Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said during a briefing on November 2 that Spain is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine.
And this package will include the supply of not only Aspide and MIM-23 Hawk air defense systems, but also anti-tank missile systems, guns and rounds for them. However, the type of them was not specified. Kuleba announced this in the presence of his Spanish colleague José Manuel Albares, whose "tacit consent" can be considered a form of announcement of help from official Madrid.
Read more: Ukraine’s Military Said How Many Missiles And Shahed Drones Already Been Destroyed By the German Gepard
Until this moment, there were many publications in the media about future deliveries of Spanish air defense equipment to Ukraine. But the possible supply of Spanish artillery systems and ATGMs was discussed for the first time. If we look at The Military Balance 2021, we can understand what these systems might be.
The authors of this guide indicate that the ground forces of Spain have at their disposal TOW anti-tank complexes of American production and Spike-LR of Israeli production. But since Israel has not yet given official permission even for the re-export of its weapons, then Spike-LR is no longer available. And there remains the American TOW, which the Armed Forces of Ukraine already received as part of military aid from the United States.
Kuleba clearly said "guns" at the briefing, not "self-propelled artillery or self-propelled artillery" or whatever. Therefore, it seems that Spain will not yet supply Ukraine with its M109A5, which it has in the amount of 95 units.
According to the amount towed artillery in the Spanish army, the picture looks the following. A total of 287 barrels are available, of which 223 units are 105 mm guns. Of them, 56 units are L118 guns, and 167 units are Model 56. And 64 units of the SBT 155/52 SIAC 155mm howitzers.
As we can trace, each package of military aid for Ukraine from the USA and other NATO countries means the transfer of an even greater number of Western weapons systems already "familiar" to Ukraine’s military. Therefore, it seems that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive TOW complexes and L118 howitzers from Madrid.
Read more: North Korea to Use a Secret Path For Ammunition to Be Sent Eventually to russia
