Ukraine is expected to fund a manufacturing project with Northrop Grumman to produce medium caliber ammunition on Ukrainian soil.
Dave Bartell, director of international business for Northrop’s defense systems sector, and Stanley Brown, the Department of State’s principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, confirmed the coproduction agreement during the Eurosatory 2024 defense and security exhibition in Paris.
According to Bartell, the project includes plans to manufacture 155 mm tank ammo in the future. He noted that while the company recognizes the importance of rebuilding Ukraine’s defense industrial base, it faces challenges when trying to offer more advanced weapons due to specific technical requirements and regulations. These requirements often lead to legacy systems that are expensive and time-consuming to produce.
In his remarks, Brown said the U.S. government is open to new approaches to meet Ukraine’s demand for ammunition.
The manufacturing project is made possible through the Department of State’s Ukraine Defense Enterprise Program, which provides Kyiv with a $2 billion aid package that would enable the country to procure additional weapons and boost its defense industrial base.