Spain has put out bids for contracts worth up to 150 million euros ($163.7 million) to acquire 155mm artillery shells, including certain variants such as flares and smoke grenades.
The tender, which was published on the European Union’s contract database on January 3, has a deadline of January 31 and will be procured through funds from the Spanish Ministry of Defence, rather than the European Union.
The Spanish Army fields two weapon systems that use 155 mm caliber ammunition: the U.S.-made M109A5 self-propelled artillery platform and the Santa Barbara Sistemas 155/52 howitzer.
According to a GlobalData analysis of Spain’s defense inventory, the Spanish Army operates 66 155mm howitzers 155/52 APU-SIAC and 16 SBT-1 variants. The company believes about 100 M109A5s are in service with the Spanish Army and Marine Corps.
Access the most comprehensive company profiles on the market with GlobalData. Save research time. Increase competitiveness.
Company Profile – Free Sample
You will receive a download email shortly
We are confident in the unique quality of our company profile. However, we want you to make the decision that is most beneficial for your business, so we are offering free samples that you can download by submitting the form below.
by global data
According to GlobalData analysis, Spain’s defense budget will increase from $9.5 billion in 2019 to $13.1 billion in 2023, with an expected increase in 2028 as it aims to meet NATO’s defense spending threshold of 2% of GDP. is predicted to continue to increase.
European aspirations for artillery ammunition do not meet reality
The production of shells has become a key topic of discussion among the upper echelons of the EU leadership, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen raising concerns about defense cooperation spending and shell production across EU member states. Seeking an increase.
In a speech to the European Defense Agency in December, von der Leyen said European Union member states would produce one million artillery shells a year from 2024, adding that the continent’s defense industry would become more active in the face of Russian aggression. He said that he is aiming for a production line that is Ukraine.
In late November, von der Leyen met with officials from the European Defense Agency (EDA) and claimed that European Union member states (referred to as “Europe” in her speech) had produced or delivered 480,000 shells to Ukraine. did.
“This was unimaginable just two years ago. And it already represents a huge step forward for our defense cooperation,” von der Leyen said.
However, this figure was less than half of the amount originally planned to be produced for Ukraine. Kiev has struggled to get financial and military support from the United States and its European allies, raising bleak prospects for continued war with Russia.
