Espreso. Global

Ukraine's military industry is developing. But is it fast enough?

3 April, 2024 Wednesday
16:50

Ukraine needs to rebuild its domestic defense industry so that its military does not have to rely on the West for years. But will it be possible to do so in time?

client/title.list_title

The New York Times highlights this issue in its article .

The Russian military machine has already quadrupled its production of weapons for round-the-clock operations. Ukraine is losing territory in some key areas, including the strategically important eastern city of Avdiivka, while the package of American aid is still pending in Congress. Meanwhile, European defense companies are cautiously opening their facilities in Ukraine, major American arms manufacturers have yet to commit support while the country is at war.

It is widely recognized that Ukraine needs to rebuild its domestic defense industry so that its military does not have to rely on the West. Can this be done in time to change the war scenario, where Ukraine will be even more vulnerable without further US military assistance?

The New York Times writes that Ukrainian military engineers have already demonstrated remarkable skill in modernizing old weapon systems with more modern firepower. According to Ukrainian government documents reviewed by the outlet, Ukrainian defense companies have built three times more armored vehicles in the past year than they did before the war, and production of anti-tank missiles has quadrupled.

According to an analysis of Ukraine's military budget until 2030 conducted by the defense analytical company Janes, funding for research and development will increase eightfold this year—from $162 million to $1.3 billion. Military procurement has surged to nearly a 20-year high of almost $10 billion in 2023 compared to pre-war levels of around $1 billion per year.

“We say that death to the enemy starts with us,” Alexander Kamyshin, Ukraine’s Strategic Industries minister, said in an interview.

“It’s about showing that we don’t sit and wait until you come help us,” Kamyshin said. “It’s about trying to make things ourselves.”

Some types of weaponry are particularly difficult to manufacture in Ukraine. Among them are 155-millimeter artillery shells, which are extremely necessary on the battlefield. However, everything depends on imported raw materials and licensing rights from Western manufacturers or governments. Kamyshin noted that domestic production of 155-millimeter shells is already "on the way," but did not specify a timeline.

The government in Kyiv plans to spend approximately $6 billion this year on domestically produced weapons, including a million drones, but, according to Kamyshin, ”we can produce more than we’ve got funds available.”

However, a long period of decline can be difficult to overcome. The publication cites the example of the 2S22 Bohdan artillery gun. To restart production, officials had to track down the original designers and engineers of the weapon, some of whom were doing military work all over Ukraine.

"For the Russians, this was a huge surprise," noted Major Myroslav Hai, an officer in the Ukrainian army who helped liberate the island. "They couldn't understand how artillery could be used at such a distance."

European political leaders and business leaders, who see new market opportunities, promote the development of military production in Ukraine

The German Rheinmetall and the Turkish Baykar are building factories in Ukraine. In March, the French Minister of Defense announced that three French companies producing drones and ground military equipment are nearing similar agreements. Last month, Germany and France announced the creation of a joint venture through the defense conglomerate KNDS to manufacture components for tanks and howitzers in Ukraine, and later, entire weapon systems.

According to experts, Ukrainian military personnel have deployed air defense systems around some of the most important weapons manufacturing plants. It is quite likely that factories with foreign capital will be primarily located in the western part of the country, further away from the front line, with additional air defense protection.

Christian Seear, the Chief Operating Officer of the British military contractor BAE Systems in Ukraine, said that even the initial steps by foreign manufacturers send "an important signal – that it is possible to enter Ukraine and establish production."

According to Mr. Seear, although BAE Systems plans to manufacture weapons in Ukraine in the future, the company is currently focused on a "fix it forward" approach, repairing battle-damaged weapons at plants in Ukraine to quickly return them to the front lines. Many of the weapons used in ground warfare in Ukraine, including M777 and Archer howitzers, Bradley and CV90 combat vehicles, and Challenger 2 tanks, are manufactured by BAE Systems.

According to Ukrainian and American officials, as of today, no major American arms manufacturer has announced plans to open production lines in Ukraine. However, over the past few weeks, some senior-level executives have visited Kyiv, meeting with Mr. Kamishin and other officials, while the Biden administration organized meetings for Ukrainian leaders and American military contractors in December.

The assistance to Ukraine in rebuilding its defense industry has become even more crucial as Republicans in Congress have blocked the allocation of $60 billion in military and financial aid to Ukraine. 

Taylor stated that American firms had numerous opportunities to invest in other countries globally. He emphasized that in this case, U.S. national interests were at stake, indicating that they would take additional steps to enhance these relationships.

Taylor proposed the establishment of a joint venture between Ukrainian and American companies, focusing on increasing the production of 155-millimeter artillery shells, given their critical importance.

European manufacturers are already entering this market.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, assured in an interview with Ukrainian state media published on Friday that if Europeans are involved in the development to the extent they promise, he believes that over time, we will solve the issue of “ammunition hunger.”

Although Ukrainian manufacturers are prohibited from exporting weapons until the end of the war, Kamyshin seems to be aiming to compete with foreign arms manufacturers.

After he was appointed minister in March 2023, Kamishin visited nearly all the arms factories in Ukraine and stated that he saw an industry in dire need of overhaul. At some damaged plants, workers were laboring, while at others, rockets were being assembled by hand.

At the same time, according to him, production is now operating more smoothly. He still receives daily updates on the status of critically important assembly lines to quickly identify breakdowns and address them promptly.

"We are doing everything faster and cheaper, and it's working," admits Kamyshin.


 
Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Thursday
19 September
12:58
OPINION
Why Erdogan should not be considered Ukraine’s ally
12:32
Ukraine could join EU by end of this decade, says EU Ambassador
12:16
Exclusive
Russia deploys more forces to attemp advance on Lyman-Kupyansk direction - Kara Nebesna UAV crew commander
11:53
Exclusive
Strike on warehouses in Tver region will impact long-range weapon usage approval — military expert
11:28
Russia's September 19 missile, drone attack on Ukraine kills one civilian
11:05
Ukrainian strikes on Russian military depots may change entire combat theater - ISW
10:34
187 combat clashes errupt on Russian-Ukrainian frontline over last day — Ukraine's General Staff
10:18
Harris to meet Zelenskyy in Washington next week – Bloomberg
09:57
Russia loses 1,130 troops, 14 tanks and 13 armored vehicles in one day of war in Ukraine
09:37
Europe should be ready for war with Russia in 6-8 years — European defense chief
2024, Wednesday
18 September
21:20
Interview
"Where Russians committed atrocities, people greeted us on knees”: Ukrainian soldier’s story
20:54
At least 575 Ukrainian children killed as result of Russia's armed aggression
20:40
'US military aid to Ukraine draws world closer to brink of Armageddon': foreign manipulations for September 18
20:22
Russian drone drops explosives, injuring five civilians in Ukraine’s Kherson
20:10
What weapon might Ukraine have used to strike Tver ammo depot in Russia
19:55
103 combat engagements recorded in frontline, mostly in Kurakhove, Pokrovsk sectors
19:40
Ukraine may have struck Russian warehouse in Mariupol with Neptune missile
19:19
Ukrainian forces stop Russian counter-offensive in Kursk region - representative of AFU Commandant's Office
19:00
70 million tons of cargo transported through Ukrainian sea corridor over year - Zelenskyy
18:42
Exclusive
"Unprecedented explosions in military history”: Defense Express on ammunition depot destruction in Russia's Tver region
18:20
Exclusive
Corruption in Russia's MoD will help Ukraine to hit ammo arsenals: military observer on Tver region attack
17:51
OPINION
Victory plan essential, but implementation must follow
17:30
Ukraine’s parliament adopts UAH 500 billion increase in defense spending
17:12
NATO must respond to Russian drones' intrusion into its airspace — Romanian Defense Minister
16:53
Ukraine to receive second SAMP-T system from Italy by late September
16:24
Russia has its first FPV anti-aircraft drones: warfare enters new realm
16:19
Russian shelling of Ukraine’s Nikopol results in one death, child among the injured
16:16
Exclusive
September 11-18 live war map: Russia shifts offensive from Pokrovsk to south, Ukraine tears up Russian border
15:38
EU sanctions target financing of Russia’s battlefield products, says envoy
15:23
OPINION
Why is Putin blackmailing United Kingdom?
14:50
Lithuania to provide Ukraine with €50 million in additional aid by year-end
14:15
Finnish President Stubb calls for Russia’s removal from UN Security Council
13:57
"Strategy that can work": U.S. reviews Zelenskyy's Victory Plan
13:27
"10 months of ammo destroyed": military expert on Ukraine’s attack in Tver region
13:06
Exclusive
Russia can sustain combat operations for another year or two — Ukrainian Lt. Gen. Romanenko
12:49
PM Pashinyan claims CSTO threatens Armenia's security and sovereignty, Kremlin responds
12:16
Mexico's new president refuses to visit Kyiv at Zelenskyy's invitation
11:58
Exclusive
Up to 30,000 rounds of ammunition may have been destroyed in Tver depot attack — military expert Zgurets
11:43
Review
Price of war: losses on battlefield by Ukraine and Russia. Serhiy Zgurets' column
11:24
Drone attack in Russia's Tver region: Ammunition depot on fire, evacuation ordered
More news