The heads of leading arms companies will meet with NATO defense ministers this week to discuss increasing production and standardization of artillery shells amid depleted supplies due to the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing BTA.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned in February that Kiev was using up missiles much faster than Western countries were producing them. The start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive will certainly lead to even more rapid use, Reuters points out.
However, the lack of common standards among different manufacturers makes it difficult to supply ammunition. “This is about speeding up the standardization process in NATO to ensure smoother deliveries that will help prevent delays and shortages in the future,” said a NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Among those invited are “BAE Systems”, the Turkish drone manufacturer “Baykar”, “General Dynamics”, the holding company KNDS, which represents the manufacturer of the Leopard 2 tanks. and the French company Nexter, Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, etc.
NATO has been in talks with industry representatives to increase defense production since last year, but this is the first time the alliance will hold such a high-level meeting, Reuters said. It will take place on the sidelines of the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
A NATO official said the companies themselves were interested in producing missiles that could be used by multiple countries amid expectations of orders worth billions of euros as the war in Ukraine drags on.
However, NATO is likely to face resistance from munitions manufacturers, as common standards could lead to increased competition and lower prices. “Companies make money from the fact that ammunition is not interchangeable, that they can dominate their national markets,” a military industry source said.
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Assessment 2.9 from 23 voice.
2023-06-13 16:07:00
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