Rammstein-10 priorities- military expert Serhiy Zgurets

10th Ramstein meeting 

Yesterday, March 15, the tenth working meeting began to determine the list and volume of weapons necessary to meet the Armed Forces' primary needs, with air defense and artillery ammunition as top priorities. Patriot, SAMP/T, and air defense missiles were discussed, as well as the need for 250,000 to 600,000 155mm caliber artillery shells per month, with 1 million already delivered but deemed insufficient given the ongoing intensity of hostilities.

During the Rammstein-10 meeting, US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin announced the need to find innovative solutions to accelerate ammunition production. The US has launched a new production facility to increase production from 19,000 to 90,000 rounds per month within two years. While this is a significant increase, it is still insufficient to meet the demand for ammunition.

European countries are ramping up their ammunition production, with plans to double the production rate of 155 mm caliber ammunition from 300,000 to 600,000 per year. Enterprises are being modernized in Europe, and in Bulgaria, production of Soviet-caliber ammunition has begun. This ammunition is highly necessary, especially in the context of preparing for a counteroffensive of the Armed Forces, as ammunition plays a crucial role in current hostilities.

Ramstein-10 aims to accelerate the transfer of arms, mainly armored vehicles and tanks, which was agreed upon earlier. The tank coalition, comprising 9 countries with a potential of 150 Leopard tanks of three modifications, Challengers, Abrams, and more than 500 T-72 tanks, some of which have already been received. Defense Minister Austin expressed that these supplies of armored vehicles should create momentum on the battlefield, enough to equip 9 mechanized and tank brigades. However, the rate of arrival of tanks is slower than expected, as mentioned in the last Ramstein meeting. Although the first Leopard tanks have arrived, with 40 servicemen trained for 10 tanks, it is insufficient for the counteroffensive, and the pace of supply needs to be accelerated.

We are expecting to receive new fighters, but they are MiG-29s from the reserves of Poland and Slovakia, rather than the 4th generation fighters that Ukraine has requested. The total number of aircraft is around 23, with some having undergone modernization. Some will be used in combat operations, while others will be used to restore existing MiG-29s. Although Ramstein-10 is operational and aimed at strengthening our military capabilities, time is of the essence. We hope that it will help push through previous and current promises quickly.