US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro expressed concern on Wednesday that maintaining military assistance for Ukraine would be a significant challenge if manufacturers do not improve weapon production during the upcoming months.

The Navy official made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the Surface Navy Association conference in Arlington, Va. when Del Toro was asked by journalists to react to statements made by Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander of US Fleet Forces Command, in which he said that the US Navy could eventually choose whether to equip itself or provide Ukraine weapons.

"We're talking about war-fighting, national security, and going against a competitor here and a potential adversary [China] that is like nothing we've ever seen," Caudle remarked, noting that the US cannot be "dilly-dallying around" with the supplies, per the New York Post.

While acknowledging that the US Navy isn't "quite there yet," Del Toro suggested that the production process would be strained if the fight continues for another six months, according to Fox News.

Del Toro remarked, "It's evident that... these firms have a large pipeline for the future." He added that the manufacturers need to improve their workforce and capital investments to increase their output as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.

Del Toro Clarifies Statement Later On

Military One reports that Caudle lambasted defense corporations for attributing the COVID-19 epidemic to missed weapons delivery deadlines amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

Del Toro later clarified that the Department of Defense has been engaging "very, very closely" with the industry to urge them to find out what hurdles or impediments they face so they can boost their output.

(1/5) To clarify earlier comments from the Secretary:

"If the conflict does go on for another six months to another year, it certainly continues to stress the supply chain in ways that are challenging.

— Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro (@SECNAV) January 11, 2023

Up to this point, Congress has approved roughly $100 billion for Ukraine weapons. Some Republican legislators have responded to the large amount by calling for more transparency in the use of taxpayer funds.

Read Also: Suicide Attack Rocks Afghanistan Outside Taliban Ministry, Killing 5 People, Injuring Several Others

The White House and the Department of Defense have been meeting with defense sector executives for months to discuss ways to increase production. President Biden signed into law in October a section of the Security Manufacturing Act of 1950 that permits the US to back private-sector loans "to expand and accelerate the domestic production capability" of crucial weapons and equipment for national defense.

Pres. Joe Biden, at that time, determined "that action is necessary to increase the production capacity of material critical to support the defense against adversarial aggression and that a shortfall in this area would severely impair national defense capability."

US Already Spent Billions For Ukraine Military Aid

Despite spending over $2.6 billion between May and October 2022, the Post reported in November that the United States is still "multiple years" away from being completely rearmed with the essential weapons and equipment it had previously sent to Ukraine.

Before the US visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in December, US officials reported that Ukraine would get $1.8 billion in military help, including a Patriot missile battery and precision-guided bombs for fighter aircraft, PBS reported.

Ukraine's air defenses have been under increased attack from Russian missiles, so the United States is sending more modern equipment to the nation as part of its help package, according to the sources.

Zelenskyy and other Ukraine authorities have asked Western governments for modern weaponry, including Patriots, to fight off Russia weapons.

Related Article: UK, Poland Set To Send Ukraine with Leopard Tanks as Kyiv Urges Western Allies To Provide Heavy Armor Amid Russia's Military Shakeup