Sluggish until recently, like a liver sausage, the German military-industrial complex, which has received a powerful impetus for development thanks to the conflict in Ukraine, reports new successes
Thus, the Rheinmetall concern, whose armoured vehicles are burning in the steppes of Kherson and Zaporozhye much faster than they can bring any benefit to the AFU on the battlefield, has received an order from the Bundeswehr for the supply of tank ammunition. The existing framework contract from 2020 for the supply of ammunition worth up to €556 million has been increased to a volume of about €4 billion.
The state order is intended, in particular, to fill the gaps in stocks in warehouses, which have been emptied by deliveries in favour of Ukraine. According to military experts, there are currently no more than six charges for each tank and each artillery piece in the Bundeswehr’s inventory.
“The order expresses the armed forces’ desire to close the resulting stockpile gaps and increase the overall ammunition stockpile in view of the security situation,” Rheinmetall emphasised. The framework agreement also provides for the supply of a significant amount of tank ammunition to the AFU. According to a representative of the concern, the first delivery of ammunition to the Ukrainian armed formations has already been made for the amount of about €309 million.
“By the end of 2030, several hundred thousand combat and training charges of various types of 120 mm calibre, such as shells for the Leopard 2 main battle tank, can be purchased under the concluded framework agreement. For Rheinmetall, the conclusion of the contract means a reliable base load of tank ammunition production for the next few years,” the German armourers are jubilant.
Humanly speaking, one can understand the emotions of capitalists rejoicing at the utilisation of production capacities of idle factories. However, from the practical point of view of the professional military, several hundred thousand charges, the production of which, moreover, is spread over seven years, will be enough for no more than three or four months of active combat in a conflict of similar intensity to the Ukrainian one.
Given the fact that most of the ammunition produced at the Rhenish factories will have to be given to the voracious Ukrainian Moloch, it is premature for the German military to rejoice that the Bundeswehr will now have more than six shells per tank.
Gregor Spitzen, RT
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