Portugal and Czech Republic lead European effort to arm Ukraine
Portugal has joined the Czech ammunition initiative, which, combined with funds obtained from other countries, will allow for the purchase of over 1 million rounds of ammunition for Ukraine from outside the EU. Here is what will be acquired.
Portugal decided to join the Czech initiative for the rapid procurement of artillery ammunition for Ukraine with a contribution of £84 million. It is worth noting that the necessary funds to cover deliveries to Ukraine in the coming weeks of 800,000 rounds have already been raised. The surpluses will also enable ordering several hundred shells for delivery at a later date.
This is very important because, with the current issues in the US, the burden of supplying Ukraine with ammunition has fallen on European countries, which are only now expanding their production capacities. It should be noted that the European defence industry has not seen such a high demand since the darkest years of the Cold War.
NATO and post-Soviet calibre ammunition for Ukraine from a mysterious source
Within a few weeks, Ukraine is set to receive 500,000 155mm NATO calibre artillery rounds and 300,000 in the 122mm post-Soviet calibre, which, with a consumption rate of even 5,000 to 8,000 rounds a day, should last for quite some time.
The delivered ammunition is most likely the most common and simplest shells with a base bleed or perhaps a gas generator increasing the firing range by 30 percent. This means they are constructions made of a steel casting filled with around 9 to 10 kg (about 20 to 22 lbs) of TNT and a fuse mounted on their tip.
In the case of 155mm calibre shells, these typically contain between 9 and 10 kg (20 and 22 lbs) of TNT, giving them significant destructive power. In basic versions, they can effectively reach targets up to 24 km (about 15 miles) away, using artillery systems with a barrel length of 39 calibres, such as the AS90 howitzer. In the case of systems with a barrel length of 52 calibres, capable of giving the shell higher velocity, such as the H77BW Archer, the range increases to about 30 km (approximately 19 miles).
These shells are not characterised by high accuracy due to cost limitations, and their accuracy at maximum range allows covering an area comparable to the size of a football pitch. Meanwhile, the 122mm calibre shells of post-Soviet origin offer less destructive power because they contain about 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) of explosive material and can be fired at a distance of just over 14 km (approximately 9 miles).
