A number of other countries are conducting negotiations regarding the production of weapons with Ukraine.
Ukraine may start producing British weapons and military vehicles. The relevant negotiations are still ongoing between high-ranking officials of the defense industry of Ukraine and Great Britain.
As the British publication The Telegraph writes, British representatives have even visited Ukraine. Preliminary talks are about the creation of joint enterprises that will produce weapons and vehicles under license. It is noteworthy that, according to the authors of the material, similar negotiations with Ukraine are being conducted by a number of countries. British companies are trying to outpace competitors from Germany and France.
It said any joint venture would likely require the personal approval of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Especially given that Russia has repeatedly threatened Western countries with retaliation for supplying weapons to Ukraine, and any support for arms production can further increase tensions.
Downing Street and the Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the matter, saying it was an industry matter.
At the same time, Ed Arnold, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute research center and a former officer of the British NATO army, believes that industrial cooperation contributes to the narrowness of international relations. According to him, “it can be presented as a commercial (cooperation) at first, but it will require at least tacit political approval.” He emphasized that the agreement on military equipment “will point to future long-term cooperation, deepening ties between Great Britain and Ukraine to a level they have not yet reached.” In addition, such an agreement will bring Ukraine closer to NATO and European security structures.
At the same time, James Black, an expert on military procurement at the American security think tank Rand Corporation, told the publication that the agreement under which a Western country would produce heavy weapons in Ukraine would be the first, as the country has little history of industrial cooperation.
“Ukraine’s defense industry was mainly focused on the production and support of Soviet or local technologies, and since independence, it has suffered for several decades from insufficient investment, reforms, corruption problems and other challenges that have stalled,” the expert noted.
Ukraine is known to have licensed some Israeli and American small arms, such as rifles, and to adapt some of its tanks to install Israeli electronics.
Independent defense expert Francis Tusa, in turn, noted that any new plants would be key targets for Russian bombing. He believes that Moscow will most likely perceive the agreement on the start of production of Western armored vehicles in Ukraine as antagonistic. However, NATO allies are unlikely to be intimidated by these threats.
Arms production in Ukraine
The enterprise “Ukroboronprom” together with one of the NATO countries started the production of 120 mm min for the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Production facilities are dispersed, in particular, part of them is located in one of the European countries.
In addition, serial production of domestic ammunition has begun in Ukraine. We are talking about very scarce calibers, including 152 millimeters. Ukrainian-made projectiles are manufactured using NATO technologies, facilities are located both in Ukraine and in partner countries.
