Denmark to encourage NATO ammunition production

The Danish government is looking to increase ammunition production and already has its eyes set on purchasing back land with an old weapons factory in a bid to help Ukraine and boost NATO’s military production.

The push comes from Liberal Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, who has his sights set on the site of a former ammunition factory in Elling, near Frederikshavn in north-east Denmark.

It is hoped that private operators will move in and use the factory to help NATO countries overcome their current shortage of ammunition.

“If we succeed in creating a model where the Ministry of Defence can facilitate the acquisition of the buildings and private companies can produce, I believe that we will be able to produce in Denmark within the next few years,” said Lund Poulsen.

The ammunition factory in Elling, formerly Denmark’s only ammunition producer, was sold to Spanish ammunition producer Expal in 2008, ceased production in 2020 with a three-digit million deficit.

“What is important today is that many countries also want to take stock of what is needed. I think we can say that ammunition is absolutely essential in the short term”, the Danish defence minister said, adding that it is the biggest challenge that needs to be addressed.

The announcement comes after Norwegian Defence Minister Eirik Kristoffersen said ahead of a meeting of NATO defence chiefs last week that NATO does not have enough ammunition in stock and that the need is enormous.

Other defence chiefs expressed concern that a lack of production capacity contributed to longer delivery times and higher prices for material and ammunition.

“Right now, we are paying more and more for exactly the same thing. This means that we cannot be sure that increased defence spending will actually lead to increased security”, Rob Bauer, chairman of NATO’s Military Committee and NATO secretary general’s senior military adviser, added.

(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)