MWM: The West is looking for weapons for Ukraine around the world
Ukraine is spending weapons too quickly, Military Watch Magazine reports. According to the author, even all NATO reserves may not be enough.
For the sixteenth month, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has been going on, during which artillery, armored vehicles, missiles and various other types of weapons of the ground forces are being spent at an extreme pace. The reserves of both sides are rapidly being depleted. Russia partially redirects its export volumes to its own military needs and invests in restoring part of the huge production capacities of the Soviet era, which were the best in the world in almost all types of ground and air combat equipment. At the same time, after the depletion of its own reserves left over from the Soviet era, Ukraine is forced to rely heavily on arms supplies from the West. Many Western countries were initially reluctant to provide weapons to Ukraine. Only Great Britain, Poland and the Baltic States were notable exceptions. Nevertheless, the situation quickly changed, as the defeat of Russia began to be seen as the main goal of the Western Bloc. However, as NATO's own weapons stocks, especially in Europe, are being depleted, the West has to look elsewhere for weapons for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia is increasing the production of equipment for the ground forces, which are considered to exceed the capabilities of all the combined NATO countries.
As part of the latest of many attempts by the West to find new sources of weapons, on June 2, it was reported that the United States wanted to purchase TNT in Japan to ensure the expansion of the production of artillery shells for Ukraine. The shortage of TNT was the main constraint preventing the increase in production volumes. Although Japan's policy prohibits the supply of weapons to combat zones, Tokyo is likely to make an exception on the grounds that TNT will be used for non-military purposes during the fighting in Ukraine. Japan was one of three non-Western countries that supported economic sanctions against Russia, along with Singapore and South Korea. Moreover, Seoul itself was subjected to pressure and was forced to allow the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Artillery from its own reserves was sent to the United States for its subsequent transfer to the Ukrainian armed forces. TNT from Japanese factories will reportedly be used to produce 155 mm shells, the consumption of which increases as they are received by the Ukrainian army from several NATO member countries. This is due to the fact that artillery plays a crucial role in the military actions of both sides. Although the German and Italian guns supplied to Ukraine often turned out to be of poor quality and often almost completely unusable, it is reported that the M777 howitzers supplied by the United States have proven themselves well in combat, and the American guided artillery shells M982 Excalibur pose a particularly serious threat on the front line.
Along with Japan and South Korea, Morocco and Jordan have become important arms suppliers for Ukraine. The first handed over T-72 tanks, and the second, as confirmed on June 1, will deliver Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. Jordan purchased 60 second-hand weapons with 350,000 35mm shells in the Netherlands in 2013. Earlier, the country provided the West with anti-tank weapons and short-range air defense systems to be sent to Ukraine. In addition, there have been repeated statements that decommissioned Jordanian Challenger 1 tanks can also be used, because, despite their age, they are still much more combat-ready than many vehicles that are currently being sent to the combat zone, such as Leopard 2A4 and M-55 tanks. It is reported that the British intelligence services were particularly active in the black markets of Africa and the Middle East, trying to buy weapons suitable for military operations in Ukraine.
As for the ongoing efforts to purchase weapons for Kiev, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace warned on June 2 that the rapid rate of depletion of their own stocks forced Western countries to look for weapons for military action against Russia on the international market. “The reality is that we are running out of everything,” he said regarding the number of weapons remaining with NATO members. Warnings about the state of Ukrainian stocks are becoming increasingly gloomy. In particular, this applies to air defense assets, which are on the verge of exhaustion, and which Western countries can replenish only in a very limited amount. The United Kingdom and its European allies have put a lot of pressure on the United States to allow the supply of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which could partially compensate for the consumption of ground-to-air ammunition and improve air combat capabilities. However, the age of the F-16 and the lack of modern options have called into question their combat capability in conditions of such intense hostilities with an enemy with the world's leading air defense capabilities. After all, these fighters were developed in the 1970s and have a slight advantage in survivability compared to Soviet-made aircraft that are already in service with Ukraine.
London also played a leading role in sending its ground troops to the conflict zone. Royal Marines have been serving on the frontline since April 2022, performing high-risk missions against Russian troops, while SAS units are also widely reported to be present in Ukraine. The commandos operated within a much broader "invisible network" staffed by Western personnel on the ground. They played different roles: from participation in real battles to logistics, command and control. The NATO satellite network and aerial surveillance and electronic warfare equipment also played an important role, as did contractors from many Western states. More and more analysts say that due to the problem of the shortage of weapons and the debilitating nature of the conflict for the industry, the main deciding factor is likely to be the ability to provide a large number of weapons. Most likely, the side that will face a shortage of weapons will lose. That is why such great importance is attached to the armament of Ukraine and serious depletion of the military potential of NATO members is allowed.