Janice R. Andrews
Oleksandr Kamyshyn, Ukraine’s Presidential Advisor on Strategic Affairs and Minister for Strategic Industries, said that the country has begun making its own 155mm NATO-standard howitzer shells. In an interview with the Norwegian news site Nettavisen, Kamyshyn stated that production has begun, but he could not say how much.
A Big Step Forward in Making Weapons
This is a big deal because 155mm shells are needed for almost all Western weapons systems that NATO partners have sent to Ukraine. Kamyshyn also said that under his direction, Ukraine’s defense production has doubled and is expected to triple by the end of 2024. However, it is still not clear if this includes three times as many 155mm shells being made.
Why 155mm shells are important
You can’t say enough about how important these shells are. They are very important to Ukraine’s defense against Russian invasion because they are the main size used in Western field guns and howitzers. A lot of this weaponry came from Western countries, but Ukraine could make its own 155mm shells to reduce its reliance on foreign help and improve its military’s long-term viability.
What Ukraine Needs to Do to Start Making Shell Oil
For a long time, this goal has been coming together. Ukroboronprom, which is Ukraine’s state defense company, started making these shells in June 2023. At the time, Nataliia Sad, a spokeswoman for Ukroboronprom, talked about how important it was to learn how to make this ammunition because Ukraine’s troops were getting more and more 155mm artillery weapons.
Dealing with the Shortage
The new factory in Ukraine is opening at a very important time. Reports from earlier this year said there was a critical lack of 155mm shells, which helped Russia gain steam in the war. The Washington Post said in March 2024 that these shells were “desperately short supply” at the front lines, and Reuters said the same thing in July 2024.
Problems to Look Forward to When Production Is Increased
Even with these progresses, big problems still need to be solved. Kamyshyn agreed that increasing production isn’t simple. He called it “a very complicated process” that Ukraine had never done before. For now, Ukraine still gets most of its gun shells from its Western friends.
Plans for testing and future production
The first run of shells made in the United States has already been tested, and mass production is set to start in the second half of 2024. Ukraine has also made deals with two U.S. defense firms and the European company Rheinmetall to make 155mm shells together in Ukraine. But it will probably take longer than two years for these partnerships to fully come together.
Freedom from external control
As Ukraine goes forward with making its own 155mm shells, it may be able to become less reliant on other countries. There are still problems to solve, but this important step is a good one toward making the country’s defense system more self-sufficient as it fights Russian forces.
This big step forward isn’t just about ending shortages; it also shows that Ukraine can make important defense products that are necessary for its survival and independence.
