Ukraine Wants to Begin Production of L119 Howitzers; Patriot Missiles May Follow — WSJ
Ukraine plans to establish licensed production of British L119 towed howitzers. According to The Wall Street Journal, this project could serve as the first large-scale test ahead of a potential launch of production in Ukraine of more complex Western weaponry, including missiles for the Patriot air defense systems.
According to the publication, the howitzers will be manufactured under license from the British defense company BAE Systems. The first stage will involve the production of a prototype by a Ukrainian machine-building company.
Giles Ambrose, BAE Systems’ Director of Engineering, Technology, and Strategy, noted that Ukraine seeks to gain the ability to independently manufacture and maintain modern weapons in order to build its own sovereign defense capabilities.
As the WSJ notes, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and BAE Systems first discussed localizing production back in 2023. At the same time, the implementation of such projects had previously been held back by security risks, insufficient investment, and concerns among Western partners regarding the protection of intellectual property.
Journalists note that the launch of L119 production will test Ukraine’s ability to serve as a manufacturing base for modern Western weapon systems.
The L119 is a lightweight, towed 105-mm howitzer with a firing range of up to 17 km. It can be transported by truck or helicopter, and the Ukrainian military highlights its ease of repair, reliability, and superior camouflage capabilities. Some key components, including the barrel and breech, are planned to be manufactured in Ukraine.
The WSJ notes that successful production of the L119 could be a step toward manufacturing more complex Western weapons in Ukraine, including missiles for the Patriot system. At the same time, the publication emphasizes that implementing such a project will be significantly more difficult due to strict U.S. restrictions on the transfer of relevant technologies.
Source: The Wall Street Journal.
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