Defense factories are increasing the production of artillery ammunition, the next step is tanks and armored vehicles. Military experts interviewed by Focus are confident that large volumes of weapons production will be the basis for a successful offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Ukrainian military-industrial complex can produce shells and military equipment of any level.
On August 28, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky announced an increase in weapons production by enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex.
According to the head of state, Ukraine is capable of producing guns, shells, drones, missiles and armored vehicles.
“Ukraine can do this. There is funding. Our defense industry will produce greater results,” Zelensky said.
At the beginning of July this year, the Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine Alexander Kamyshin, in an interview with Bloomberg, spoke about plans to increase arms production.
“My goal is to make Ukraine the arsenal [of weapons] of the free world. We must be ambitious, because we have no choice,” he said.
According to Kamyshin, defense factories have started by increasing production of artillery and mortar shells because soldiers need them on the battlefield.
“Ukrainian anti-tank complexes Stugna-P began to roll off production lines faster. Increasing the production of tanks and armored vehicles will be the next priority; this will take three to six months,” the minister explained.
Bloomberg writes that the largest arms manufacturers in Europe - the German concern Rheinmetall AG and the British BAE Systems Plc - are negotiating the creation of production facilities in Ukraine. Rheinmetall bought a 51% stake in a tank repair joint venture.
Mines, missiles and any military equipment: what can the Ukrainian military-industrial complex produce?
Restoring stocks of ammunition and weapons during the hot phase of the war is beyond the power of one country, says military expert, reserve colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Roman Svitan.
“For combat operations, ammunition is accumulated for 10-15 years. If we take Russia, they produce 5-7 thousand shells per day, but they used up to 60 thousand per day. No matter how they start production, Ukraine alone will not be able to restore the loss of shells. While there is a war with Russia, we will be tied to our partners,” he explained
The slightest opportunity to produce shells should be used immediately in order to quickly replenish losses. The country's resource capacity to produce ammunition is fundamental for offensive operations, Svitan added.
According to expert estimates, the Ukrainian military-industrial complex is capable of producing mines, missiles, UAVs and military equipment of any level: armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, self-propelled artillery mounts. The factories can also launch production of the Neptune coastal mobile missile system with anti-ship missiles and the Sapsan multifunctional operational-tactical missile system.
It will not be possible to produce aircraft and ships under attacks by the Russian Armed Forces, a colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine noted.
Ukraine may enter the top 10 of the world's largest arms producers
According to Valentin Badrak, director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Research, Ukraine can significantly increase arms production and even get closer to the top ten world players.
“This requires a systematic approach, as is the case with Turkey or Israel. South Korea, for example, already has a portfolio of orders for the year of $17 billion, which is still an unaffordable amount for us,” the expert said in an interview with UNIAN.
Kyiv needs to use cooperation with global arms players: BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, American giant Lockheed Martin and others. We can also count on the joint creation of air defense systems.
“There are prospects for joint work in projects for the creation and production of the KF51 Panther tank and the Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle from Rheinmetall. This will be a very beautiful case,” commented Badrak.
