The arms industry is grappling with a shortage of raw materials and parts, reports the Stockholm Institute for International Peace Research. As the West struggles with shortages of raw materials such as steel, the Russians can no longer produce high-quality weapons due to a shortage of wood chips. “It’s a logistical race to see who has the most on the shelf,” says Lieutenant General Mart de Kruif and a former army commander.
According to De Kruif, Russia has problems with producing high-quality precision weapons due to the boycott by the West, but the West is still struggling to obtain raw materials such as steel. “It’s a different picture, and if you haven’t invested in defense for years and you have to expand, it takes time,” says De Kruif.
Different systems
What further complicates logistics on the Allied side, according to De Kruif, is that Ukraine has a myriad of different weapon systems “all needing different spare parts”. ‘Ukraine was first able to use the supplies it had from the Warsaw Pact itself, then it got the supplies we had on the shelf. They are almost finished now, so we are completely dependent on production.’
Starting that production is difficult, says De Kruif, because this requires not only raw materials, but also manpower. According to the former commander, the Russians are now focusing their production mainly on mass production and both sides are looking to stockpile supplies for after the winter, when fighting is expected to flare up again. “It’s a logistical race to see who has the most on the shelf,” says De Kruif.
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
