The implementation is more difficult: how the EU fulfills the promise to pass the Armed Forces of 1 million ammunition - NYT

The Executive Director of the Norwegian largest Nammo ammunition manufacturer Morten Brandzag says it is difficult for him to imagine how to realize an ambitious goal of 1 million ammunition by the end of the year. The industry was 30 years in decline. In March 2023, the European Union promised to transfer 1 million ammunition to Ukraine during the year. However, manufacturers have collided with a number of problems that come out after 30 years of defense decline.

About it reports The New York Times. Weapons manufacturers and some government officials doubt how real it is to fulfill the promise. In Europe, ammunition reserves have been depleted, and sometimes they are not enough for their own needs. Therefore, the officials of the European Union have accelerated at least 8 contracts with weapons. Countries even began to buy ammunition together instead of competition. However, the publication states that despite all attempts, the EU faces big problems.

After 30 years of decline, manufacturers are still faced with narrow places of the resource supply chain. The Nammo NaMMMO Executive Director of Nammo, Morten Brandzag said there was no industry capacity. "I think we don't have to say it is impossible, but now I can't understand how (it)," Brandzag said. The European Union undertook to transfer 1 million ammunition to Ukraine when brutal battles for Bakhmut. By mid -2035, the EU will raise $ 532 million to increase production.

223,800 ammunition was transferred by May. Most shells came from the reserves of countries, for which they received $ 1. 1 billion. However, it was a simple part. Experts say that the stocks of ready ammunition are now exhausted. Theoretically, the EU can buy a 155-mm ammunition outside the unification-the United Kingdom, the United States and South Korea-the three largest ammunition manufacturers. But this is contrary to the purpose of the program, which is to increase the power of the EU.

Prior to the war in Ukraine, according to some officials and experts, European manufacturers produced 230,000 rounds of 155 millimeters annually by February 24, 2022. They should be higher this year, even if Ukraine is not able to implement. RheinMetall assumes that it will be able to produce 600,000 artillery shells annually by the end of 2024 compared to 450 thousand in 2023. Norwegian Nammo also received $ 1 billion orders, compared to 300,000, which were usually signed.

Despite the high likelihood of failing, European officials are still trying to find other ways to collect a million rounds. Before that, the EU plans to transfer not only 155-mm shells, but others, including Soviet calibers. We will remind, on September 22, US President Joe Biden said that there are no alternatives to Ukraine, it is necessary to continue to supply ammunition, artillery and air defense. On September 20, the EU stated that they will supply 1 million ammunition to Ukraine by 2024.