US defense corporation finalizes deal to coproduce ammo in Ukraine

YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS. US Northrop Grumman defense corporation has finalized a coproduction agreement to build medium-caliber ammunition in Ukraine, becoming the first US defense company to make weapons inside Ukrainian borders during the war, Breaking Defense reports.

The caveat is that no Northrop personnel will set foot in Ukraine, with a company spokesperson telling Breaking Defense that, “we will do this work from our operations in the United States.”

“As part of the co-production agreement Northrop Grumman will provide the equipment and training to install an assembly line so that [Ukranian firm Ukroboronservice] can produce and test advanced medium caliber ammunition in Ukraine,” the spokesperson said.

Northrop will send manufacturing equipment to Ukraine and will train select members of the Ukrainian workforce in person at a location outside Ukraine’s borders, a source with knowledge of the effort told Breaking Defense.

The broader workforce will then be trained by the employees who received instruction by Northrop Grumman, and the US defense prime will also virtually work beside local employees until they are able to produce ammunition comfortably without assistance, said the person.

The source declined to comment on when ammunition would begin rolling off the line, but said all parties involved are “working very quickly.”

The signing of the agreement took place at the Ukrainian embassy on Wednesday, July 10, according to Steve O’Bryan, Northrop’s Global Business Development Officer.