United to win: Denmark plans to buy out an arms factory to increase ammunition production for Ukraine
Міністр оборони Данії Троельс Лунд Поульсен. Фото: Getty Images
Ammunition is vital for Ukraine in the short term. The Danish government is working on buying up the land under the former arms factory.
This was stated by the Minister of Defense of Denmark, Troels Lund Poulsen. Rubryka reports with reference to DR.
What is the problem?
Last week, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Aril Gram said that NATO does not have enough ammunition and that the need for it is enormous.
Troels Lund Poulsen said after the meeting in the Ramstein format that this is a huge problem that needs to be solved.
"I think it must be said that the production of ammunition in the short term is absolutely crucial," said the minister.
It should be noted that ammunition is vital for Ukraine in the short term.
What is the solution?
The minister wants to speed up the process and make efforts to buy back the land that used to house the munitions factory in Elling near Frederikshavn.
How does it work?
According to the defense minister, he hopes to receive information within a month. After that, there is hope that the factory will be used again for the purpose for which it was built.
"If we can create a model where the Armed Forces can step in and facilitate the acquisition of buildings and get private companies to make products, I believe that within the next few years, we will be able to produce munitions in Denmark," the defense minister said.
Information about the plant
The munitions factory dates back to 1676, when it was founded under the name Fyrværkerikompagniet in Copenhagen. Production of arms and ammunition for the Danish military was carried out at various locations before it was assembled in Elling in 1968.
Here, production was carried out under the name Ammunitionsarsenalet, the local name "Krudten," and there were up to 200 employees at its peak.
In 2008, the state sold the plant to Spanish ammunition manufacturer Expal, which renamed the company Denex. The company primarily produced rifle ammunition, but old ammunition was also destroyed at the plant.
Expal decided to close Denex in 2020 after several years of losses. At that time, 65 people worked at the plant.
It should be recalled that at the beginning of May, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision to assist Ukraine in the joint procurement of ammunition and missiles. It is planned to transfer 1 million shells to Ukraine.
On September 20, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said the European Union would fulfill its promise to deliver one million ammunition to Ukraine by the end of 2023.
"We are building up the industry, the military-industrial base. We are paying a lot of attention to this. We are doing our best and working hard to complete the task," said von der Leyen.
It was also reported that Denmark agreed to provide Ukraine with 15 modernized T-72EA tanks and 30 Leopard 1 battle tanks.
