War in Ukraine triggers fivefold increase in ammunition production in Finland, EU’s ASAP to double it

Finland has significantly increased its ammunition production by fivefold and may double it further with the support of the European Union (EU), the Finnish newspaper Yle wrote on March 15.

The Finnish defense industry is among the announced recipients of the European Commission’s Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) grant, which is intended to boost ammunition production on the continent.

Read also: Stoltenberg asks allies to urgently ramp up arms shipments as Ukraine faces dwindling ammo stocks

The country’s Defense Ministry had already allocated EUR 24 million ($26 million) to increase domestic ammunition production last December.

The EU Commission's funding decision "is in line with the plan drawn up by the Defense Ministry in December," said Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen.

"Compared to the pre-war period, domestic ammunition production has already increased fivefold," said the ministry's special expert Frans Peltonen, adding that the EU and state funding decisions will double the current level of ammunition production.

If the investments planned with the grant money are realized, Finland will produce ten times more ammunition than before Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Read also:

• New NATO members Finland and Sweden launch joint Nordic Response 24 excercises with Norway

• Rheinmetall to build at least four manufacturing facilities in Ukraine

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