American arms manufacturer eyes ammunition production in Ukraine
Ammunition production by an American defense giant, Northrop Grumman, is on the horizon for Ukraine. This was divulged by Ukrainian media sources, quoting remarks from a high-ranking Northrop Grumman executive and a US government official. The setup would mark the establishment of the first American ammunition production line in Ukraine.
At the Eurosatory defense fair in Paris, Dave Bartell, Director of International Business at Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (NG), stated that Ukraine would foot the bill for the installation of a production line to manufacture "medium caliber" ammunition. The US State Department official, Stanley Brown, who also spoke at the arms fair, confirmed Washington's plans to produce ammunition in Ukraine in the near future. He adds that a US-funded aid program for Ukraine might cover the project expenses, worth around two billion dollars.
NG specializes in producing shells in varying calibers such as 25mm, 30mm, 40mm, and 50mm, typically fired from armored vehicles. Bartell suggests expanding production capacity in Ukraine to include armor-piercing and 155-mm artillery shells.
Ukrainian military employs Bradley fighting vehicles equipped with 25-mm cannons and NG-manufactured ammunition, which troops favor for their dependability, precision, and powerful projectile, capable of sometimes neutralizing Russian tanks. The Ukrainian Navy utilizes a few cannon mounts on patrol boats as well.
Beyond the Bradley gun, the Ukrainian military also uses extensive quantities of 30-mm cannons and ammunition from the Soviet era, and a limited number of Stridsvagn-90 armored personnel carriers from Swedish production, armed with a 40-mm cannon from Bofors, a long-standing rival of Northrop Grumman. However, Bartell's comments did not offer details regarding which Ukrainian weapons systems, aside from the Bradley gun, the ammunition production line in Ukraine may produce ammunition for.
For several months, Ukraine's military has grappled with shortages in personnel and ammunition. These deficiencies have been partially attributed to delays in recruiting new soldiers and weapon deliveries from Ukraine's Western allies.
