MILAN — Responding to an urgent call for European countries to increase ammunition production, Spain has awarded local defense contractor Rheinmetall Expul Munitions a multi-million dollar contract for 120mm ammunition and 155mm artillery shells. issued a tender.
Defense officials across the continent have been urging European Union member states for months to pressure the military industry to ramp up military production to ease the supply chain crisis.
In mid-December, the Spanish government announced an order for 120mm mortar shells, flare grenades, smoke grenades, and other related explosives from Rheinmetall Expal Munitions. The total value of the listed contracts is estimated at $4.67 million.
In August, Germany’s Rheinmetall acquired the Spanish company formerly known as Expal Systems in a deal worth $1.3 billion. The acquired company continues its activities in Spain and has plans to expand.
Spain’s Ministry of Defense this month called for the purchase of 155mm artillery ammunition and modular long-range artillery shells, with a joint allocation of up to $531 million. It is unclear whether all the shells will come from the Army.
In December, Rheinmetall announced that it had received a large order for 155mm ammunition worth €142 million (US$155 million). Although the identity of the customer was not disclosed, the news release said the order came from “a NATO partner country that has expressed its intention to support Ukraine’s defense struggle with effective long-term military assistance.” Ta.
The shells will ultimately be destined for Ukraine and will be manufactured at Rheinmetall Expal Munitions facilities in Spain, with delivery scheduled for 2025.
The moves come as the EU seeks to meet Ukraine’s ammunition needs more quickly following Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, which began in February 2022. Among the various initiatives is a European Commission-led initiative called the Ammunition Production Support Act. To increase block production capacity.
In a recent statement on the initiative, Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said: “Europe’s 155mm production capacity has already increased by 20-30% since February 2023. It is expected that sales will reach 1 million copies.” Annually in the spring of 2024.
Elizabeth Gosselin Maro is Defense News’ Europe correspondent. She covers a wide range of topics related to military procurement and international security, and specializes in aviation reporting. She is based in Milan, Italy.