David Chour, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of CSG, stated: “We are proud to be one of the first Western companies to successfully transfer large-caliber ammunition production to Ukraine.” The project builds on long-term cooperation between the Czech and Ukrainian defence industries.
According to CSG spokesperson Andrej Čírtek, “CSG does not own any factory or production technology in Ukraine. All of this is managed by our partner, to whom we transferred the license and provided the necessary know-how, as they already had the required production technology and could start production relatively quickly.”
CSG provides critical components such as propellant charges, fuzes, and initiators, while Ukrainian Armor handles the local production of shell bodies, as well as final assembly, filling, and testing. Technical support is also offered by CSG to ensure product quality and compatibility with its manufacturing documentation.
Čírtek added: “Our group does not determine pricing policy or customer selection. We benefit from the project through license fees and the supply of critical components such as propellant charges, fuzes, and initiators.”
The licensing model was chosen to avoid legal complexities linked to joint ventures under Ukrainian and Czech law. “When analyzing the legal framework for establishing a potential joint venture, we encountered complex Ukrainian regulations and compatibility issues with Czech law. Transferring the license proved to be a much simpler and faster solution,” Čírtek explained.
Initial annual production capacity is set at 100,000 rounds of 155 mm and 50,000 rounds of 105 mm ammunition. Half of the production is currently localised in Ukraine, with plans to increase that to 80 percent and to gradually shift fuze component production to Ukraine as well.
“This cooperation is a significant step toward strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and diversifying its supply sources. Every single piece of ammunition produced is vital for the country’s defense,” said Vladyslav Belbas, CEO of Ukrainian Armor.
For CSG, the initiative strengthens its position in Ukraine’s defence sector and complements its role in the Czech Ammunition Initiative. This broader programme remains the main supply route for large-calibre ammunition to Ukraine, supported by an international donor coalition.
