Ukraine’s arms industry is booming – Washington Post

Ukraine's defense industry is experiencing a real boom, but there's still a shortage of its weapons. 

Delays in assistance from the United States are also causing serious problems, according to The Washington Post, Rubryka reports.

"Factories spit out shells, mortar rounds, military vehicles, missiles, and other items crucial to the war effort. Production tripled in 2023 and is expected to increase sixfold this year," the publication reported, citing Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

According to the Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine already produces 90% of its drone needs, including long-range UAVs and maritime drones, which have changed the way warfare is conducted.

Ukraine also manufactures its own mortar and artillery shells of Soviet 122 and 152 mm caliber.

At the same time, defense companies will start producing their own 155 mm NATO-standard shells for artillery systems supplied by Western allies from the second half of this year.

In February, Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin stated that Ukraine had deployed missile production with a range of about 650 km. According to officials, air defense systems and precision-guided missiles similar to American HIMARS are also being developed.

This year, Ukraine plans to spend about $5 billion on domestic arms production, according to official sources, but everyone agrees that this is not enough.

The publication stressed that it's insufficient to compensate for the lack of international support, especially shipments of weapons from the United States.

What we know about increasing arms production in Ukraine

Rubryka previously reported that next year, Ukraine plans to significantly increase the production of various types of weapons, prioritizing missiles and ammunition for air defense systems.

As Deputy Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk stated in a broadcast of a national telethon, the defense department, jointly with the Ministry of Strategic Industries, wants to increase the production of missiles, ammunition, arms, and military equipment several times over in 2024.

Ukraine plans to produce 1 million FPV drones, over 10,000 medium-range combat drones, and over a thousand drones with a range of 1,000 km next year.

Ukraine and Belgium also plan to establish joint arms production. 

The German arms producer Rheinmetall is negotiating to build a tank plant in Ukraine. Kremlin threats to intensify bombardments of Ukraine will not affect the German arms company's intentions about this construction, according to the Rheinmetall CEO.

The largest Ukrainian armed manufacturer, "The Ukrainian Defense Industry," and the Polish company Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa will produce 125mm tank shells. Ukraine and Poland signed the relevant agreement on April 5 this year.

Ukraine and one of the NATO countries have begun to produce 122mm artillery shells. The first batch of ammunition has already been sent to the front.

Currently, about 300,000 people are involved in the Ukrainian defense industry complex. 

"Ukrainian Defense Industry" has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the leading German company Dynamit Nobel Defence. The Ukrainian company will also produce small arms according to NATO standards.