Ukraine Expands Procurement of Long-Range 155mm Shells

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has launched a new competitive tender for a large batch of long-range 155mm artillery shells for Ukraine’s Defense Forces, stepping up efforts to supply one of the frontline’s most requested munitions. 

According to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Friday, the Ministry of Defense has instructed the Defense Procurement Agency DOT to announce a new competitive tender for 155mm artillery rounds of increased range. All manufacturers and suppliers whose products meet the specified technical requirements will be able to participate, with the procedure conducted in a closed environment for security reasons.

“Our goal is to gradually switch all categories of defense procurement to competitive tender procedures wherever possible,” Fedorov said. 

“This will make it possible to use state funds more efficiently, minimize corruption risks, and provide the Defense Forces with a greater quantity of the necessary weapons,” he continued.

Reforming defense procurement

The new tender is being presented as part of a broader effort to overhaul how Ukraine buys weapons and ammunition during wartime.

Instead of relying primarily on direct or emergency purchases, the Ministry of Defense aims to move toward structured, competitive tenders in every area where it is safe and practical to do so. The ministry says that this approach is essential not only for financial discipline, but also for maintaining public trust in how the defense budget is spent.

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Fedorov has pointed to tenders as proof that competition can deliver tangible results on the battlefield, saying the competitive process saved more than 16% of the expected cost.

Those savings were then used to buy tens of thousands of additional rounds, effectively turning better procurement procedures into extra firepower for units under constant pressure on the battlefield.

More long-range firepower directly to the front

Heavy artillery remains central to Ukraine’s ability to push back Russian forces, with long-range weapons particularly critical for striking targets deep behind enemy lines.

The 155mm artillery rounds allow Ukrainian units to hit command posts, ammunition depots, and logistics hubs while allowing Ukrainian forces to engage targets from beyond the effective range of many Russian systems, which can, in turn, help reduce risks associated with frontline infantry.

The latest tender is framed as a direct response to commanders’ repeated requests for more range and volume, rather than simply a bureaucratic measure.

Long-term shift, rather than a temporary fix

Authorities aim to make these changes a long-term shift to how Ukraine is handling defense procurement, rather than being a temporary wartime fix.

The intention is to embed competitive, rules-based procurement into the defense system, so that every major purchase is tested against market prices and technical standards in the future.