As reported by German Newspaper Handelsblatt, Germany is set to increase Ukraine’s artillery capabilities by delivering a prototype artillery shell capable of reaching a firing range of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles). This could potentially revolutionize Ukraine’s current artillery systems, which rely on 155 mm rounds with a reach of about 32 kilometers (20 miles) when fired from a howitzer.
Details about the prototype shell remain sexret, and Rheinmetall, the German arms manufacturer responsible for its development, has withheld further information, citing Ukraine’s security interests. Rheinmetall, recognized as Germany’s largest arms producer, is intensifying its focus on artillery production. The company plans to dispatch hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds to Ukraine, including shipments of this new, longer-range prototype within the current year.
Before this, the longest-range munition supplied by Germany to Ukraine was the Vulcano extended-range artillery ammunition, which can hit targets up to 80 kilometers away. Since the conflict began, an unspecified quantity of this munition has been sent to Ukraine. According to the manufacturer, the Vulcano ammunition is highly compatible with existing artillery systems, and its guided version boasts a range of up to 73 kilometers (43 miles).
This strategic advancement in munitions marks a significant boost in Ukraine’s defensive and offensive artillery capabilities, potentially reshaping the dynamics on the ground and altering the course of the conflict.