With significant weapon stockpiles in the U.S. and Europe, the Pentagon stands ready to swiftly deliver to Ukraine if the aid package is passed.

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on the Ukraine aid bill at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on April 20 (12:00 AM on April 21, Hanoi time) after several months of delay. President Joe Biden has declared he will “immediately” sign it if Congress passes the legislation.

The aid package is something Ukraine and its allies have consistently pressed for as Kiev faces an ammunition shortage. CIA Director William Burns stated on April 18 that two Ukrainian brigades, totaling over 2,000 soldiers, were only receiving 15 artillery shells and 42 mortar rounds per day. He cautioned that Kiev could falter against Moscow by the end of the year without additional aid from Washington.

One question looming is if the aid package is passed, how quickly the weapons will reach Ukraine to help them cope as Russia gains more ground, having seized the stronghold of Avdeevka.

According to AP, the Pentagon could deliver weapons to Ukraine just days after congressional approval of the aid package if utilizing the President’s Budgetary Authority (PDA). This mechanism allows the U.S. military to draw weapons immediately from reserve stocks. The Pentagon has previously used the PDA to send billions of dollars worth of ammunition, anti-aircraft missiles, tanks, armored vehicles, and other equipment to Ukraine.

“We’ve seen many instances of weapons being transferred through PDA,” said Brad Bowman, a senior expert at the Washington-based think tank, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

These weapons are sourced from bases or storage facilities in the U.S. or from locations in Europe, where Washington has bolstered efforts to expedite equipment transfers to reduce the time needed for delivery once government funding is approved.

The Pentagon maintains massive weapons storage facilities in the U.S. with millions of rounds of various-sized ammunition, ready for use in case of conflict escalation.

For example, the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma is tasked with filling 435 shipping containers, each capable of holding 15 tons of ammunition, upon the President’s order. This facility also stores one of the most used types of ammunition on the Ukrainian battlefield, the 155 mm artillery shell.

Ukraine’s demand for the 155 mm artillery shell has put significant strain on U.S. reserves, forcing the military to seek supply from other sources. As a result, tens of thousands of 155 mm shells have been shipped from South Korea to McAlester for additional equipment for Ukraine.

According to a U.S. military official, Washington will be able to send some types of ammunition “almost immediately” to Kiev as they have storage facilities in Europe. Among them are 155 mm shells and other artillery rounds, along with some anti-aircraft ammunition.

A range of facilities in Germany, Poland, and other European allies are also aiding Ukraine in maintenance, repair, and training to use the systems sent to the front lines. For example, Berlin has established a maintenance center for Kiev’s Leopard 2 tanks in Poland, near the Ukraine border. Such nearby facilities help Ukraine expedite repair speeds to continue utilizing Western systems.

CIA Director Burns emphasized that in the current wartime situation, “speed is critical.”

“We have a very strong logistics network that allows for rapid equipment transport,” Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder affirmed.