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☆ The US military isn't ready for the coming drone war
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

The Department of Defense is working on initiatives to face the drone threat, but the US military doesn't yet appear ready to confront this ever-evolving challenge, especially on the scale seen in Ukraine. AdvertisementA US military MQ-9 Reaper drone waits for take-off at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan on March 9, 2018. US military leaders have repeatedly stressed there's no silver bullet to defeat small drones in battle. Shellie HallStudents there spend several weeks learning how to identify, engage, and defeat small drones. The drone threat draws certain parallels to fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, where hidden bombs posed a tremendous threat.

Persons: GENYA SAVILOV, Mick Ryan, hasn't, you've, Franz J, Marty, Samuel Bendett, Paul Scharre, that's, Mike Parent, Mark Schauer, Parent, Paul Butcher, Cpl, Doug Bush, Amber Osei, Moseph Sauda, doesn't, Sauda, America's, Bram Janssen, Scharre, Justin Bronk, Jack Watling, Ryan Organizations: Business, Troops, of Defense, Department of Defense, Getty, Australian Army, Islamic State, Kandahar Air Base, Defense Ministry, Karabakh . Defense Ministry, Azerbaijan, AP, Pentagon, US Army, Aircraft Systems, Solutions, 71st Jaeger Brigade, US Army Yuma, Technology, Army, sUAS University, US Marine Corps, Force, Central Command, Shellie, National Training Center, US Army Air Defense Artillery, Center, New, New American Security, Base, London's Royal United Services Institute Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Ukraine, prowling, Jordan, Chasiv Yar, Donetsk, AFP, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Nagorno, Karabakh, Avdiivka, Yuma, East, Oklahoma's Fort Sill, California, Fort Sill, China, Luhansk Region, Europe, Iran, New American, Iraq, Washington, Bagram, Kabul, Australian

☆ Russia and Ukraine are both beefing up their air defenses ahead of another winter of bombardment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ahead of another winter of war, Russia and Ukraine are bolstering their air-defense arsenals. The Russian military appears to be sacrificing elsewhere to reinforce its air defenses in Ukraine. AdvertisementAs the start of the second winter of their renewed war looms, both Ukraine and Russia are trying to beef up their air defenses. AdvertisementBut after two years of incessant barrages by Russian missiles and waves of Russian- and Iranian-made drones, Ukraine is running low on air-defense missiles and cannon ammunition. Russian missiles and drones have been a persistent menace to Ukrainian troops and civilians, but Russia has air-defense problems of its own.

Persons: —, Kostya, Ed Ram, Michael Kofman, Kofman, Ercin, Vitaly Nevar, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Russian, Patriot, Ukraine's, Soviet, AIM, 9M, RIM, The Washington, Getty, Carnegie Endowment, International, Anadolu Agency, REUTERS, British Defence Ministry, Defence Ministry, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine's Soviet, America, Soviet, Russian, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Moscow, Crimea, Baltic, Kaliningrad, Forbes

☆ Ukraine and the US are mixing weapon systems that weren't built to play together to up Kyiv's defenses, and apparently they work
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

They've seen success in using US missiles with Buk-M1 systems and HARM missiles on Soviet fighter jets. AdvertisementWith its air defenses working overtime to defend against constant Russian strikes, Ukraine is working with the US to create new capabilities by cobbling together Western and Soviet systems that weren't built to play together. Reporting earlier this year indicated Ukraine had found ways to modify the Soviet Buk air defenses to fire the RIM-7. The US and its Western allies have offered Ukraine air defenses like Patriot batteries, IRIS-T, NASAMs, and Gepard anti-aircraft guns, but Ukrainian forces continue to operate a number of Soviet air defenses, the Buk and the S-300 being among the most prominent. AdvertisementThe new capability was promising for Ukraine and indicated future modifications to its Soviet systems could be made, like firing US missiles from Soviet Buk vehicles, which are self-propelled, mid-range surface-to-air missile systems.

Persons: They've, —, Yurii Ihnat, Ihnat, SAMs, Richard, Diana Quinlan, James Hecker, Theodore Roosevelt, Seaman Anthony N, Olaf Scholz, Germany Organizations: Soviet, Service, Ukrainian Air Force, Kyiv Independent, RIM, American AIM, New York Times, IRIS, Amphibious, NATO, Valiant, U.S . Navy, Pentagon, US Air Forces, US, Politico, Marines, Thunderbolts, Marine Fighter Attack, Radiation, Nimitz, Communication, AIM Locations: Ukraine, Soviet, United States, American, Russia, Europe, Taiwan, Russian, Crimea

☆ Kyiv official urges more cost effective weapons for countering Russia drones
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Roman Petushkov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 2 (Reuters) - A senior Ukrainian official called on Monday for a reassessment of Western anti-aircraft systems being supplied to Ukraine, saying simpler and cheaper weapons could be more cost-efficient in countering Russia's Iranian-made Shahed drones. "Thus, it leads to depletion of allied stockpiles and long-term weakening," Podolyak wrote. "The solution is obvious: in addition to mobile large-caliber machine guns, there are plenty of simpler and cheaper anti-aircraft systems available today that have proven themselves to be effective against Shaheds. Such scaling-down, Podolyak wrote, "will minimise the effect of Russian 'raids' and ensure long-term stability of Ukrainian skies and our neighbouring NATO countries". Zelenskiy and other officials have stressed in recent weeks the importance of developing Ukraine's own arms industry and in jointly developing weapons with Western companies.

Persons: Mykhailo Podolyak, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Shaheds, Podolyak, Gepard, Ron Popeski, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Shaheds, NATO, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Germany, The U.S

☆ Ukraine primes air defences for new Russian winter assault on power grid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Ukraine expects more air attacks on power grid this winterRussia struck energy facilities across Ukraine last winterKyiv has bolstered its air defences in preparationZHYTOMYR REGION, Ukraine, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Ukrainian air defence crews are banking on newer and better weapons systems to help prevent their country being plunged into darkness once again in a second winter of Russian missile and drone strikes. Nearly half of Ukraine's energy system was damaged by Russian attacks last winter, when Moscow pummelled power plants and transformers with cruise missiles and Iranian-made Shahed drones. The threat of attacks on the power grid remains acute following reports that Moscow has set up its own facilities to manufacture assault drones based on the Shahed-136. Skybytskyi said Russian attacks on energy infrastructure could begin in late September or early October. COST-EFFECTIVEThe Shaheds are estimated by military analysts to cost about $20,000 each, but the Western-supplied air defence missiles Kyiv used last winter cost many times more.

Persons: Vadym, Skybytskyi, Serhiy Naiev, Naiev, Anton, Timothy Heritage, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Joint Forces of, Armed Forces, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, ZHYTOMYR, Moscow, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, U.S

☆ German-made anti-aircraft guns from the 1960s are one of Ukraine's best weapons against Russia's exploding drones, and this video shows one blasting them out of the sky
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine has relied on its decades-old Gepard cannons to defend against Russian drones and missiles. A new video published Thursday by the Ukrainian military shows the anti-aircraft guns in action. Gepards, which were first developed in the 1960s, have proven to be very effective in downing these systems, as well as other low-altitude Russian drones and cruise missiles. Ukrainian servicemen operate a Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun during their combat shift, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv region, Ukraine June 30, 2023. REUTERS/Valentyn OgirenkoThe firepower boost for Ukraine's Gepards comes at a crucial moment.

Persons: Kyiv's Gepards, Vladimir Putin's, Jacob Bradford, Gepards, Switzerland —, Ukraine's Gepards, John Kirby, Biden Organizations: Service, Ukrainian Air Force, Factory, US Army, Rheinmetall AG, REUTERS, Ukraine's, National Security, NATO, Pentagon, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Odesa, Moscow, Kyiv, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, German, Kyiv region, Russia

☆ Germany has finally figured out how to build more ammo for the 1960s-era cannon Ukraine is using to blast Russian drones
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine has been using Cold War-era Gepard cannons to take down Russian drones and missiles. A German arms manufacturer plans to send 300,000 35mm rounds to Kyiv for its Gepards. Ukraine has relied heavily on its arsenal of Gepards provided by Germany to blast low-flying Russian drones and missiles out of the sky. It took existing 35mm ammunition from infantry fighting vehicles and modified it for the Gepard, which needed its fire control unit to recognize the new munitions. A Gepard gun successfully fired the ammunition in May, and Rheinmetall said on Sunday that "a first lot" of 35mm ammunition is now on its way to Ukraine.

Persons: Jacob Bradford One, SERGEI SUPINSKY Organizations: Service, NATO, Factory, Rheinmetall AG, Ukraine, US Army, Rheinmetall, Getty Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Germany, Kyiv, Switzerland, German, Poland, Berlin, AFP, Moscow, Russia, Ukrainian

☆ Top US Air Force general was surprised that Russia 'gave up' trying to destroy Ukraine's Russian-designed air defenses so quickly
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's limited use of its air force in Ukraine has surprised US Air Force leaders. Those leaders are surprised in large part because Ukraine is using air defenses that Russians designed. "I would say that I was somewhat surprised" by Russia's inability to control the air and knock out Ukrainian air defenses, Hecker said. Ukrainian forces are now using US-made Patriot missiles and the US-Norwegian-designed NASAMS to defend against long-range threats as well as several Western-designed systems for short-range air defense. US intelligence assessments leaked online this spring suggested Ukraine could expend its supply of surface-to-air missiles for several systems by mid-year.

Persons: James Hecker, " Hecker, Justin Bronk, Hecker, Ukrainian Defense Ministry Hecker, Charles Brown Jr, Brown, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Ed Ram Organizations: US Air Force, Service, Russian Air Force, US Air Forces, Defense Writers, Russian Ministry of, Royal United Services Institute, Russian Sukhoi, Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Air Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ukraine, Ukrainian, International Institute of Strategic Studies, The Washington, Getty, Patriot, Russian, Ukraine Defense Contact Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Europe, Russian, Russia, British, Soviet, Norwegian, Kyiv

☆ Germany has only delivered 10% of the Leopard 1 tanks it promised Ukraine as part of a $3 billion deal, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Germany pledged Ukraine almost $3 billion worth of military aid in May. Only 10 of the 110 promised Leopard 1 tanks have been delivered so far, the report says. The country had agreed to a 2.7 billion-euro, which is around $3 billion, military aid package with Ukraine during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit earlier this year. The outlet found that in the last two months Berlin has sent Kyiv just 10 of 110 promised Leopard 1 tanks and 12 of 18 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks. After months of pressure, Germany finally agreed to send 88 Leopard 1 tanks and around 80 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine earlier this year.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy's, Welt Organizations: Leopard, Service, Kyiv, IRIS Locations: Germany, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Berlin

☆ Russia has been scrambling to find missiles to fire at Ukraine, but it's not going to run out of them
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Russia has had to dig deep into its arsenal to find missiles to fire at targets in Ukraine. ReutersBy far, most missiles fired by Russia into Ukraine have been launched from aircraft — mainly Tu-95, Tu-22M, and Tu-160 bombers and Su-24 and Su-35 fighter-bombers. Other air-to-surface missiles used by Russia include the Kh-25, Kh-29, Kh-31, Kh-58, and Kh-59. Russia has also fired interceptor missiles from S-300 and S-400 air-defense batteries at targets in Ukraine. Remnants of Russian missiles and shells at a collection site in Kharkiv in December.

Persons: Ian Williams, Kinzhal, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Oleksii, Valentyna, Williams, Yan Dobronosov, Russia's Organizations: Service, Russian, Missile Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Army, Reuters, CSIS, Russia, AP, Getty, Kharkiv Regional, reallocating, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Russian, Ukrainian, Belarus, Kyiv, Alexandra, Alexander Zemlianichenko Russian, Kharkiv, United States

The US began ramping up ammunition production last year when it became clear that the war would drag on far longer than anticipated. But the ammunition will still take “years” to mass produce to acceptable levels, National Security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN Sunday. Ukrainian troops now typically fire between 2,000 and 3,000 artillery shells per day at Russian forces, a US defense official told CNN. It was necessary, though, because of how low US stockpiles are, Sullivan told CNN Sunday. “All of us have had to struggle stimulating our supply chains, some of which went to sleep,” he told CNN.

Persons: Ben Wallace, that’s, Jake Sullivan, haven’t, –, Defense Lloyd Austin, John Kirchhofer, Mark Milley, Joe Biden, Sullivan, Biden, “, ”, ” Sullivan, ” Nebraska Republican Sen, Deb Fischer, Lockheed Martin, Fischer, ” Fischer, I’m, ‘, Ellen Lovett, ” Lovett, ” Wallace, ” Said, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Rishi Sunak, Murat Kula, Charles Q, Brown, Jr Organizations: Washington CNN, NATO, CNN, US, National, CNN Sunday, Pentagon, The Defense Department, EyePress, Reuters, Defense, Defense Intelligence Agency’s, Joint Chiefs, Staff, National Press Club, ” Nebraska Republican, Senate’s Armed Services, Lockheed, “, Britain's, Anadolu Agency, Getty, European Union, EU, DoD, US Air Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Industrial Base Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Berlin, Swiss, Germany, Switzerland, Ukrainian, Kreminna, Luhansk, “, United States, Vilnius

☆ The clever strategic reason Ukraine isn't using heavy NATO weaponry – yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Alfred Hackensberger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

So far done this without using a ton of NATO weapons. One Ukrainian General Staff member even compared it to a game of chess, where you're trying to lure out the enemy and their reinforcements. So why is Kyiv going easy on the NATO weapons and not fully flexing their military muscle? So, it looks like the Ukrainian General Staff is taking it slow, launching attacks with relatively small units and limited gear. Two of these U.S. aircraft already made a cameo in a video produced by the Ukrainian forces for their offensive.

Persons: it's, —, they've, George Barros, Ben Hodges, Nobody's, Stryker, Marder, They're, Stefan Korshak, Andrij Sybiha, General Hodges, Nobody Organizations: Service, NATO, Institute for, Ukrainian, Staff, Centre for, British Challenger, U.S, Stryker, Presidential Administration, Washington Locations: Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Europe, Sweden, Zaporizhzhia, Lyssychansk, Russian, Kharkiv, Ukrainian

☆ Ukrainians with cellphones and machine guns are forcing Russia to change how it launches its drone attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ukraine's flexible and adaptive air defenses have forced Russia to change its drone tactics. STR/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesThis marks yet another turn in the drone war between Russia and Ukraine. In the days after Russia invaded in February 2022, Ukrainian drones armed with anti-tank missiles or even homemade bombs wreaked havoc on Russian armored columns. "Drip-feeding lots and lots of Shaheds for several months" also depleted Ukraine's stockpile of air-defense missiles and shells, Bronk said. STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images"The Orlan is one of the biggest problems because it can fly above the range of" portable air-defense missiles and anti-aircraft guns, Bronk said.

☆ Russia's air force has taken a beating, but its jets could still turn the tables in Ukraine, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's air force has had a limited role in Ukraine, despite numerical and technological advantages. Russia has held its air force back largely because of Ukraine's effective air-defense network. Which raises the question: If Ukrainian air defenses fade, will the Russian Air Force — known as the VKS — finally become a decisive factor in the war? Ukraine's small but resourceful air force put up spirited resistance that mitigated Russia's numerical and technological superiority, however. "So the air force, I think, would definitely be committed much more heavily if they had a chance."

☆ TikTok is looking more and more like a record label. It’s annoyed many in the music industry.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Allbirds is one of the brands I'm looking at. TikTok is looking more and more like a record label. When TikTok launched SoundOn, a song-distribution and artist-services platform, some in the industry wondered whether it was trying to muscle its way into record labels' territory. TikTok is now looking to hire people who will "identify, sign, and develop new artists" as well as "design live show and merchandise strategies for artists globally." Get a front-row seat to TikTok's transformation into a record label here.

☆ A 1960s-era cannon is 'kicking ass' against Russia's drones, but the country that makes ammo for it won't send more to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

But Switzerland, where Gepard ammo is made, is not allowing more of that ammo to be sent to Ukraine. The Gepard SPAAGA German Gepard anti-aircraft tank during an exercise near Munster in June 2007. German defense company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann built 570 Gepards between 1963 and 1980 — 420 for the German Bundeswehr, 95 for the Dutch army, and 55 for the Belgian army. Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty ImagesAfter being criticized for its reluctance to send heavy weaponry to Ukraine, the German government promised some 50 Gepards to Ukraine in April 2022. In February, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that German firm Rheinmetall would restart ammo production for the Gepard.

☆ Ukraine's fighter jet fleet is slowly growing, but its weapons to bring down Russian jets are dwindling, leaked US document shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The jets will bolster Ukraine's fighter fleet, which is still under fire from Russia's larger air force. But air-defense ammunition is a more urgent need, one underscored in recently leaked US documents. Berlin approved Warsaw's request to send jets to Ukraine on Thursday, the same day it was received. Both air forces have shifted tactics and now operate farther from the front line, playing to the advantage of the Russian aircraft, which have an edge at longer ranges. Without the threat posed by those interceptor missiles, Russian aircraft would have greater freedom to attack Ukrainian aircraft and bomb Ukrainian targets, including in support of Russian front-line troops, the leaked document says.

☆ How weapons from Western allies are strengthening Ukraine's defence
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +15 min

In the months after, artillery ammunition came, then Western artillery and vehicles. Ground-Launched Small Diameter BombAdd a description of the graphic for screen readers. Add a description of the graphic for screen readers. Although it uses a NATO-standard calibre for its main gun--120mm--the Challenger 2's barrel is rifled, unlike the smoothbore weapons used in other Western tanks. Air defense Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, including power plants and residential buildings, have come under increasing attack from Russian missiles and one-way drones, often launched from outside Ukraine's territory.

☆ Germany to restart production of Gepard ammunition for Ukraine, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Germany has signed contracts with Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE) to restart the production of ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft guns it has delivered to Kyiv, German Defense minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday. "We will quickly start our own production of Gepard ammunition at Rheinmetall. I am very happy we have been able to guarantee the delivery of this important part of air defense," Pistorius said before a meeting with NATO ministers in Brussels. Germany has been trying for months to find new munitions for the Gepard anti-aircraft guns which its own military had decommissioned in 2010. Reporting by Bart Meijer and Sabine Siebold; Editing by Benoit Van OverstraetenOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. and NATO see Ukraine in urgent need of more arms
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Sabine Siebold | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/10] NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov attend a NATO defence ministers meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, February 14, 2023. "Ukraine has urgent requirements to help it meet this crucial moment in the course of the war," U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said at a meeting of the so-called Ramstein group of allies of Ukraine. When it comes to artillery, we need ammunition, we need spare parts, we need maintenance, we need all the logistics to ensure that we are able to sustain these weapons systems." NATO defence ministers were also to discuss adapting a target for members to spend 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. Some nations see this as too low, given the Ukraine war, while others such as Germany are still far below the 2%.

NATO has just completed an extraordinary survey of the remaining munition stocks, a NATO official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "Those NATO (munitions targets) that we set, and each ally has a specific target, those were not being met for the most part (before the Ukraine war)," the official said. "I would be absolutely gobsmacked if the targets…were not increased," said the NATO official. After the Cold War, the production of ammunition had turned "quite artisanal", said the NATO official. "I don't necessarily think that within the next year our stockpile levels will increase massively," the NATO official said.

☆ Germany approves Leopard 1 delivery to Ukraine, in talks with Qatar over Gepards -newspaper
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The German government has approved the delivery of Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine from industrial stocks and is in talks over purchasing back 15 Gepard tanks from Qatar to send to Kyiv, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday. The delivery of the Leopard tanks to Ukraine could happen anytime once the tanks are repaired, the newspaper reported, citing government sources. Rheinmetall and Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) want to recondition dozens of Leopards 1 tanks and could supply them to Ukraine if Kyiv was willing to buy them, it added. "The Gepards have proven themselves very well in the war in Ukraine. If we could get more from partners here, that would definitely help the Ukrainians," new German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

☆ Brazil's Lula cold-shoulders Germany's Scholz on Ukraine support
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hold a joint news conference at the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil January 30, 2023. It was the third time on his South American tour that Scholz failed to rally strong support for the Ukrainian war effort. "I think Russia made the classic mistake of invading another country's territory, so Russia is wrong," Lula told reporters. Lula said Brazil would not provide ammunition to Ukraine for German-made Gepard anti-aircraft guns, as reportedly requested by Germany. Lula said Brazil will work with other countries to help achieve peace in Ukraine, as his country has not taken sides.

On the final leg of his South American tour, Scholz on Monday became the first foreign leader to visit Lula since his inauguration. But he grew stony-faced as his fellow leftist leader expounded his views on the Ukraine war. Lula also said Brazil would not provide ammunition to Ukraine for German-made Gepard anti-aircraft guns, as reportedly requested by Germany. In both countries, Scholz visited memorials to the victims of their military dictatorships that he said underscored the need to fight for democracy and freedom. In Brasilia, he expressed his full solidarity for Lula and Brazil at large after Bolsonaro supporters earlier this month stormed government buildings.

In 2022, Rheinmetall made some 60,000 to 70,000 rounds each of tank and artillery shells, according to Papperger, who said production could be boosted immediately. A few days before the meeting with the new defence minister, Papperger pushed for an increase of Germany's defence budget. "The 51 billion euros in the defence budget will not suffice to purchase everything that is needed. Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Germany was 20 billion euros short of reaching NATO's target for ammunitions stockpiling, according to a defence source. To plug the munitions gap alone, Papperger estimates the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) would need to invest three to four billion euros per year.

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