Ukraine is set to significantly enhance its artillery capabilities with the expected delivery of long-range artillery ammunition from German defense company Rheinmetall. The move, which aims to address the urgent military needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, will see the provision of artillery shells capable of hitting targets up to 100 kilometers away. This includes the supply of prototype artillery shells with such range.
Armin Papperger, the CEO of Rheinmetall, has confirmed that hundreds of thousands of these munitions will be delivered to Ukraine, with the country’s armed forces currently having limited response capabilities to ongoing Russian attacks due to an ammunition shortage.
Papperger remarked, “Artillery changes the rules.” According to the Defense Express military portal, this is probably a prototype of a long-range 155-caliber artillery shell called Vulcano. Last year, it was reported that Germany was supplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces with laser illuminators for the Vulcano version, which can fly 70 kilometers. In early April, the German concern Rheinmetall announced the transfer of 20 additional Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. The German government ordered these armored vehicles in March this year. The vehicles are expected to be delivered to Ukraine in 2024.
Rheinmetall has been working in collaboration with Norwegian and U.S. artillery manufacturers, testing extended-range projectiles employing ramjet technology. This cutting-edge technology could double the range of rounds, thereby potentially outstripping the artillery capabilities of opposing forces.
The German government has progressively reversed its initial hesitation in offering high-tech military assistance to Ukraine. In what represents a considerable increase in support, Germany has became Ukraine’s most important supplier of air defense systems, including air defense systems such as the US Patriot and IRIS-T missile systems, the Gepard autocannon anti-aircraft system, and a myriad of ammunition types.
In anticipation of the increased demand, Rheinmetall has expanded its production capacity from 70,000 shells annually before the conflict, targeting a tenfold increase to 700,000 rounds this year. The company is not only constructing a new plant in Unterluss and setting up a new production line in Lithuania but also plans to establish a munitions factory in Ukraine.
However, a challenge noted by Papperger in scaling up production is the dependence on explosives imported, as Germany lacks its own production. Moreover, the defense CEO has cautioned that without continued and substantial German government investment into the late 2020s, including large-scale purchases of major weapons systems, the emergency funding earmarked for Ukraine could deplete by the end of 2026.
Relevant articles:
– Ukrainian Armed Forces to receive prototypes of long-range artillery shells from Rheinmetall, RBC Ukraine, 05/07/2024
– Rheinmetall Boss Says Ukraine Could Get Artillery Rounds with 100KM Range if Berlin Books Orders, Kyiv Post, 05/06/2024
– Ukraine to receive long-range artillery shells from Rheinmetall in 2024, Українські Національні Новини, 05/05/2024
– Rheinmetall plans to send Ukraine hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds before year-end, Ukrinform, 05/05/2024