Italy may donate 155mm howitzers to Ukraine
Ukraine could obtain more 155mm howitzers — this time from Italy — as Kyiv seeks to tip the artillery balance against Russia.
UN peacekeepers in Mali, pictured in December 2021. Mali faces a double impact from ECOWAS sanctions and sanctions imposed on Russia amid the invasion of Ukraine. (Photo: UN/MINUSMA)
According to the most recent data from SIPRI, Russia was the largest arms supplier to Africa from 2017 to 2021, accounting for 44% of the continent’s defence equipment imports. The attraction around Russian arms has been their cheaper prices and ease of maintenance for African states.
Although sanctions imposed on Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine are likely to cause disruption, security experts agree that they will not be a real critical issue for most African countries.
Michael Shurkin, director of global programmes at consultancy 14 North Strategies, noted that African militaries tend not to rely on any single supplier
Already have an account? Log in
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
Ukraine could obtain more 155mm howitzers — this time from Italy — as Kyiv seeks to tip the artillery balance against Russia.
Will Germany decide to provide ten medium-range SAM systems to Ukraine?
The Spanish Navy support vessel Reina Isabel returned to its homeport on 13 May after a mission to deliver arms, ammunition and Ukraine — although Kyiv did not receive everything it expected.
It seems appealing to fast-track pilot training by conducting most flights on simulators and omitting certain procedures if the West were to give more modern aircraft for Ukraine’s air force, but it might prove challenging in practice.
The sinking in April of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea flagship, although not evidence of a major change in the naval domain, is a far cry from the pre-emptive scuttling of Ukraine’s own flagship. The donation of increasingly advanced materiel demonstrates increased faith in Ukraine’s ability to resist the Russian invaders.
The latest security assistance package from the DoD for Ukraine comprises 25,000 of 155mm artillery rounds, three AN/TPQ-36 counter-artillery radars, electronic jamming equipment, field equipment and spare parts.