Poland came in third for arms support to Ukraine, following the United States at second, and the United Kingdom, making it a booming country for the military industry.
According to Reuters on the 24th, the Kiel Institute, which tracks Ukraine's arms support, said Eastern Europe is experiencing a boom in military supplies, with Polish state-owned PZE more than doubling its investment compared to pre-war levels, based on counting military aid from February to October.
As the Czech Republic, which ranked ninth after Poland, has become an intensive military industry in Eastern Europe, supply and demand are rapidly shifting from 152mm Eastern European self-propelled artillery shells to Korea’s main product, the American 155mm.
"We are increasing the production of 155mm NATO and 152mm Eastern caliber ammunition, as well as retrofitting infantry fighting vehicles and Soviet-era T-72 tanks," spokesman Andrei Sertek of the Czech STV Group (military industry), which focuses on shells, told Reuters. It's more than just good business,” he said.
David Heck, CEO of the Czech STV Group, told Reuters, “There are plans to add new production lines for small-caliber ammunition and are considering expanding capacity for large-caliber shells. ”he said.
Czech STV Group, which includes Excalibur Army, Tatra Trucks and Tatra Defense, told Reuters that munitions sales helped it nearly double its sales in the first half of the year to 13.8 billion crowns (about $5 billion).
The 12 government and company analysts interviewed by Reuters shared that the conflict in Ukraine has provided new opportunities for the Eastern European arms industry.
“Given the realities of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the tangible attitudes of many countries aimed at increasing spending in the field of defense budgets, it is a real real opportunity to enter new markets and increase export revenues in the coming years,” said Sebastian Kärek, CEO of Polish state-owned PGZ. "There is an opportunity," he told Reuters, "with plans to invest up to 8 billion zlotys ($1.8 billion) over the next 10 years, more than double the pre-war target."
"We have delivered artillery and mortar systems, howitzers, bulletproof vests, small arms and ammunition to Ukraine," K'arek said. told Reuters.
The state-owned PGZ controls more than 50 munitions companies that make weapons and ammunition in production, including armored vehicles, transporters, and unmanned aerial systems, and holds stakes in more than a dozen.
“Ukraine received nearly 50 billion crowns ($2.1 billion) in weapons and equipment from Czech companies, of which about 95% were commercial deliveries,” said Czech Deputy Minister of Defense Thomas Kopekny. “Czech arms exports this year are the highest since 1989 and Many companies in the sector will add jobs and capabilities,” he told Reuters about the “special in 30 years.”
The Wall Street Journal reported on the 10th, “The US defense ministers of the ROK and the US plan to purchase 100,000 rounds of 155mm shells from South Korea and deliver them to Ukraine under a secret agreement.” did.
Poland has signed a contract to import a large number of Korean self-propelled guns (155mm) tanks and light attack aircraft early and to produce them at local factories.
The “Ukraine Tracker,” which counts weapons aid to Ukraine, quantified financial and humanitarian aid in the tally from January 24, 2022 to October 3, 2022, and included Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, and India among 40 countries.
"Eastern European countries are quite supportive of Ukraine. At the same time, it is an opportunity to build a military production industry," Professor Christophe Trevesch of the Keel Institute told Reuters.