NATO approved $1.2 billion contracts to acquire over 200,000 155-millimeter artillery munitions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Members of the Western military alliance have depleted their inventories by sending shipments of heavy weaponry to help Ukraine’s army fight Russia in a grueling attrition war.
Officials anticipate that the latest deals, inked with French business Nexter and Germany’s Junghans Microtec, will cover approximately 220,000 shells, with deliveries to NATO allies beginning at the end of 2025.
“It is important that our allies refill their own stocks as we continue to support Ukraine,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said.
Last year, the US-led coalition announced a strategy to boost defense output, and it has since signed joint purchase contracts for ammunition worth approximately $10 billion.
Among these is a contract reached last month to purchase up to 1,000 Patriot air defense missiles manufactured in Europe.
The European Union has also initiated its own measures to boost defense output, but the 27-nation organization is falling far short of its goal of providing one million artillery shells to Kyiv by March.
The attempt to replenish inventories and increase output comes as uncertainty surrounds Ukraine’s future backing from important ally the United States.
Stoltenberg emphasized that Kyiv’s supporters “will support Ukraine with the systems, weapons, and ammunition they need to prevail as a sovereign, independent country.”
He stated that the alliance did not “see any direct or imminent threat against any NATO ally” from Russia and has strengthened its eastern defences to deter Moscow from any aggression.