INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
According to the United Nations, around 14 million people have fled their homes in Ukraine
Nearly seven million have left for neighboring countries, including Russia, with another eight million who are considered internally
military equipment worth billions of dollars.The fear is that in most cases, the taxpayer will have to pay for these weapons and effectively
Moscow had sent months before the conflict even started: the key element that triggered the fighting and unfolding crisis in
the fighting started, NATO countries have pledged more than $8 billion in military equipment for Ukraine, with $4.6 billion coming from the
With almost every passing week or so; the United States and the UK in particular have been announcing more weapons for Ukraine instead of
manufacturers.Senior arms transfer researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Siemon Wezeman, says not all
the weapons being sent to Ukraine are from existing military supplies.While some countries have been sending older equipment that was about
to expire, many on the other hand, like the United States and the United Kingdom, have been sending newer weapons which they have already
started the process of replacing.The United States has already approved nine billion dollars to spend on military equipment so that the
largest American arms manufacturers, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin
been awarded a $625m contracts to replenish the stocks.Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin has been receiving even better news after Washington
announced plans to provide Ukraine with four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, which are relatively expensive
counter-artillery radar systems made by the same companies, along with American military arms giant Northrop Grumman.The Pentagon is also
supplier.Another key item is the AeroVironment Switchblade drones, made by the American company AeroVironment
British company) and Thales (a French company).The British company BAE Systems manufactures almost all of the UK's small-arms ammunition
and is about to replace the 400,000 rounds sent to Ukraine.BAE Systems also manufacturers long-range artillery cannons being sent by the
United States , as well as anti-tank guided missiles being sent by France and Italy
They are being produced in a joint venture with Airbus and Leonardo.Another key piece of equipment manufactured by BAE Systems, which has
factories across the UK, is the Stormer armoured vehicle
The UK is providing Ukraine with these as well.The vehicles include anti-aircraft missiles, which are made in Britain by Thales.Thales is
also the manufacturer of the Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW), a shoulder-launched missile system that can target Russian tanks
The UK is providing Ukraine more than 5,000 of them
weapons to Ukraine is "not problem-free""You might think you're handing over weapons to people you know and like, but then they get sold on
market" - an increased risk given that the country "isn't in full control of its territory".He says it is difficult to keep track of weapons
weapons given to Ukraine have been captured by the Russian military.Replenishing the stocks being sent to Ukraine is not the only new
business opportunity for Western arms manufacturers.Analysts say the international community is facing increased pressure and threats of
sanctions from the West which is calling on them to stop purchasing Russian arms.Experts say there is even more money to be made as states
respond to the fighting in Ukraine by increasing their military spending, a lot of which will be used for new equipment.According to the
International Institute for Strategic Studies, since the conflict started, at least 15 European countries have announced plans to increase
the coming years has made the most headlines
has also announced it will buy 35 F-35 fighter jets from the United States , which are made by Lockheed Martin and have an estimated
lifetime cost of $1.6 trillion.France has pledged to expand its military budget
The UK government had already planned increases and is facing calls from the main Labour opposition party to spend even more.After a NATO
summit in March, the military alliance said its members "have decided to accelerate our efforts to fulfill our commitment to the [so-called]
military alliance within a decade
Some NATO members had resisted the shift in policy, an issue that previously irked the former United States President Donald Trump.
