Kiev's allies increase production of ammunition for Ukrainian artillery

The US is taking steps to double its domestic production of artillery shells in support of Ukraine. According to a report by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Washington and Ankara are discussing a new agreement – the Americans want to buy explosives from Turkey in order to increase the production of artillery shells, reports UNIAN.

The Pentagon awarded a contract to US defense company General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems to build three production lines for metal parts for 155mm artillery shells in Texas with Turkish subcontractors. However, one of the plants in Texas should start production in June 2024.

US Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Doug Bush said the US military aims to double the monthly production of 155mm rounds from 28,000 rounds per month in October 2023 to approximately 60,000 rounds per month. in October 2024. However, this is subject to additional appropriations proposed by Congress. Since the bill was passed, it now depends on the domestic production of explosive materials in the US. Their import from Turkey will help to increase the production of projectiles.

According to analysts, partners from Europe and Asia continue to provide military and financial assistance to Ukraine, increasing their own defense-industrial capabilities. In particular, on March 28, Germany announced a new aid package for Ukraine, which includes ammunition for Leopard tanks, 40 mm and 155 mm artillery ammunition and reconnaissance drones. German arms maker Rheinmetall said the EU has granted it more than 130 million euros to boost ammunition production.

Back on March 29, Belgian Defense Minister Ludwin Dedonder announced his country's approval of €100 million in aid. This money will go to support Ukraine's future fleet of F-16 fighter jets.

On April 1, it became known that Japan has allocated 118 million dollars to Ukraine as part of World Bank projects aimed at rebuilding the health system and housing infrastructure. In addition, the Japanese government recently relaxed its rules on the transfer of defense equipment, which will allow the export of fighter jets that Japan intends to jointly develop with the United Kingdom and Italy and deploy before 2035. They may be exported to third countries, but there should be no hostilities there.

"European countries are continuing their efforts to provide Ukraine with critical artillery munitions, including through a Czech Republic-led initiative to supply Ukraine with artillery munitions from outside the EU,” analysts note.

On March 28, the media reported that the Czech-led initiative had signed contracts worth around 1.8 billion euros for one million artillery shells for Ukraine. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also announced that Poland would "double” his contribution to the initiative, but did not give specific details.

Germany decided to distribute another 10 thousand artillery shells. The head of the situation center of the German Ministry of Defense for Ukraine, Major General Christian Freuding, announced that Berlin will also support the Czech coalition and purchase 180,000 shells, which Ukraine will receive in the second half of the year. Germany will deliver another 100,000 shells to Ukraine at the end of 2024 under a bilateral agreement with an unspecified third party. Unexpectedly, Iceland joined in the purchase of ammunition.