Ukraine and Lithuania to develop ammunition production facilities
6 November, 2024 Production of 155mm artillery ammunition at the facilities of the Swedish company Nammo, February 2024. Photo: Dagens Nyheter As part of the recently signed cooperation agreement between Lithuania and Ukraine on the development of the defense industry, the countries will develop, among other things, ammunition production facilities.
The Ministry of Defense of Lithuania reported on this. The two countries also agreed to cooperate in producing unmanned systems and components for them, electronic warfare equipment, and other technological solutions. The parties undertake to cooperate by implementing and supporting the production of weapons, ammunition, and other planned defense projects of Ukrainian and Lithuanian companies.
The Ministry of Defense of Lithuania reported that the areas of cooperation covered by the agreement include the production of drones, land and maritime systems, electronic warfare, and other technological defense solutions in Ukraine and Lithuania.
Ukrainian and Lithuanian delegations meet to sign a memorandum. November 2024. Photo credits: Herman Smetanin
As well as developing capabilities for producing ammunition and key components, including explosives, in both countries.
In addition, it is planned to jointly develop advanced solutions to ensure technological advantage, conduct joint research projects, and jointly develop advanced technologies in the defense industry. Lithuania undertakes to ensure Ukraine's priority right to purchase defense products, components, and materials. Lithuania will also facilitate the search for funding sources to invest in joint projects and finance the procurement of defense industry products for the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Production of 155mm ammunition at the Nammo enterprise.
Photo credits: nytimes.com
In mid-October 2024, the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation and a Ukrainian defense company signed a memorandum of cooperation on constructing an explosives plant in Lithuania. Construction work is expected to begin next year. According to the statement, the new plant will produce RDX (hexogen) explosives.
This explosive has better properties than traditional TNT: it detonates faster and has a more powerful explosive force.