Ukraine has produced 2.5 million rounds of artillery ammunition since the beginning of 2024
19 November, 2024 Production of 155 mm artillery ammunition at the facilities of the Swedish company Nammo, February 2024. Photo credits: Dagens Nyheter Since the beginning of 2024, Ukraine has produced 2.5 million mortar shells and artillery shells of various calibers.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this during a speech in the Verkhovna Rada. Zelensky added that Ukraine is increasing both its own defense production and deepening cooperation with international partners. "Ukraine is doing its best to increase its own production of guns and artillery shells and production in cooperation with our partners.
This year, we have already produced more than 2.5 million mortar rounds and 60-155 mm artillery shells. We are increasing this production," he stated.
International cooperation
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.
Production of 155-mm shells at Rheinmetall Denel Munition in South Africa. Footage from a Rheinmetall video
The parties undertake to cooperate by implementing and supporting the production of weapons, ammunition, and other planned defense-industrial projects of Ukrainian and Lithuanian companies.
In addition, the agreements provide for developing capabilities to produce ammunition and key components, including explosives, in both countries. In mid-October 2024, the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation and a Ukrainian defense company signed a memorandum of cooperation in 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.
Ukrainian production
Militarnyi reported on November 1 that the production of mortar shells started from scratch before the full-scale invasion and grew to millions per year in 2024. However, a global explosives shortage is holding back further growth in the production of both mortar shells and mortar mines.
On September 14, it was reported that Presidential Advisor on Strategic Issues Oleksandr Kamyshin announced the beginning of 155mm ammunition production.
120mm mortar rounds manufactured by Ukrainian Armor company. Photo credits: Militarnyi
Work on the start of production of 155-mm shells in Ukraine was reported in early June 2023. Natalia Sad, a spokesperson for Ukroboronprom, announced it during a briefing on the production of weapons and equipment for the needs of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine.
At that time, Ukroboronprom had already mastered the production of 82-mm mortar shells, 122-mm and 152-mm artillery shells, and 125-mm tank shells.
On August 8, 2024, it became known that Ukroboronprom had completed testing of 155-mm artillery ammunition and was preparing for its mass production in the second half of 2024.
In addition, it was reported that Ukrainian Armor plans to expand artillery ammunition production by building a new plant in Ukraine.