US signs ammunition supply deals with Bulgaria and South Korea

The United States seeks to increase supplies of critical 155-mm ammunition to Ukraine to support its counteroffensive.

This was reported by the Financial Times.

According to officials cited by the publication, the United States has already signed agreements with Bulgaria and South Korea to supply shells to Ukraine and is negotiating with Japan.

The publication says that the Biden administration has been aware of Ukraine's depleted ammunition stockpile for several months and has stepped up efforts to deliver the shells to Kyiv.

According to the interlocutors of the publication, the US efforts to provide weapons are focused on supplying more 155 mm caliber shells. The increase in supplies is sought to be achieved at the expense of international allies in the short term, as well as by increasing production in the United States over the next two years.

According to the U.S. Army, Washington aims to produce up to 90,000 rounds of ammunition per month by fiscal year 2025, compared to 24,000 now and 14,000 per month before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Therefore, the United States is building more production lines, including retooling a plant in Canada and installing a new assembly line in Texas. Army officials said they may also create new facilities to load, assemble and package 155mm ammunition in Arkansas, Iowa, and Kansas.

Author - Olena Madiak, 01/08/2023