The Artillery Coalition was established in January 2024 in Paris to strengthen the Ukrainian Armed Forces with modern artillery systems and provide long-term support for Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Artillery, often referred to as the "god of war," is one of the types of weapons that is indispensable in modern warfare. To effectively counter Russian invaders on the battlefield, Ukraine has significantly updated its artillery arsenal and partially switched to using 155mm caliber systems. This also brought Ukraine’s military closer to interoperability with NATO.
The introduction of advanced Western multiple launch rocket systems, such as HIMARS, in the Ukrainian Armed Forces not only enhanced long-range capabilities but also became one of the first game-changers that altered the course of combat along the front line.
All this has been made possible by partners who have provided systems of their own production.
To establish a systematic approach to such assistance, in January 2024, the Artillery Coalition was announced in Paris, with France and the USA as co-leaders. In addition to them, 12 other countries are part of the Coalition: Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, and Turkey.
The long-term goal is for the missile forces and artillery of Ukraine’s Defense Forces to develop sustainable and comprehensive artillery capabilities, strengthening their ability to counter Russian advances, deter further invasions, as well as compensate for Russia's firepower advantage, weaken Russian capabilities, and build operational interoperability with NATO.
Among the Coalition's focus areas are:
- Systems, including missile and artillery systems, MLRS, mortars;
- Means of destruction, including missiles (such as ATACMS), rocket projectiles, artillery and mortar shells;
- Personnel training;
- Combat support: artillery reconnaissance tools, counter-battery warfare, and more.
Since the Coalition's formation, Ukraine has received a range of Western artillery systems: from the USA – M777, M102; from Italy – M109; France and Denmark provided Caesar self-propelled howitzers (SPHs); Poland – Krab SPH; Slovakia – Zuzana SPH; Sweden – Archer SPH; the Czech Republic – Dita SPH; Germany – PzH-2000; and various types of mortars and Soviet systems were also supplied.
Moreover, the Czech Republic, as a Coalition member, initiated the "Czech Initiative" for ammunition supply. In 2024, through several funding mechanisms, it delivered over one and a half million large-caliber shells, including half a million 155mm shells.
Thanks to the "Danish model" of funding Ukraine’s defense industry, the Defense Forces received new "Bogdana" self-propelled howitzers.
In total, within the framework of the Ukraine Assistance Contact Group, eight capability coalitions were formed: the Air Force Coalition, the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Coalition, the Naval Capabilities Coalition, the Drone Coalition, the IT Coalition, the Artillery Coalition, the Armored Vehicles and Mobility Coalition, and the Demining Coalition.
On January 9, 2025, the defense leaders of 14 leading countries and Ukraine agreed on the roadmaps for the development of all coalition capabilities. This occurred during a meeting of the Coalition Leaders Group within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (the "Ramstein" format).
