With or without American weapons. How to Ukraine to meet the needs of the Armed Forces
The temporary stopping of US weapons supplies was a regular signal for us to make everything necessary for the further development of Ukrainian companies of the MIC and the increase in our production potential. From mines and shells to rockets - all this should be produced by Ukraine. On March 4, the United States temporarily stopped military assistance and intelligence data for Ukraine. It was a pause, not a complete stop of supplying weapons from the United States.
And on March 11, according to the meeting of delegations of Ukraine and the US in Saudi Arabia, it became known that the United States immediately cancel the pause in exchange of intelligence and restore security assistance to Ukraine. However, even a temporary stop provoked at least surprise in society, and a number of experts have expressed reservations about the future Ukrainian defense.
After all, in the case of complete stopping of military assistance from the United States, Ukraine can lose up to 30% of the weapons needed at the front here and now. Currently, almost 40% of the Armed Forces weapons and weapons of Ukrainian production (including pre -war reserves), 30% are the supply of weapons from European countries. As for purely supplies from the United States, at different times, its share was 10-30%.
In addition, last year, it was envisaged that in 2025 the share of Ukrainian equipment and ammunition in the Armed Forces arsenal would increase to 50%. Ukraine has received many ammunition from different calibers, as well as mortar mines, various armored vehicles-ABRAMS and BMP Bradley tanks, auto equipment, Himars system, howitzers M-777, Patriot Battery.
The most critical to us in the situation of stopping supplies from one of the key partners - the USA - is the loss of new air defense systems and missiles. Of course, it is first and foremost about Patriot. Ukraine also received from the United States the HIMARS and ammunition to these systems. In addition, the United States supplied controlled helicopter missiles, JDAM airbots, and radiological rockets HARM.
All these are the types of weapons necessary for defense, some of them are difficult to replace with analogues, such as European production. However, the option of purchasing the necessary systems and ammunition by EU countries with further re -export to Ukraine remains. The good news about the return of US assistance is hopeful and means that there is no disaster. The work is ongoing - our diplomats are constantly in touch with partners.
We are expecting the recent arms to Ukraine, which are now on the way to us - in the EU. Meanwhile, EU countries have already reported an urgent increase in military assistance packages. For example, in Germany, a package of military assistance to Ukraine for 3 billion euros is being prepared, which was recently stated by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Recently, three Patriot and six anti-aircraft missile systems IRIS-T SLM and SLS have been delivered to Ukraine and from Germany, and we are waiting for three Iris-T, SLS and three Iris-T SLM systems soon. Of course, other partner countries are also actively involved in urgent assistance to Ukraine, which continues to fiercely fight against Russian aggression.
The Ukrainian military-industrial complex is actively developing, and we are already able to supply 40% of weapons through domestic production, gradually increasing the share of Ukrainian ammunition, equipment and systems in the total volume of weapons required on the front. Nowadays, Ukrainian MIC enterprises are fully covering the needs of the army in segments such as FPV and ammunition, water drones, armored vehicles, mortars, artillery systems.
In Ukraine, the production of ammunition is actively developing. Yes, we do not yet have our own alternatives to Himars and Patriot, but with the assistance of European partners, we still have a lot of important weapons, including air defense and missiles to airway systems. In fact, a few days ago, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine signed a memorandum on mutual understanding with the German company "Diehl Defense", which produces anti-aircraft missile defense complexes and IRIS-T.
The document envisages an increase in the supply of missiles and air defense systems three times, and opens the way to large industrial projects that will strengthen the Ukrainian air defense. We also expect to strengthen our air defense will be able to strengthen the Italian SAMP-T systems. Ukrainian enterprises already produce 155 mm projectiles that have previously been supplied with the United States.
However, this year there are a high chances, and we have already said in the government that we will be able to increase both their production and production of artillery systems and other shells to close the need at the front. Ukrainian companies produce mortar mines and artillery shells, howitzers, armored vehicles, UAVs, radio electronic fighting systems, robotic complexes, sea drones.
Our already well-known Bogdan, Vilch-M RSSU, Kirchin RSSV, Rocket-Dron "Palyanitsa" is just a proportion of the potential that the domestic MIC is owned. Ukrainian UAVs are produced more than can "digest" a government order for defense needs. This year, companies planned to reach 5 million FPV-oules, and I hope that with the help of timely decisions by the state, these plans will be implemented.
It is important that joint projects with well -known world manufacturers have begun to appear in Ukraine. For example, the joint venture "Ukroboronprom" and "RheinMetall" was registered in 2023, and now there is already a workshop for repair of armored vehicles, and the RheinMetall ammunition plant will start work in Ukraine in 2026.
Ukrainian companies already have signed agreements on joint production with such well -known companies as Thales, Hexadron, Amentum Services and Colt Cz subsidiaries. There is information that the manufacturer of M2/M3 Bradley combat vehicles - Bae Systems can launch full production in Ukraine. All these important initiatives in the event of implementation should be guaranteed to strengthen our defense industry. There are many questions about how to increase the production potential of MIC.
It is necessary to help businesses find reliable investors in partner countries, to provide transparent and simple procedures for creating joint ventures. It is worth approaching successful decisions and the opening of exports of Ukrainian weapons. Banks and stable funding for a preferential credit program are also required. We need to introduce long -term contracts with MIC manufacturers, providing their stable funding.