Lloyd J. Austin III Secretary of Defence | Official website
Following Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III directed Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)) Dr. William LaPlante to regularly convene National Armaments Directors (NADs) under the auspices of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG).
Focused on accelerating capability deliveries to Ukraine by synchronizing international procurement, production, and sustainment efforts, the forum has convened twelve times since its first meeting on September 28, 2022. More than 40 nations and representatives from NATO and the European Union actively participate. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Major General (retired) Oleksandr Serhii currently co-chairs the forum alongside USD(A&S) LaPlante.
The forum focuses on requirements-based planning for production and tangible deliveries against increasing capacity and commitments made by UDCG members. Major lines of effort include mapping global production capacity, identifying production constraints and mitigations, enabling the sustainment of equipment and reconstitution of Ukrainian forces, and increasing opportunities for standardization, integration, and interchangeability.
Significant achievements to date include:
- Expansion of existing or establishment of new production capacity of critical munitions around the world. The United States has invested $5.3 billion to expand domestic production capacity.
- Examples of production expansion announced by UDCG members include France and Sweden doubling ammunition capacity by 2025; Germany, Spain, Hungary, South Africa, and Australia increasing artillery shell production by 2025; a consortium led by the Czech Republic pledging €1.7 billion for artillery rounds; Norway investing over NOK 1 billion in artillery production.
- Identification of gaps in propellant and explosive production.
- Delivery of various military systems including VAMPIRE C-UAS systems and “FrankenSAM” iTEL.
- Donations such as trucks for Mobile Fire Teams to assist Ukraine in protecting infrastructure.
- Coordination with allies for munitions purchases through Jumpstart Foreign Military Sales cases.
- Delivery of refurbished T-72 tanks from Dutch and U.S., with plans to expand support via NATO Support Agency.
Efforts also extend to partnerships with Ukrainian industry for co-production activities:
- Northrop Grumman signed an agreement with Ukraine's government for a medium-caliber ammunition line.
- Amentum formed a joint venture with Ukrainian Defense Industry for maintaining U.S.-donated vehicles.
- D&M Holding Company expanded ammunition factory operations in Ukraine.
International partnerships include:
- Nammo licensing 155mm round production in Ukraine.
- KNDS establishing a subsidiary in Ukraine for producing rounds and spare parts.
- Rheinmetall signing a Letter of Intent to establish an armored vehicle facility in Ukraine.
Working Groups under NADs are organized across four functional areas: Innovation, Production, Sustainment, and Ukraine Defense Industrial Base Support.
The Innovation Working Group focuses on speeding up fielding capabilities such as counter-drone protection. The Production Working Group accelerates critical weapons system productions like 155mm artillery. The Sustainment Working Group supports weapon system availability through maintenance training and spare parts provisioning. The Industrial Base Support Working Group advances a robust Ukrainian industrial base by coordinating donations from UDCG members.
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