Romania

@rottingleaf it is an article. This is the only way I can post it.

It basically says we just didn't think about overhauling the production facilities. We sold the factories for scrap, and we depended on NATO and allies' stockpiles for our ammunition needs. We're not even producing gunpowder anymore, we're sourcing some of it from Serbia (a Putin ally!).

Now that there's a war in Ukraine, those are depleted. So a year ago, we signed an agreement in Brussels for switching production to NATO caliber ammo for both Romania and Ukraine, but nothing has been done so far. All the excuses the politicians had about not building at least one production line into the existing facilities was that "it just takes time". And the foreign manufacturers are leaving us behind as well, because they first have to supply their own states, then Ukraine, and the price for industrial parts needed for building such production facilities has skyrocketed.

Other than that, since 1990 there's been no investments in production facilities. Back then we were like 6th arms producer in the world, then the situation went downhill ever since. No investment in R&D either, no training for professionals, it was just left to rot.

Indeed, the facilities of ROMARM doubled their figures after the invasion of Ukraine (which, given the state they were in, was not quite hard to do). But they still need massive investments.

Thankfully we have Rheinmettal purchasing 72.5% of the shares of Automecanica Mediaș (producer of military vehicles) and there are rumors of them planning to open an ammo production line there as well. But nothing has been signed so far.