Weapons Against Shakhaned: Germany paid for the supply of Ukraine over 30 thousand 70 mm missiles

Extend: The Belgian Unit of the Thales defense concern in Ersstal continues to increase the production of 70 mm rockets such as FZ275 LGR. The enterprise has become one of the key participants in European military assistance programs to Ukraine. The main financial donor of these deliveries was Germany: Ukraine has received about 30,000 unmanaged missiles and should receive another 3,000 managed ammunition in the near future.

They are all produced by Thales Belgium-the only European manufacturer of 70mm FZ family missiles. This was reported on October 8 by Forces Operations Blog. It is noted that the supply of Ukraine to modernize part of the Mi-8 helicopters, adapting them under the use of 19-pipe American launchers with Thales rockets. Thus, the Ukrainian army gradually departs from the Soviet 80-mm ammunition. The increase in the needs of Ukraine in rockets coincided with the overall increase in demand in Europe.

The monthly volume required by Kiev can be compared to the annual capacity of the Belgian plant. At the same time, other countries - Spain, Italy and Germany, which are considering the installation of a new FZ606 launcher on Tiger helicopters, AW249 and H145M, are also interested in Thales. Demand has increased especially to rockets to fight drones. In particular, FZ123, originally designed to defeat the Shahaned drones, has already been adapted to destroy the UAVs.

Thales Belgium production capacity is supported as part of the European Initiative (ACT in Support of Ammunition Production). The Guepard Codea Project received EUR 9. 6 million to accelerate the FZ275 LGR managed missiles. And the company intends to increase production from 700 to 3,500 units in 2025 and up to 10,000-in 2026.

To cope with increasing demand, Thales has increased the number of staff five times in the last five years and has put into operation a new line for the assembly of guided missiles. In parallel, the project of creation of a production site on the territory of Ukraine, near the Polish-Hungarian border is being implemented.