Europe Faces Increase in Ammunition Prices Due to Ukraine War

The price of ammunition in Europe has skyrocketed due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. The price of ammunition and other material support has increased 5-10 times more than before the war started. As the armory is being depleted due to support for Ukraine, the price of ammunition is rising, increasing concerns about the weakening of Europe’s power.

According to the industry on the 15th, Michael Claesson, the Chief of Staff of the Swedish Army, said in an interview with the Swedish public radio channel Sveriges Radio on the 9th (local time), “Due to the shortage of ammunition in Europe, Western countries are rushing to replenish their stockpiles and support Ukraine in the war with Russia, inflating the price of military supplies.”

He continued, “I won’t disclose the exact figures, but it has increased about 5-10 times compared to before the war started. The war has also affected other military supplies.”

The price of the Archer 155mm self-propelled artillery shell designed by BAE Systems is currently 8 times more expensive than in 2021.

Chief of Staff Claesson emphasized, “The massive rearmament campaign underway in Sweden and other European countries not only raises the price of ammunition but also creates a huge demand and competition for military supplies.”

European countries, including Sweden, must take responsibility for their security as well as supporting Ukraine. There are concerns about a vacuum as the armory is being depleted due to the war.

The German army has only stockpiled ammunition equivalent to two days of combat, and Denmark is known to have no weapons at all, such as anti-aircraft defense systems and submarines. The UK, which had promised to support Ukraine with weapons, even considered buying a rocket launcher that was in a museum.

Meanwhile, Sweden, which has maintained its neutrality for over 200 years, applied to join NATO in May 2022 along with Finland as the security landscape in Europe was shaken by the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Finland has become a member, but Sweden’s admission has been delayed due to opposition from Turkey.

By. So Yeon Gil