https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250311/europe-needs-up-to-seven-years-to-match-us-munitions-aid-to-ukraine-sputnik-analysis-shows-1071029869.html
Europe Needs Up to Seven Years to Match US Munitions Aid to Ukraine, Sputnik Analysis Shows
Europe Needs Up to Seven Years to Match US Munitions Aid to Ukraine, Sputnik Analysis Shows
Sputnik Africa
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - European countries, including EU members and the United Kingdom, have nearly matched the total value of US military aid to Ukraine by... 11.03.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-03-11T10:33+0100
2025-03-11T10:33+0100
2025-03-11T10:33+0100
donald trump
josep borrell
ukraine
united states (us)
europe
european union (eu)
pentagon (us department of defense)
military
weapon deliveries
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However, according to a Sputnik correspondent’s analysis of publicly available data, it would take a significant amount of time—ranging from at least one year in the best-case scenario for artillery shells to up to seven years for HIMARS and interceptor missiles—to reach the level of critical munitions supplied by the United States.The US suspended all military aid to Ukraine last Monday, a US Defense Department spokesperson confirmed to Sputnik. The Trump administration's decision has reignited debate over whether Europe can fill the gap and sustain military support for Kiev. According to the latest figures from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Europe had provided 62 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, as of February, nearly matching the US total of 64 billion euros. While European countries have matched the US in terms of the value of military aid, the gap lies in the ability to supply the munitions and critical support systems, such as advanced air defense interceptor missiles, artillery shells and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets, that are essential for the operation of high-value weapon systems. At current production capacity, it would take Europe at least six to seven years to match the US munitions contributions of the past three years, unless it can substantially increase the production rate of critical munitions, an effort that would normally take years. Interceptor Missiles for PatriotFor example, Germany, the largest European donor, has allocated 12.6 billion euros in military assistance to Ukraine, data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy showed. However, a significant portion of Germany’s contributions, about 4.8 billion euros or 38%, went toward major air defense systems, including 12 Iris-T SLM air defense systems, 12 Iris-T SLS air defense systems and three Patriot batteries. According to the latest data from the German Defense Ministry, Berlin has provided 328 interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine since February 2022. In comparison, the US has sent at least 847 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement missiles to Ukraine, valued at around $3.26 billion, according to Sputnik’s earlier analysis of the US Department of Defense’s budget reports. The US has also provided three Patriot batteries to Ukraine. With the US having sent more than twice as many Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine as Germany, it could take Berlin over seven years to match US contributions. Although Germany began constructing a Patriot missile production facility in December 2024, the delivery of new missiles is not expected to begin until 2027. Twice as Many Artillery ShellsSimilarly, while the total number of howitzers donated by European countries almost matched that of the US, the number of artillery shells provided by Europe was far smaller compared to US contributions. The EU's former chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, admitted in November that the EU had delivered 980,000 artillery shells to Ukraine in 2024 and aimed to increase its total supply since February 2022 to 1.5 million shells by the end of last year. It was unlikely that the EU significantly increased artillery shell deliveries to Ukraine in the first two months of 2025 due to existing production bottlenecks. In comparison, the US has provided over 3 million 155mm artillery shells, more than 1 million 105mm shells, and over 400,000 152mm rounds to Ukraine, according to the latest fact sheet released by the Pentagon in January. Although the EU’s Act in Support of Ammunition Production, or ASAP, program aims to boost the annual artillery shell production rate to 2 million by the end of 2025, it would take Europe at least one year in the best-case scenario to fill the gap left by the US while continuing its previous shell supply to Ukraine. GMLRS Rockets for HIMARSFurthermore, while many European countries have supplied multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine, including systems similar to the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which has been praised for its effectiveness on the battlefield, most still rely on US defense contractor Lockheed Martin for the munitions known as GMLRS rockets, needed for these weapon systems. According to the US Army’s budget reports, the US allocated $1.39 billion in emergency funding during fiscal year 2023 to replace the GMLRS rockets transferred to Ukraine. With an average price of around $150,000 per unit, this funding likely provided more than 9,266 GMLRS rockets to Ukraine during that fiscal year. Similarly, the US Army’s budget for GMLRS rockets for fiscal year 2024 jumped from the proposed $886 million to $1.4 billion, the Pentagon’s reports on reprogramming actions in support of Ukraine showed. The additional $514 million in funding suggests that the US sent at least 3,427 GMLRS rockets to Ukraine in fiscal year 2024. This brings the total number of GMLRS rockets sent by the US to Ukraine to over 12,900. This scale of contribution, essential to the HIMARS' effectiveness, is a level of support that would be difficult for European countries to match. Because global GMLRS rocket production, particularly final assembly, is dominated by Lockheed Martin, any additional supply of these rockets to Ukraine from Europe would likely come through US foreign military sales. Whether Europe can fill the gap in GMLRS rocket supply depends on whether the US would allow European countries to purchase them on behalf of Ukraine. According to the US Army’s annual budget reports, foreign military sales of GMLRS rockets were below 2,000 per year before the conflict in Ukraine escalated in 2022. At this export rate, it would take Europe at least six years to match the more than 12,000 GMLRS rockets the US has sent to Ukraine over the past three years.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250307/europes-arms-race-contributes-to-escalation-pushes-frontiers-of-peace-even-further-says-expert-1070973992.html
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donald trump, josep borrell, ukraine, united states (us), europe, european union (eu), pentagon (us department of defense), military, weapon deliveries, weapon, industry, budget, economy, conflict, north america, international
donald trump, josep borrell, ukraine, united states (us), europe, european union (eu), pentagon (us department of defense), military, weapon deliveries, weapon, industry, budget, economy, conflict, north america, international
Europe Needs Up to Seven Years to Match US Munitions Aid to Ukraine, Sputnik Analysis Shows
Longread
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - European countries, including EU members and the United Kingdom, have nearly matched the total value of US military aid to Ukraine by sending expensive weapons systems.
However, according to a Sputnik correspondent’s analysis of publicly available data, it would take a significant amount of time—ranging from at least one year in the best-case scenario for artillery shells to up to seven years for HIMARS and interceptor missiles—to reach the level of critical munitions supplied by the United States.
The US suspended all military aid to Ukraine last Monday, a US Defense Department spokesperson confirmed to Sputnik. The Trump administration's decision has reignited debate over whether Europe can fill the gap and sustain military support for Kiev.
According to the latest figures from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Europe had provided
62 billion euros in
military aid to Ukraine, as of February, nearly matching the US total of
64 billion euros.
While European countries have matched the US in terms of the value of military aid, the gap lies in the ability to supply the munitions and critical support systems, such as advanced air defense interceptor missiles, artillery shells and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets, that are essential for the operation of high-value weapon systems.
At current production capacity, it would take
Europe at least six to seven years to match the US munitions contributions of the past three years, unless it can substantially increase the production rate of critical munitions, an effort that would normally take years.
Interceptor Missiles for Patriot
For example,
Germany, the largest European donor, has allocated 12.6 billion euros in military assistance to Ukraine, data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy showed.
However, a significant portion of Germany’s contributions, about 4.8 billion euros or 38%, went toward major air defense systems, including 12 Iris-T SLM air defense systems, 12 Iris-T SLS air defense systems and three Patriot batteries.
According to the latest data from the German Defense Ministry, Berlin has provided 328 interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine since February 2022.
In comparison, the US has sent at least 847
Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement missiles to Ukraine, valued at around $3.26 billion, according to Sputnik’s earlier analysis of the US Department of Defense’s budget reports.
The US has also provided three Patriot batteries to Ukraine.
With the US having sent more than twice as many Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine as Germany, it could take Berlin over seven years to match US contributions. Although Germany began constructing a Patriot missile production facility in December 2024, the delivery of new missiles is not expected to begin until 2027.
Twice as Many Artillery Shells
Similarly, while the total number of howitzers donated by European countries almost matched that of the US, the number of artillery shells provided by Europe was far smaller compared to US contributions.
The EU's former chief diplomat,
Josep Borrell, admitted in November that the EU had delivered 980,000 artillery shells to Ukraine in 2024 and aimed to increase its total supply since February 2022 to 1.5 million shells by the end of last year. It was unlikely that the EU significantly increased artillery shell deliveries to Ukraine in the first two months of 2025 due to existing production bottlenecks.
In comparison, the US has provided over 3 million 155mm artillery shells, more than 1 million 105mm shells, and over 400,000 152mm rounds to Ukraine, according to the latest fact sheet released by the Pentagon in January.
Although the EU’s Act in Support of Ammunition Production, or ASAP, program aims to boost the annual artillery shell production rate to 2 million by the end of 2025, it would take Europe at least one year in the best-case scenario to fill the gap left by the US while continuing its previous shell supply to Ukraine.
Furthermore, while many European countries have supplied multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine, including systems similar to the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which has been praised for its effectiveness on the battlefield, most still rely on US defense contractor Lockheed Martin for the munitions known as GMLRS rockets, needed for these weapon systems.
According to the US Army’s budget reports, the US allocated $1.39 billion in
emergency funding during fiscal year 2023 to replace the GMLRS rockets transferred to Ukraine. With an average price of around $150,000 per unit, this funding likely provided more than 9,266 GMLRS rockets to Ukraine during that fiscal year.
Similarly, the US Army’s budget for GMLRS rockets for fiscal year 2024 jumped from the proposed $886 million to $1.4 billion, the Pentagon’s reports on reprogramming actions in support of Ukraine showed. The additional $514 million in funding suggests that the US sent at least 3,427 GMLRS rockets to Ukraine in fiscal year 2024.
This brings the total number of GMLRS rockets sent by the US to Ukraine to over 12,900. This scale of contribution, essential to the HIMARS' effectiveness, is a level of support that would be difficult for European countries to match.
Because global GMLRS rocket production, particularly final assembly, is dominated by Lockheed Martin, any additional supply of these rockets to Ukraine from Europe would likely come through US foreign military sales. Whether Europe can fill the gap in GMLRS rocket supply depends on whether the US would allow European countries to purchase them on behalf of Ukraine.
According to the US Army’s annual
budget reports, foreign military sales of GMLRS rockets were below 2,000 per year before the conflict in Ukraine escalated in 2022. At this export rate, it would take Europe at least six years to match the more than 12,000 GMLRS rockets the US has sent to Ukraine over the past three years.
