In response to accusations from European defense officials, the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe, a trade group representing sectors across the continent, has refuted claims that European munition manufacturers are to blame for the failure to deliver one million artillery shells to Ukraine. The allegations were made after the European Union announced that it would not be able to fulfill its promise of dispatching the much-needed shells to Kyiv within a year.

Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren had pointed fingers at munition manufacturers, emphasizing the need for them to step up their game to produce more, as all signatories had agreed to joint procurement. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell went even further, asserting that firms were exporting a significant portion of their production worldwide, thereby diverting shells that could have been used for the defense of Ukraine against Russia.

The Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe released a detailed rebuttal, citing the double challenge faced by the industry. They explained that decades of underinvestment and subsequent reduction in manufacturing capacities have hindered their ability to fulfill orders for Ukraine. Additionally, the association highlighted that they were occupied with replenishing the stocks of their domestic customers.

According to the association's statement, the industry requires more time to ramp up production due to the complex process involved in ensuring success, efficiency, and viability. They emphasized the need for long-term planning, adequate consideration of various factors, and more long-term contracts to enable companies to invest for long-term production hikes.

The association also addressed the allegations of diverting stocks to export customers, stating that contracts cannot be unilaterally canceled or changed without damaging the credibility of the European defense industry as a supplier. They highlighted the importance of strong and long-term political support for the reorientation of production capacities.

The European Union had allocated €1 billion earlier this year to compensate members for the donated shells from their stocks and another €1 billion for the joint purchase of additional munitions from EU states and Norway, in a bid to reach the target of one million shells for Ukraine.

Despite the challenges and the ambitious nature of the objective, the association affirmed that it is possible to produce and deliver the required amount of shells, even if it may take a bit longer than initially anticipated.

As the blame game continues, it remains to be seen how the European munition manufacturers and defense officials will resolve these issues and ensure the timely delivery of artillery shells to Ukraine.