Ukraine prioritizes missile weapons and ammunition procurement in 2024 defense budget
Procuring missile weaponry and ammunition will be the main focus of the defense budget in 2024, says Deputy Minister of Defense Yurii Dzhyhyr.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine revealed this information through a press release.
"One of the key priorities of the defense budget for 2024 is missile weaponry and ammunition," said Dzhyhyr.
Approximately ₴175 billion will be allocated for this direction from the funds planned for 2024, with around ₴80 billion dedicated to military equipment.
The next priority is the current repair of damaged military equipment and the purchase of spare parts.
"The government has tasked the ministry to maximize weaponry and military equipment contracts from Ukrainian manufacturers. According to our estimates, over ₴190 billion from the funds to be contracted next year will remain with domestic producers," said Yurii Dzhyhyr.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine already have over 20 new Ukrainian production drone models. This year, the government allocated ₴40 billion for investments in Ukrainian drone manufacturers.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the creation of a new defense alliance. Several arms manufacturers from different countries have already joined this initiative.
Recently, the Ministry of Defense also declared that weapons of Ukrainian production will reach the front lines more quickly. During the war, the production cycle and testing processes were streamlined.
Joint production of weapons by Ukraine and other countries
On September 28, during a meeting, the Ukrainian president and the French minister discussed in detail the further steps to enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities with the support of France, including initiating joint production of certain types of weaponry.
The German company Rheinmetall is in talks about building a tank plant in Ukraine. Rheinmetall said the Kremlin's threats to intensify bombings in Ukraine would not affect its intentions about this construction.
Earlier reports indicated that the "Ukrainian Defense Industry" company and the Polish company Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa would jointly produce 125mm tank projectiles. Ukraine and Poland signed the corresponding agreement on April 5 this year.
Moreover, Ukraine and one of the NATO countries have started producing 122mm artillery shells. The first batch of ammunition has already been sent to the front.
