Another Indirect Artillery Shell Support to Ukraine? [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

US Government Decides Support Amid Surplus Defense Budget
Possible Indirect Support to Our Military Including 155mm Shells

The United States has decided to support Ukraine with weapons. The aid is expected to include 155mm shells, and there is interest in whether the shells used by our military will be indirectly supported.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor, announced at a White House briefing on the 12th (local time) that the U.S. government will provide weapons and equipment worth $300 million (approximately 400 billion KRW) urgently needed by Ukraine.

Advisor Sullivan explained that the Department of Defense signed contracts with defense contractors to replenish the stock of weapons previously supplied to Ukraine, and due to successful price negotiations, some budget remained, enabling additional support for Ukraine. For example, the budget for purchasing 155mm shells was set at $130 per round, but the actual contract price was $93. He said this cost saving was not planned.

With the budget savings, the weapons provided to Ukraine will include 155mm shells and ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The 155mm shells, which are mainly used in the Ukraine war, require over one million rounds annually, resulting in a significant shortage of stock. South Korea has maintained a principle of not supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine and has provided ‘indirect support’ by sending shells from the U.S. Forces Korea to the United States.

Last year, at the request of the United States, our military provided 550,000 rounds of 155mm shells and other items from the War Reserve Stockpile of Ammunition-Korea (WRSA-K) to the U.S. WRSA-K refers to ammunition brought to Korea by the U.S. from 1974 over five years to prepare for wartime situations on the Korean Peninsula.

The WRSA-K ammunition is owned by our government, so it is difficult for the U.S. to supply shells to Ukraine without our government's consent. However, the WRSA-K ammunition is not sent directly to Ukraine; instead, it is first replenished into U.S. military stockpiles, and then the U.S. supports Ukraine with its existing shells. Subsequently, the U.S. contracts with domestic defense companies producing shells and repays our military accordingly.

If the U.S. requests ammunition again this time, domestic defense companies will need to expand their shell production facilities. The annual production volume by domestic defense companies is only about 50,000 to 100,000 rounds of old 155mm shells and 80,000 rounds of new 155mm shells. Countries operating K-9 self-propelled howitzers, such as Poland, also import and use our K307 and K310 shells, making expansion of production facilities inevitable. Currently, the U.S. estimates it will take three years to repay the borrowed shells due to limitations in its own production capacity.

Some point out that indirect support may be difficult due to shortages of shells in our military as well. According to the Joint Strategic Operational Plan (JSOP) drafted last year, only 63% of the 155mm base bleed high-explosive (BB) shells required for a 30-day war are secured, and if the war continues for 45 days, the amount is calculated to be about 54%, roughly half. For the 155mm high-explosive shells held by the Marine Corps, only 21.3% of the required shells for a 30-day wartime situation are available. The JSOP contains the military’s defense goals, military strategy, and mid- to long-term plans for weapon acquisition and is prepared annually.

Domestic defense company Poongsan succeeded this year in extending the range of 155mm shells used in K9 self-propelled howitzers but is now in a position where it cannot even meet production demands. Poongsan has already expanded production facilities to increase annual output from 76,000 rounds to 100,000 rounds starting next year. The range of the mass-produced shells used in existing K9s was about 40 km, but the newly developed extended-range shells reach about 60 km. The 155mm shells have attracted significant interest in the Middle East, raising expectations for defense exports. Korea Defense Industries (KDI), which produces 239mm cluster guided rockets, has only been able to produce about 120 rounds over two years and is currently in urgent need of budget.

A military official said, "We plan to make efforts to procure reserve ammunition early according to the required quantities by military branch and ammunition type."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.