Russia is grappling with a severe issue in the production of artillery barrels, a critical component for its military capabilities, according to a recent report by The Economist.
Despite having access to a substantial stockpile of ammunition, partly due to support from North Korea, the wear and tear on artillery barrels has become a significant bottleneck in sustaining high rates of fire in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Russia’s artillery units, heavily engaged in the conflict, have been consuming ammunition at an unprecedented rate. This high usage has led to the rapid degradation of artillery barrels. In some intensely contested areas, artillery barrels require replacement after just a few months of use. The high demand for replacement barrels has exposed the limitations of Russia’s domestic production capabilities.
Pavel Luzin, an expert on Russian military capacity at the Washington-based Centre for European Policy Analysis, estimates that only two factories in Russia possess the advanced Austrian-made rotary forging machines necessary for producing artillery barrels. These machines, the last of which were imported in 2017, are capable of producing approximately 100 barrels per year. This output is starkly insufficient compared to the thousands needed to maintain operational readiness.
Historically, Russia has relied on imported technology for its artillery barrel production. During the 1930s, the country imported forging machines from the United States and later acquired additional equipment from Germany after World War II. This dependence on foreign machinery has left Russia vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and technological limitations.
In response to the shortage, Russia has resorted to cannibalizing barrels from older towed artillery systems and retrofitting them to self-propelled howitzers. Open-source analyst Richard Vereker estimates that around 4,800 barrels had been swapped out by the beginning of this year. The sustainability of this practice depends on the remaining condition of approximately 7,000 barrels that may still be serviceable.
🔥 In Yekaterinburg, Russia, one of the workshops of the 4th platform of OJSC “Uraltransmash” is on fire, – CyberBoroshno
👀 In the area behind the burning workshop, you can see the parking lot of “Pion”/”Malka”, “Msta-S” and “Gvozdika”. pic.twitter.com/HRe8mJzY24
— MAKS 24 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) July 18, 2024
Compounding the production challenges, Ukrainian special forces have successfully targeted Russian production and repair facilities. Recently, reports emerged of a fire at a facility in Yekaterinburg belonging to Uraltransmash, a manufacturer of military equipment, including the Msta-S self-propelled howitzers. Such incidents further strain Russia’s ability to maintain and replace critical artillery components.