NATO to increase ammunition production as war depletes reserves
NATO allies intend to increase the industrial production of weapons and ammunition to replenish their arsenals, devastated by Russia's war against Ukraine, and to help Ukraine in the future.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this at a briefing held ahead of a two-day meeting of the Alliance's defense ministers in Brussels, Rubryka writes.
The Secretary General mentioned:
"Ministers will consider measures to strengthen deterrence and defense… I expect the Allies to adopt new directives for NATO's defense planning. This will be a key driver for changes in our capabilities and will ensure robust deterrence and defense for years to come. Ministers will also consider increasing our defense industrial capabilities and replenishing stockpiles".
Stoltenberg added:
"The war in Ukraine … is devastating the arsenals of allies. Ukraine's current level of munitions use is many times higher than our production level. This puts our defense industries under strain. For example, the waiting time for large-caliber ammunition has increased from 12 to 28 months. Orders placed today will only be delivered two and a half years later. So we need to ramp up our production and invest in our production capacity."
He noted that NATO has just completed a stockpile review of ammunition and intends to increase it as part of the defense planning process. The good news is that several allies, including the US and France, have already signed new multi-year contracts with the defense industry, allowing for targeted investment in increased production capacity.
"I am expecting rapid progress on this work. This will allow us to assist Ukraine while ensuring that every inch of Alliance territory is protected."
For reference:
Ukrainian troops are firing up to 10,000 artillery shells daily, so Western ammunition reserves have been depleted seriously.
A two-day meeting of defense ministers of NATO countries will begin tomorrow in Brussels. One of the main issues of the meeting is the consideration of the security situation around Ukraine. A meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine under the auspices of the United States in the "Rammstein" format will also be held tomorrow at the headquarters of the Alliance. Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov will participate in the ministers' meeting and the Contact Group's work.
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