The United States is negotiating with Turkey to increase purchases of explosive materials for the production of artillery shells, as the allies try to deliver the necessary ammunition to Ukraine. This was reported by Bloomberg with reference to unnamed interlocutors familiar with the negotiation process.
According to the publication, Turkish supplies of trinitrotoluene, known as TNT, and nitroguanidine, which is used as a fuel, will be of key importance for the American production of 155 mm shells. If the decision is adopted, it will allow the US to increase the production of ammunition three times.
According to the publication, the war in Ukraine has provoked a surge in global demand for ammunition, and Western allies are trying to supply shells to Kyiv, as well as replenish their own stocks.
According to one of the interlocutors, the sharp increase in demand led to a backlog in global orders and created a burden on the supply chains of explosive materials, in particular TNT.
In addition, at the end of February, the Pentagon announced that it had signed a contract with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems for the construction of three lines for the production of metal parts for 155 mm shells in Texas, in particular with Turkish subcontractors. Production is planned to start in June. At the time, the Pentagon said that cooperation with allies is "key to creating a global military industrial base."
Bloomberg notes that by 2025, the production lines of the Turkish defense company Repkon will produce approximately 30% of all 155 mm artillery shells produced in the United States. The Pentagon also purchased 116,000 ammunition from the Turkish company Arca Defense, which will be delivered this year.
As major defense companies and smaller suppliers begin ramping up production, munitions production in the US and Europe is expected to increase significantly next year, according to the publication citing Western officials. But, according to interlocutors, it partly depends on whether Congress approves $60 billion in aid to Ukraine.
"The U.S. Army plans to produce 100,000 155 mm shells per month by the end of 2025, which will not be possible without funds," said Secretary of the U.S. Army Christine Wormuth.
Bloomberg points out that the US partnership with Turkey in the production of ammunition also reveals differences in strategy with the European Union. For several months, the EU refused to purchase shells from Turkey due to the resistance of France, Greece and Cyprus. And this happened in the conditions when Brussels "interrupted" the supply of 1 million ammunition to Ukraine.
No comments:
Post a Comment