Contrary to what would have happened in peacetime, Defense must wait to replenish the ammunition that, in six shipments, has been sent to Ukraine since March. Bullets and grenades are scarce in the markets. On May 13, the Army was looking for a first batch of a purchase of seven million bullets of caliber 5.56 x 45 mm. with NATO standards. There are seven batches of one million ammunition each in a “framework agreement for the supply of cartridge ammunition & rdquor ;, for 4.2 million euros the first batch. The contract was announced on March 25; On May 13, the Defense Logistics Support Command declared it a “desert.”
Neither the local industry, nor the firms invited in the call -the Italian Fiocchi Munizioni, the Israeli Guardian Homeland Security and the Czech Sellier&Bellot- nor the North Americans of AMMO, usual suppliers for the Spanish G36 rifles, accept prices or give enough. Ukraine at war, explains a veteran military source, “is a logistical shredder that devours ammo”. And that may explain the scarcity that is emerging these days in the Western arms markets, and which Spanish military sources confirm to this newspaper.
With the same famine they run into other NATO armies. The war in Ukraine, despite the Russian invasion preparations in full view of the whole world, was considered improbable in factories and chancelleries until the first missiles hit in the early hours of February 24.
More grenades and mortars
Meanwhile, a Defense contract trickle it’s turning into takeover rain. Spain, like the United Kingdom, Italy or the US, is trying to replenish its arsenals in an unprecedented rush due to Ukraine’s needs.
The C90 grenade launcher manufactured in Zaragoza by the Spanish firm Instalaza –and of which thousands have been sent to Ukraine-, is the protagonist of five Logistics Support Command contracts. There are five lots already resolved throughout May, among which the purchase of, according to the Defense calls, stands out for its amount, “C90-CR-RB Countercarrier systems” (3.8 million euros), “CS90-DP Dual Purpose Systems” (1.2 million) and “C90 CR-AM Antimaterial Systems” (4.1 million). There are also tendered another three million euros in pomegranates.
The acronym CS stands for “confined space” in English. It is the most modern version of the Aragonese grenade launcher, which can be fired from enclosed spaces. The “dual purpose & rdquor; is its ability to attack tanks and also bunkers or other constructions.
Each of these weapons costs around 2,000 euros. The set of tenders that have transpired so far involves the purchase of 1,900 anti-tank grenade launchers, 2,000 anti-material, and 900 Confined Space. In total more than 5,000 units. Last January, before the war, the PACDEF (Annual Defense Contracting Plan) planned to buy 1,000 in 2022; in the end they have been four times more.
The same has happened with artillery, especially 60-millimeter ammunition, which Spain could have sent to Ukraine. a cargo on the ship Ysabellast April 28.
In 2019 Defense signed a framework purchase of 60, 81 and 120 mm grenades with Expal (Maxam group). until 2021. Each year they bought 250 breakers (250 euros per grenade), 250 percussion caps (at 375 euros) and 250 illuminators (407 euros), for a net annual cost of the batch of 309,500 euros. Total spending exceeds 1.2 million. This past May 17, the Logistics Support Command approved the purchase of 3,750 60mm grenades. for 1.5 million; as long as five years ok frame.
american lawsuit
These contracts, says one of the military sources consulted, are only the first part of an even larger group of purchases that will arrive this summer. Acquisitions for more than eight million euros of night vision binoculars, advanced medical support material and electromedicine are already underway, bulletproof vests, helmets and spare parts for radio equipmentall this to supply alleged Spanish shipments to the Ukrainian front.
The Spanish army is not the only one that does it. The North American example is the most striking this spring. The replenishment of stinger missiles donated to Ukraine has forced the reopening of production lines that were already closed in the factory of the American firm RMS.
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On May 17, Lokheed Martin confirmed an order from the Pentagon “for allied countries & rdquor; of 1,300 Javelin rockets and its units of command and direction. They are weapons that destroy numerous Russian tanks and armored vehicles in this war.
On this side of the Atlantic, Italy has also shown signs of a intensified purchase of replacement weaponsin his case also choosing Instalaza’s C90 grenade launchers to equip his Marines from the San Marco Brigade.