 00:22:46,210 longer lead term in terms of announcing 604 00:22:46,210 --> 00:22:49,250 the intent to purchase this capability 605 00:22:49,250 --> 00:22:51,630 or this contract , this service and 606 00:22:51,630 --> 00:22:53,297 then going through the normal 607 00:22:53,297 --> 00:22:55,463 acquisition process in terms of making 608 00:22:55,463 --> 00:22:57,630 an announcement . So to my knowledge , 609 00:22:57,630 --> 00:22:59,852 we have not announced the awarding of a 610 00:22:59,852 --> 00:23:02,074 contract yet . When we do as you know , 611 00:23:02,074 --> 00:23:04,019 we'll post that to defense dot gov 612 00:23:04,019 --> 00:23:05,686 different region of the world 613 00:23:05,686 --> 00:23:07,741 Afghanistan . Nobody thinks about it 614 00:23:07,741 --> 00:23:09,908 now . But the GOP members in the house 615 00:23:09,908 --> 00:23:12,074 and pretty much signaled they're going 616 00:23:12,074 --> 00:23:15,460 to have hearings on the withdrawal that 617 00:23:15,460 --> 00:23:17,349 after action report that you guys 618 00:23:17,349 --> 00:23:19,571 classified and you won't release to the 619 00:23:19,571 --> 00:23:21,793 pulp to the public . Is there any steps 620 00:23:21,793 --> 00:23:23,960 now to declassify that in anticipation 621 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:25,904 that you're going to get requested 622 00:23:25,904 --> 00:23:28,510 subpoenaed or pushed by the GOP to give 623 00:23:28,510 --> 00:23:30,760 them the document . So I don't have any 624 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:32,371 updates on the report as you 625 00:23:32,371 --> 00:23:34,150 highlighted a classified report 626 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:36,690 produced for internal purposes . But 627 00:23:36,690 --> 00:23:38,912 when and if we have any updates on that 628 00:23:38,912 --> 00:23:41,134 will be sure to let you know if you get 629 00:23:41,134 --> 00:23:43,301 a request from the Hill certainly will 630 00:23:43,301 --> 00:23:45,468 work closely with Congress to meet any 631 00:23:45,468 --> 00:23:47,468 legitimate requests for information 632 00:23:47,468 --> 00:23:48,579 that they provide . 633 00:23:51,540 --> 00:23:54,940 General President Zelinski has fired 634 00:23:54,950 --> 00:23:57,650 some several top Ukraine officials 635 00:23:57,660 --> 00:24:00,030 because of corruptions . And that's 636 00:24:00,030 --> 00:24:02,540 come as they are facing this corruption 637 00:24:02,540 --> 00:24:04,990 scandal that appears to be linked to 638 00:24:04,990 --> 00:24:07,520 Ukraine government military supplies 639 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:09,780 throughout the world . So how much that 640 00:24:09,780 --> 00:24:13,170 will impact on the military assistance 641 00:24:13,180 --> 00:24:15,347 in the middle of the world , Ukraine , 642 00:24:15,347 --> 00:24:17,569 thanks for the question . So , uh , you 643 00:24:17,569 --> 00:24:19,624 know , when it comes to the internal 644 00:24:19,624 --> 00:24:21,736 personnel management of the Ukrainian 645 00:24:21,736 --> 00:24:23,624 government , I would refer you to 646 00:24:23,624 --> 00:24:25,847 Ukraine , I would say from a Department 647 00:24:25,847 --> 00:24:28,069 of Defense standpoint , we're not aware 648 00:24:28,069 --> 00:24:29,902 of any type of widespread issues 649 00:24:29,902 --> 00:24:31,958 regarding corruption that would that 650 00:24:31,958 --> 00:24:34,180 would negatively impact the fight . And 651 00:24:34,180 --> 00:24:36,320 I would also highlight , as evidenced 652 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:38,431 by the situation on the ground in the 653 00:24:38,431 --> 00:24:40,550 progress that they made . Ukrainians 654 00:24:40,550 --> 00:24:42,690 continue to be very , very focused on 655 00:24:42,700 --> 00:24:44,890 deterring Russia defending their 656 00:24:44,890 --> 00:24:47,070 territory and taking back territory 657 00:24:47,070 --> 00:24:49,470 where they can Yes , you can thank you . 658 00:24:50,210 --> 00:24:52,730 President Zelensky said in a statement 659 00:24:52,740 --> 00:24:55,830 that Russia leadership preparing for 660 00:24:55,830 --> 00:24:59,450 revenge and amassing forces . What do 661 00:24:59,450 --> 00:25:02,840 you think this headed next ? Where do I 662 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:04,840 think the conflict is headed next ? 663 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:06,896 Well , I mean , Russia has been very 664 00:25:06,896 --> 00:25:09,007 clear that they're still committed to 665 00:25:09,007 --> 00:25:11,173 the strategic objectives that they set 666 00:25:11,173 --> 00:25:13,340 out for themselves at the beginning of 667 00:25:13,340 --> 00:25:15,562 their invasion , which is to completely 668 00:25:15,562 --> 00:25:17,507 conquer and eliminate Ukraine as a 669 00:25:17,507 --> 00:25:20,400 country . So the United States , our 670 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:22,511 allies and our international partners 671 00:25:22,511 --> 00:25:24,860 are focused on providing Ukraine with 672 00:25:24,860 --> 00:25:26,970 the security assistance they need to 673 00:25:26,970 --> 00:25:29,026 prevent that from happening . And so 674 00:25:29,026 --> 00:25:31,192 far Russia has failed in accomplishing 675 00:25:31,192 --> 00:25:33,414 its strategic objectives . And so we're 676 00:25:33,414 --> 00:25:35,470 going to continue to support Ukraine 677 00:25:35,470 --> 00:25:37,581 for as long as it takes . Thank you , 678 00:25:37,581 --> 00:25:41,200 joe . Uh , could you confirm if the 679 00:25:41,210 --> 00:25:44,140 pentagon has used its stockpile of 680 00:25:44,140 --> 00:25:47,920 ammunitions in Israel to keep the flow 681 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:51,010 of weapons for the Ukrainians ? 682 00:25:51,700 --> 00:25:53,867 Yeah , thanks joe . So for operational 683 00:25:53,867 --> 00:25:56,089 security reasons , we're not gonna talk 684 00:25:56,089 --> 00:25:58,089 about where particular equipment or 685 00:25:58,089 --> 00:26:00,880 material comes from that we use uh , to 686 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,600 replenish our own stockpiles . Thank 687 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:05,544 you . All right , let me go to the 688 00:26:05,544 --> 00:26:07,489 phone here , Jeff . Segal task and 689 00:26:07,489 --> 00:26:10,040 purpose . Thank you . I realize you 690 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:12,207 referred my colleague's question about 691 00:26:12,207 --> 00:26:14,429 whether Germany has informed the United 692 00:26:14,429 --> 00:26:16,596 States . That's sending leopard thanks 693 00:26:16,596 --> 00:26:18,762 to the german government , but we live 694 00:26:18,762 --> 00:26:20,984 at the tyranny of time and distance and 695 00:26:20,984 --> 00:26:22,929 at 7 30 PM there and trying to get 696 00:26:22,929 --> 00:26:25,040 ahold of a german government official 697 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:27,151 after hours is difficult . So I would 698 00:26:27,151 --> 00:26:29,750 like to re ask the question has , does 699 00:26:29,750 --> 00:26:32,090 the Defense Department have any sort of 700 00:26:32,090 --> 00:26:34,312 notification from the german government 701 00:26:34,312 --> 00:26:36,534 that it intends to give Ukraine leopard 702 00:26:36,534 --> 00:26:39,590 two tanks . Yeah , Thanks . Thanks Jeff , 703 00:26:40,210 --> 00:26:42,330 Despite the time difference , my 704 00:26:42,330 --> 00:26:44,950 response will remain the same that I'm 705 00:26:44,950 --> 00:26:46,839 not going to speak for the german 706 00:26:46,839 --> 00:26:49,010 government . We do of course maintain 707 00:26:49,020 --> 00:26:52,320 ongoing and robust dialogue with one 708 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:54,542 another as as allies . But I don't have 709 00:26:54,542 --> 00:26:56,598 anything to announce from the podium 710 00:26:56,598 --> 00:26:59,320 here . Thank you . Let me go to Alex 711 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:00,330 Washington post . 712 00:27:05,190 --> 00:27:08,380 Hey Pat , thanks . Um 713 00:27:09,110 --> 00:27:11,760 you said a few times now that you're 714 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,038 focused on immediate battlefield needs . 715 00:27:14,038 --> 00:27:16,220 Um but you've had some foot stopping 716 00:27:16,220 --> 00:27:18,331 moment saying , you know , medium and 717 00:27:18,331 --> 00:27:21,120 long term things um to bolster their 718 00:27:21,130 --> 00:27:23,460 defense . So are you suggesting that 719 00:27:23,460 --> 00:27:26,450 the M . One figure into a longer term U . 720 00:27:26,450 --> 00:27:28,460 S . A . I like kind of a couple of 721 00:27:28,460 --> 00:27:30,620 years out type of strategy ? Um and 722 00:27:30,620 --> 00:27:32,564 then I have a question about M one 723 00:27:32,564 --> 00:27:34,676 capability . Thanks Alex . So again , 724 00:27:34,676 --> 00:27:36,731 when it comes to the M one , I don't 725 00:27:36,731 --> 00:27:40,120 have anything to announce . Um you know , 726 00:27:40,120 --> 00:27:43,040 you've heard us talk in the past about 727 00:27:43,050 --> 00:27:46,710 the capability that the M . One brings 728 00:27:46,710 --> 00:27:48,710 to the U . S . Forces . You've also 729 00:27:48,710 --> 00:27:50,932 heard us talk about the maintenance and 730 00:27:50,932 --> 00:27:52,988 training associated with it , uh the 731 00:27:52,988 --> 00:27:55,266 complex maintenance associated with it . 732 00:27:55,266 --> 00:27:57,266 But you've heard us also talk about 733 00:27:57,266 --> 00:28:00,550 other capabilities uh that that when it 734 00:28:00,550 --> 00:28:03,230 comes to their the medium and long term 735 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:06,990 uh defense of Ukraine that we're going 736 00:28:06,990 --> 00:28:09,980 to keep all options on the table . So 737 00:28:09,990 --> 00:28:12,157 nothing to announce today and when and 738 00:28:12,157 --> 00:28:14,157 if we do , we'll be sure to let you 739 00:28:14,157 --> 00:28:16,212 know . Okay , you had one more , I'm 740 00:28:16,212 --> 00:28:19,340 sorry . Yeah . Um you know , Colin 741 00:28:19,340 --> 00:28:21,562 Colin another's , I've talked about the 742 00:28:21,562 --> 00:28:24,030 fuel burden um specifically because it 743 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,630 takes JP eight . Um so the system is a 744 00:28:27,630 --> 00:28:30,350 is a multi fuel system . So I'm kind of 745 00:28:30,350 --> 00:28:33,940 curious if you can clarify if this is a 746 00:28:33,950 --> 00:28:36,130 type of fuel problem or that is just a 747 00:28:36,140 --> 00:28:39,080 fuel burning in general issue ? 748 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,656 Again ? I'm not I'm not going to get 749 00:28:41,656 --> 00:28:43,600 into specifics on a system that we 750 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:46,500 haven't uh said that we're providing to 751 00:28:46,500 --> 00:28:48,720 Ukraine or hypotheticals but we just 752 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:50,880 take a step back here and look at the 753 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:52,936 situation on the ground right now in 754 00:28:52,936 --> 00:28:55,269 Ukraine uh and and our focus , you know , 755 00:28:55,269 --> 00:28:57,491 as as we talked about coming out of the 756 00:28:57,491 --> 00:28:59,158 contact group on the kinds of 757 00:28:59,158 --> 00:29:01,324 capabilities that Ukraine needs in the 758 00:29:01,324 --> 00:29:03,491 immediate term to be successful on the 759 00:29:03,491 --> 00:29:05,269 battlefield going into spring , 760 00:29:05,269 --> 00:29:07,269 particularly as Russia continues to 761 00:29:07,269 --> 00:29:09,580 recruit refit uh and re energize their 762 00:29:09,580 --> 00:29:13,240 efforts to conduct a an offensive so 763 00:29:13,250 --> 00:29:17,190 that that will still remain a very 764 00:29:17,190 --> 00:29:20,140 important focus . But we also have said 765 00:29:20,140 --> 00:29:22,460 that we're going to support Ukraine for 766 00:29:22,460 --> 00:29:24,404 as long as it takes . And so we're 767 00:29:24,404 --> 00:29:26,182 going to continue to have those 768 00:29:26,182 --> 00:29:28,293 discussions with Ukraine , our allies 769 00:29:28,293 --> 00:29:30,840 and our partners on on how best to 770 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:33,240 support them for the near medium and 771 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:35,296 long term . All right , let me go to 772 00:29:35,296 --> 00:29:39,120 Kassem General CS . Uh report says 773 00:29:39,130 --> 00:29:42,440 that the current stockpiles of the 774 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:45,310 United States would not be sufficient 775 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:47,540 for a wartime environment . 776 00:29:47,550 --> 00:29:50,720 Specifically mentioning uh as such as a 777 00:29:50,730 --> 00:29:53,420 war with china and Taiwan strait the US 778 00:29:53,420 --> 00:29:56,150 use of ammunition would likely exceed 779 00:29:56,150 --> 00:29:58,261 the current stockpiles of the U . S . 780 00:29:58,261 --> 00:30:00,483 Department of Defense . Do you have any 781 00:30:00,483 --> 00:30:02,594 comment on the report and can you say 782 00:30:02,594 --> 00:30:05,220 that the U . S . Military is still 783 00:30:05,230 --> 00:30:08,120 ready to fight two major wars in two 784 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:11,260 different geographies and sustain the 785 00:30:11,260 --> 00:30:14,840 wars ? Yeah . No no comment to provide 786 00:30:14,850 --> 00:30:17,320 on the report . Um You know the 787 00:30:17,330 --> 00:30:19,330 Department of Defense is a planning 788 00:30:19,330 --> 00:30:21,219 organization . If you look at the 789 00:30:21,219 --> 00:30:23,274 National Defense Strategy , it makes 790 00:30:23,274 --> 00:30:25,310 very clear in there that china will 791 00:30:25,310 --> 00:30:27,477 continue to be the pacing challenge by 792 00:30:27,477 --> 00:30:30,510 which we develop our budgets by which 793 00:30:30,510 --> 00:30:33,690 we design our doctrine uh and conduct 794 00:30:33,690 --> 00:30:35,940 our training . Uh And so yes , I am 795 00:30:35,940 --> 00:30:38,250 confident that regardless of what the 796 00:30:38,250 --> 00:30:41,550 situation is uh worldwide as we've done 797 00:30:41,740 --> 00:30:43,880 uh for a very long time the United 798 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,560 States military will be able to be 799 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:48,171 prepared to support whatever 800 00:30:48,171 --> 00:30:50,440 requirements were asked to support . 801 00:30:50,450 --> 00:30:54,440 And also um of course you have been 802 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:57,030 saying that you are in a robust 803 00:30:57,030 --> 00:30:59,197 discussion with Ukraine and with other 804 00:30:59,197 --> 00:31:02,050 partners to meet the needs of 805 00:31:02,050 --> 00:31:04,200 Ukrainians and Ukrainians are saying 806 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:07,010 that they are they need tanks right 807 00:31:07,010 --> 00:31:10,840 away right now in the for the 808 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,770 war we we have seen that you were 809 00:31:13,770 --> 00:31:16,940 pushing back against tanks mentioning 810 00:31:16,950 --> 00:31:19,540 maintenance , mentioning sustainment . 811 00:31:19,970 --> 00:31:23,850 Um but at the same time we 812 00:31:23,850 --> 00:31:26,430 see that this this pushback has 813 00:31:26,430 --> 00:31:29,330 softened a little bit or did it has has 814 00:31:29,330 --> 00:31:32,330 anything changed in the war or was it 815 00:31:32,450 --> 00:31:35,120 more of a political discussion and 816 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:38,160 political decision was you need to be 817 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:40,690 made ? Actually No . Again , I mean , 818 00:31:40,690 --> 00:31:43,670 as evidenced by the $26 billion that 819 00:31:43,670 --> 00:31:45,890 the United States has provided to 820 00:31:45,900 --> 00:31:48,290 Ukraine and security assistance uh 821 00:31:48,300 --> 00:31:50,570 significant security assistance that 822 00:31:50,570 --> 00:31:53,200 has helped them to make progress on the 823 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:55,810 battlefield . Uh , those are , that is 824 00:31:55,810 --> 00:31:57,830 the result of discussions that we 825 00:31:57,830 --> 00:31:59,997 continue to have with their leadership 826 00:31:59,997 --> 00:32:02,163 discussions . We continue to have with 827 00:32:02,163 --> 00:32:04,163 our allies and partners in terms of 828 00:32:04,163 --> 00:32:06,770 what can we provide to Ukraine to 829 00:32:06,770 --> 00:32:08,881 enable them to quickly succeed on the 830 00:32:08,881 --> 00:32:10,992 battlefield . And I think the results 831 00:32:10,992 --> 00:32:13,103 speak for themselves . If you go back 832 00:32:13,103 --> 00:32:15,214 to the beginning of the campaign when 833 00:32:15,214 --> 00:32:17,437 Russia was on the outskirts of Kiev and 834 00:32:17,437 --> 00:32:19,603 you look at how far back Russia's been 835 00:32:19,603 --> 00:32:21,930 pushed and the fact that Ukraine is 836 00:32:21,930 --> 00:32:24,520 still standing in this fight , uh , and 837 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:26,631 that they're poised to continue to be 838 00:32:26,631 --> 00:32:28,520 successful . And so again , we'll 839 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:30,687 continue to have those conversations . 840 00:32:30,687 --> 00:32:32,631 We just came back from the Ukraine 841 00:32:32,631 --> 00:32:35,080 Defense Contact group at Ramstein with 842 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:37,247 nearly 50 nations represented . It was 843 00:32:37,247 --> 00:32:40,680 the largest tally of support so 844 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:43,220 far , which I think demonstrates that 845 00:32:43,220 --> 00:32:45,276 the international community is still 846 00:32:45,276 --> 00:32:47,650 unified uh , and resolved to support 847 00:32:47,650 --> 00:32:49,706 Ukraine in their fight . Thank you . 848 00:32:49,706 --> 00:32:51,817 Take a couple more matte . And then , 849 00:32:51,817 --> 00:32:53,594 real , without getting into any 850 00:32:53,594 --> 00:32:55,761 possible announcements regarding tanks 851 00:32:55,761 --> 00:32:57,983 for Ukraine , Can you talk at all about 852 00:32:57,983 --> 00:32:59,983 the process by which the department 853 00:32:59,983 --> 00:33:02,206 requests new Abrams tanks from industry 854 00:33:02,206 --> 00:33:04,428 and how long that takes ? How long does 855 00:33:04,428 --> 00:33:06,650 it take for the department to get a new 856 00:33:06,650 --> 00:33:08,928 Abrams ? How long would it take to get ? 857 00:33:08,928 --> 00:33:10,740 I don't know , 30 to 50 man . I 858 00:33:10,740 --> 00:33:12,962 appreciate the question at this point . 859 00:33:12,962 --> 00:33:15,073 That's a hypothetical and I've got no 860 00:33:15,073 --> 00:33:17,184 announcements to make today regarding 861 00:33:17,184 --> 00:33:19,351 and one so thank you , appreciate it . 862 00:33:19,351 --> 00:33:21,462 Last question and then all good . I'm 863 00:33:21,462 --> 00:33:21,430 sorry last question would be joe thanks 864 00:33:21,430 --> 00:33:23,541 thank you . The secretary will travel 865 00:33:23,541 --> 00:33:25,819 to the Philippines in the coming weeks . 866 00:33:25,819 --> 00:33:28,041 So could you tell us about the strategy 867 00:33:28,041 --> 00:33:30,097 importance over the Philippines from 868 00:33:30,097 --> 00:33:32,760 the pentagon perspective to respond to 869 00:33:32,770 --> 00:33:34,970 Taiwan's threat ? Contingency in the 870 00:33:34,980 --> 00:33:38,090 future ? Yeah . Thanks row . Um So in 871 00:33:38,090 --> 00:33:40,470 terms of uh potential Taiwan 872 00:33:40,470 --> 00:33:42,692 contingency again I'm I'm not gonna get 873 00:33:42,692 --> 00:33:44,914 into hypotheticals , I will say when it 874 00:33:44,914 --> 00:33:47,137 comes to the Philippines uh they're one 875 00:33:47,137 --> 00:33:49,680 of our oldest and strongest allies in 876 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:52,150 the region . Uh We have a as you know a 877 00:33:52,150 --> 00:33:54,770 very proud history of joint uh an 878 00:33:54,770 --> 00:33:57,110 allied training with our Filipino 879 00:33:57,110 --> 00:33:59,350 allies and and exercises and so this 880 00:33:59,350 --> 00:34:02,910 alliance plays an indispensable role in 881 00:34:02,910 --> 00:34:05,021 upholding a rules based international 882 00:34:05,021 --> 00:34:07,132 order and promoting the common values 883 00:34:07,132 --> 00:34:09,188 of american and Filipino people . So 884 00:34:09,188 --> 00:34:11,299 the secretary is looking very forward 885 00:34:11,299 --> 00:34:13,466 to his upcoming visit . Will have more 886 00:34:13,466 --> 00:34:15,577 information to provide on that in the 887 00:34:15,577 --> 00:34:17,854 very near future . Thank you very much . 888 00:34:17,854 --> 00:34:17,640 Thank you very much . Ladies up , joe 889 00:34:17,650 --> 00:34:20,050 last one . So just follow up on 890 00:34:20,060 --> 00:34:22,282 costumes question about the C . S . I . 891 00:34:22,282 --> 00:34:24,338 S . Report and some of the questions 892 00:34:24,338 --> 00:34:26,560 that it raises . Um given the the sheer 893 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:28,560 numbers of munitions that are being 894 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:31,440 expended in in Ukraine has um does the 895 00:34:31,450 --> 00:34:34,930 pentagon um has it has it changed its 896 00:34:34,930 --> 00:34:37,630 assumptions at all about the way that 897 00:34:37,640 --> 00:34:40,520 the numbers of munitions that it needs ? 898 00:34:40,530 --> 00:34:43,920 And and have those assumptions affected 899 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:46,087 any operations plans ? Is the pentagon 900 00:34:46,087 --> 00:34:48,031 revising operations plans based on 901 00:34:48,031 --> 00:34:50,100 what's happening in Ukraine and the 902 00:34:50,100 --> 00:34:52,211 numbers of munitions being expended ? 903 00:34:52,211 --> 00:34:54,433 Yeah thanks thanks for that . Um So let 904 00:34:54,433 --> 00:34:56,700 me let me just kinda start big picture 905 00:34:56,700 --> 00:34:59,560 here . Uh So when it comes to 906 00:34:59,570 --> 00:35:03,190 operations plans um for operation 907 00:35:03,190 --> 00:35:05,079 security reasons , classification 908 00:35:05,079 --> 00:35:07,079 reasons , I'm I'm not gonna discuss 909 00:35:07,079 --> 00:35:09,246 those kinds of specifics other than to 910 00:35:09,246 --> 00:35:09,110 say . And you've you've heard me talk 911 00:35:09,110 --> 00:35:11,277 about this before , we're not gonna do 912 00:35:11,277 --> 00:35:13,110 anything that's gonna affect our 913 00:35:13,110 --> 00:35:15,166 readiness or our ability to meet our 914 00:35:15,166 --> 00:35:17,388 national security requirements . And so 915 00:35:17,388 --> 00:35:20,360 when it comes to being able to ensure 916 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:22,570 that we can support Ukraine but also 917 00:35:22,570 --> 00:35:24,792 meet our own readiness needs . Uh There 918 00:35:24,792 --> 00:35:26,903 are ongoing and active discussions as 919 00:35:26,903 --> 00:35:29,070 part of this process to ensure that we 920 00:35:29,070 --> 00:35:30,959 have what we need and that we can 921 00:35:30,959 --> 00:35:33,126 continue to replenish our stocks . And 922 00:35:33,126 --> 00:35:35,860 so if you go back in time a year ago 923 00:35:35,870 --> 00:35:38,950 before this invasion , certainly , I 924 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,127 mean President Putin himself said that 925 00:35:41,127 --> 00:35:43,360 they were not going to invade Ukraine . 926 00:35:43,370 --> 00:35:45,850 And and then he did . And so you saw 927 00:35:45,860 --> 00:35:47,693 very quickly the U . S . And the 928 00:35:47,693 --> 00:35:49,804 international community come together 929 00:35:49,804 --> 00:35:52,082 to be able to you meet Ukraine's needs . 930 00:35:52,082 --> 00:35:54,249 And so that then by default requires a 931 00:35:54,249 --> 00:35:56,360 reevaluation of certain assumptions 932 00:35:56,370 --> 00:35:59,590 about uh capacity , uh production 933 00:35:59,590 --> 00:36:02,110 etcetera . Which is why you've seen uh 934 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:04,176 the the D . O . D . Doctoral plant , 935 00:36:04,176 --> 00:36:05,953 for example helping to lead the 936 00:36:05,953 --> 00:36:08,064 national armaments directors meetings 937 00:36:08,064 --> 00:36:09,953 to look at exactly those types of 938 00:36:09,953 --> 00:36:12,176 questions . What are the things that we 939 00:36:12,176 --> 00:36:14,287 need to do ? What are the assumptions 940 00:36:14,287 --> 00:36:13,280 that we made ? What are the things that 941 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:15,502 we need to do to work very closely with 942 00:36:15,502 --> 00:36:17,724 industry , but also with one another to 943 00:36:17,724 --> 00:36:21,070 ensure that we can replenish restock 944 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:23,550 produce to make sure that we can 945 00:36:23,550 --> 00:36:25,730 continue to support Ukraine but also 946 00:36:25,740 --> 00:36:27,629 replenish our stocks and meet our 947 00:36:27,629 --> 00:36:30,240 readiness needs . So um the Ukraine 948 00:36:30,240 --> 00:36:32,320 contact group again , not to belabor 949 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:34,153 the point , but this has been an 950 00:36:34,153 --> 00:36:36,510 absolutely essential forum by which to 951 00:36:36,510 --> 00:36:38,680 do these kinds of things instead of 952 00:36:38,690 --> 00:36:41,430 bilateral relationships between 953 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:43,440 individual countries in Ukraine and 954 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:45,551 Ukraine having to figure it all out . 955 00:36:45,551 --> 00:36:47,718 The contact group has has proven to be 956 00:36:47,718 --> 00:36:50,090 an incredibly successful mechanism by 957 00:36:50,090 --> 00:36:52,312 which to bring these countries together 958 00:36:52,312 --> 00:36:54,270 to look at , Ukraine's needs to 959 00:36:54,270 --> 00:36:56,326 identify how we can best support and 960 00:36:56,326 --> 00:36:58,381 then as quickly as possible get them 961 00:36:58,381 --> 00:37:00,103 the security systems they need 962 00:37:00,103 --> 00:37:03,070 concurrently with looking at what our 963 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:05,960 material and resource requirements are 964 00:37:05,970 --> 00:37:08,192 and how we can best leverage the intern 965 00:37:08,192 --> 00:37:10,760 national networks and global industrial 966 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:13,430 base to meet those . And so again , 967 00:37:13,430 --> 00:37:15,652 Secretary Austin is very confident that 968 00:37:15,652 --> 00:37:17,819 we're doing the right things to ensure 969 00:37:17,819 --> 00:37:19,986 that we can sustain readiness both now 970 00:37:19,986 --> 00:37:22,097 and into the long term . While at the 971 00:37:22,097 --> 00:37:24,097 same time supporting Ukraine for as 972 00:37:24,097 --> 00:37:26,041 long as it takes . Thank you . All 973 00:37:26,041 --> 00:37:25,210 right , thanks very much everybody 974 00:37:25,220 --> 00:37:25,910 appreciate it