Bureaucracy delays Ukraine-Czech 155mm ammunition production deal

Due to bureaucracy within the Defense Procurement Agency, Ukraine and the Czech Republic are unable to start the production of 155mm ammunition, Defense Express reports.

Almost six months ago, an agreement was reached with Czechoslovak Group to produce 155mm ammunition in Ukraine, with a planned annual output of 300,000 shells. However, the company has yet to receive an order from Ukraine’s Defense Procurement Agency.

Back in October 2024, the Ukrainian Armor company, part of NAUDI, and the major European conglomerate Czechoslovak Group agreed to license ammunition production, including 155mm shells.

"We plan to manufacture and supply around 100,000 shells next year, and over 300,000 in 2026. The process of preparing the equipment has already begun," said Vladyslav Belbas, head of Ukrainian Armor, at the time.

Meanwhile, as Czechoslovak Group stated, this cooperation included the transfer of key technologies and know-how. The project also involved the Czech government, as the conglomerate publicly thanked the Czech Ministry of Defense, stating that "this project would not have been possible without their assistance."

However, nearly six months have passed, and no order for these shells has been placed by Ukraine’s Defense Procurement Agency. As Belbas recently stated in an interview with the Espreso TV channel, bureaucratic obstacles within the defense ministry are delaying the 155mm ammunition production. The company now only plans to begin manufacturing this year—provided there is an order.

As revealed by Ukrainska Pravda, the Defense Procurement Agency has not contracted domestic Ukrainian production facilities. Neither for the full-scale production of 100,000 shells per year, which was necessary to ramp up to 300,000 annually, nor even for a trial batch.

Without orders, no production will take place. This situation is extremely negative, not only because the Ukrainian military lacks ammunition, but also because it damages international cooperation. The production of these shells was planned in collaboration with Czechoslovak Group.

Every failed case of cooperation between Western defense companies and Ukraine is a severe blow to Ukraine’s reputation. This is especially critical given the global shortage of artillery shells, where production queues are extensive and prices are skyrocketing.

It is worth recalling that, amid the suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, there is an urgent need to replace the one million 155mm shells that the U.S. supplied annually. Without additional sources of supply, the existing ammunition deficit could multiply significantly.