Defense News on the Challenges of Boosting Ammunition Production in Europe

This article by Tom Kington looks at recent estimates of Russia’s shell production, making comparisons with supplies to Ukraine coming from Europe. Despite challenges, the European defence industry has significantly expanded production capacities but needs more support.

ASD is quoted:

“The European defense industry has significantly expanded its production capacities and increased production – with ammunition being one element – as much as possible under adverse circumstances … The long list of obstacles includes supply chain bottlenecks, swelling raw material costs, shortages of qualified workforce, burdensome regulation and administrative processes, paucity of actual orders, years of under-investment and low order volumes that resulted in down-scaled production capacities.”

“Long-term investments in further expansion of production capacities must come along with long-term contracts from European customers. There must be a risk sharing between industry and the public sector.”