Ukraine to start mass production of "NATO-calibre" shells

Ukraine’s Minister of Strategic Industries Alexander Kamyshin has said that Ukraine plans to massively increase production of 155 mm calibre shells next year.

He made the remarks during a briefing on “Results of the Ministry of Strategic Industries and Ukroboronprom for 2023”, a Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the minister, experimental samples of 155-calibre shells of domestic production are already being tested, and mass production is planned to start next year.

"Ukraine has started developing 155-calibre shells. We already have prototypes that are being tested. Next year we plan to start mass production," the minister said.

He noted that the launch of production depends on partners, primarily suppliers of NATO-standard gunpowder, which is not produced in Ukraine.

"We have mastered some of the elements. But, unfortunately, in this calibre, we depend on the supply of scarce gunpowder, which Ukraine has never produced," Kamyshin said.

As reported, according to the General Staff, the Ukrainian military-industrial complex provides approximately 20 per cent, and in some cases up to 50 per cent of the production of certain types of ammunition.