Russia's artillery production outpaces the West in cost and speed
Up until recently, the Pentagon emphasized significant Russian losses in the war with Ukraine. Shortly after, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin changed his tone, speaking about rebuilding the Russian army. Experts from the U.S. then pointed out that Russia is doing better and better with the production of weapons, which is now being confirmed by further reports.
According to an analysis conducted by Bain & Company and cited by Sky News, The Russian Federation produces artillery shells three times faster than the U.S. and Europe and four times cheaper than the West.
The latest reports confirm the findings of American experts who have recently emphasized that the Russians have sufficient capabilities to produce (or repair) 1,200 tanks and at least 3 million artillery shells or rockets within a year. Bain & Company notes that in 2024, Russia may create even more ammunition, up to 4.5 million shells.
Ammunition production in Russia
Sky News notes that the war in Ukraine has been described as a "battle of fires" from the beginning. This is due to the significance of the artillery shells that have flown over Ukraine and Russia every day. As a result, Ukraine's allies have decided to increase the production volume of ammunition for the most popular weapons on the front.
Despite all efforts, The United States and Europe still lag in the number of shells leaving the factories. The Russian Federation holds the leading position in the arms race, with its production capabilities surpassing the combined economic forces of NATO countries. The result is that Ukrainians constantly face a shortage of shells, while the Russians can much more frequently "launch around five shells back" on the front with their ammunition, which they not only have more of but also produce at lower costs.
The average production cost of a standard NATO shell (cal. 155 mm) is about £3,300 per unit. And although this amount varies depending on the country of production, analysts have averaged the costs. However, it is still four times more than in Russia, where the production cost of one shell in the 152 mm standard is about £830.
Ukrainians pretend to fire
Using the pseudonym "Bolt," a Ukrainian soldier also revealed to Sky News that the lack of shells forces the military to pretend to fire. Soldiers simulate shelling during exercises and encounter live ammunition only during battles.
In an interview with Sky News, the defending army appealed that in addition to artillery shells, it also needs smaller anti-tank guided missile launchers. They pointed to the MBT LAW (known as NLAW) weapon, a handheld short-range missile system that hits targets up to 600 metres (656 yards) away from the shooter. It's a small structure that soldiers can carry anywhere and use to attack the enemy's armoured vehicles from concealment. The weapon weighs about 11.5 kg (25 pounds).
Meanwhile, the shortage of artillery shells means that the artillery provided by Western countries is firing less and less frequently. Some of these pieces of equipment—and simultaneously repeatedly praised for their high mobility and significant firepower—are the Polish AHS Krab sent to the front.
This weapon, like the German PzH 2000, allows firing shells at a distance of up to 40 km (25 miles). The Polish Krab in standard mode fires at a rate of 2 rounds per minute, but in intensive mode, it can be three times higher, up to 6 rounds per minute. Another valuable artillery piece used by Ukrainians (developed by them) adapted to standard NATO shells calibre 155 mm is the 2S22 Bohdana, which became famous during the battles for Snake Island. This wheeled howitzer (6x6) achieves a shell range of up to 60 km (37 miles) and can fire six shells in 1 minute from its 52-calibre barrel.
