The EU will significantly increase the production of ammunition, in particular for supplies to Ukraine, not earlier than 2025 or early 2026, writes The Wall Street Journal.
European weapons manufacturers are increasing production, but through regulation, problems with supply chains, lack of state funding and lack of labor, significant production growth is not expected by the end of next year or early 2026.
According to officials and representatives of industry from several countries, the expansion of the already existing ammunition plant takes about two years, and the construction of a new one - about five.
The inability of NATO allies to provide Ukraine with sufficient ammunition is not a question of potential, but a matter of political will, NATO Stoltenberg Secretary Generals told reporters.
The EU stated that its weapons will be able to produce 1.4 million shells a year by the end of 2024 and two million by the end of 2025. By the middle of last year, up to 50% of all EU defense products was exported to third countries except Ukraine.
At the same time, the Czech Republic intends to buy about 800,000 artillery shells in a coalition with other countries.
