The United States is in talks to increase its purchases of explosives from Turkey to boost its production of artillery shells as it pushes for ammunition supplies to Ukraine.
Turkey’s supplies of trinitrotoluene, known as TNT, and nitroguanidine, used as a propellant, would be critical to the production of NATO-standard 155mm ammunition, potentially tripling output, Bloomberg quoted officials familiar with the talks as saying. Earlier this year, Turkey was on track to become the largest supplier of artillery shells to the United States.
The war in Ukraine has led to a surge in global demand for ammunition, with Western allies rushing to supply Kiev to replenish depleted stocks. The surge in demand has led to a backlog of global orders, straining defence supply chains, particularly for components such as TNT, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan plans to visit the White House on 9 May for the first time since President Joe Biden took office.
Turkey’s ratification of NATO membership paved the way for Washington to approve a $23 billion sale of US-made F-16 fighter jets, missiles and bombs to Ankara.
The munitions partnership will build on this. The Pentagon announced at the end of February that it had signed a contract with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems to build three 155mm ammunition metal parts lines in Texas. According to the company, the facility is scheduled to begin production in June.
Turkish defence company Repkon’s production lines are expected to produce about 30% of US 155mm artillery rounds by 2025, the company said. The Department of Defence has also purchased 116,000 rounds of combat-ready ammunition from Turkey’s Arca Defence for delivery this year, with additional purchases expected for delivery next year.
In a statement on the Texas investment and Turkish industry, the Pentagon said that working with allies is ‘key to building a global defence industrial base’.
The US and European efforts are part of a race to catch up with Moscow, which is estimated to be able to produce or deliver 4 million shells this year. By contrast, the European Union expects to triple its production of artillery shells this year to about 1.4 million.
Western officials say US and European ammunition production is expected to rise significantly next year and the year after, as major defence companies and smaller suppliers begin to ramp up production.
But that depends in part on the US Congress approving more than $60 billion in funding for Ukraine, currently blocked by House Republicans demanding concessions on immigration. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said in late February that the US military aims to produce 100,000 155mm rounds per month by the end of 2025, which would not be possible without funding.
The US ammunition partnership with Turkey also reveals a difference in strategy with the EU. For months, the EU refrained from using funds for purchases from Turkey due to opposition from France, Greece and Cyprus, and even had to postpone until the end of the year its goal of sending 1 million rounds to Ukraine by March due to production delays.
