Australia is expected to award a contract for domestic production of 155mm artillery shells in the coming weeks, as confirmed by defense acquisition minister Pat Conroy. Currently, Australia imports these shells from a South African subsidiary of Rheinmetall, although domestic production exists for export to Germany. The pending contract has three competitors, including NIOA-Rheinmetall and French firm Thales, though the third contender remains unidentified. With global demand for 155mm shells surging due to the Ukraine war, Australia sees building local production as critical for national defense and international supply chain contribution. Australia has committed $21 billion AUD to boost munitions […]
Category: Belarus
Lukashenko Supports Russia’s Expanded Nuclear Policy Amid ATACMS Concerns
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has endorsed Russia’s recent changes to its nuclear weapons policy, calling them overdue and likely to curb Western provocations. Lukashenko, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, said Moscow’s nuclear warnings had already been heard by the West before the policy update in September. Putin announced that Russia would expand the scenarios for using nuclear weapons, including responding to large-scale attacks involving aircraft, missiles, or drones, particularly those supported by nuclear powers. This shift came as a response to U.S. and U.K. discussions about permitting Ukraine to use long-range missiles, such as the U.S. ATACMS, to […]